2014-12-00-CPC-rpt (Needs Assessment Report)

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• Save resources that would otherwise be threatened; • Benefit a currently under -served population; • Serve more than one CPA purpose (for example, in linking open space, recreation and community housing, or the reuse of historic resources for community housing) or demonstrate why serving multiple needs is not feasible; • Demonstrate practicality and feasibility, and demonstrate that they can be implemented expeditiously and within budget; • Produce an advantageous cost/benefit value; • Leverage additional public and/or private funds; • Preserve or use currently owned Town assets; • Receive endorsement by other municipal boards, committees or departments; and • Provide long-term contribution and/or enhancement to the Town. Process The Town Manager, Town boards, committees and departments, civic organizations and residents may bring proposals for funding to the CPC. Such proposals must be submitted by November 1, in the form prescribed by the CPC, in order to be considered for funding at the next Annual Town Meeting. Except in exigent circumstances, the CPC does not review and submit proposals to Fall Special Town Meetings. In cases where proposals are contingent upon Town budget processes, or upon receipt of professional estimates, appraisals and the like, and cannot be completed by November 1, initial proposals must be submitted by November 1, and completed proposals must be submitted no later than January 15 of the following year. Proposals submitted after January 15 will not be reviewed and submitted by the CPC to the Annual Town Meeting, but may, after review and with the agreement of the applicant, be submitted to a subsequent Town Meeting. Under the CPA statute, the CPC does not have the power to appropriate funds for particular projects, only to make recommendations to Town Meeting. While the power to appropriate CPA funds is reserved solely for Town Meeting, it may act only upon the recommendations of the CPC. It may choose to deny or reduce funding for a project recommended by the CPC, but it may not increase a recommended appropriation. Town Meeting also may not appropriate CPA funds for any project that is not recommended by the CPC. The CPC seeks a Town -wide and long-term perspective. The Committee expects to recommend projects that will have a significant long-term benefit to the Town. It may choose to recommend to Town Meeting that some or all of CPA funds be "banked" or reserved for significant projects and opportunities in the future. It may also recommend bonding of significant acquisitions and projects in order to benefit the public good. The CPC strives to provide Town Meeting with a strong and consistent rationale for its recommendations and to create an effective joint process through which departments, organizations and citizens may gain access to CPA funds for projects that will enhance the Town.