2006-05-03-CPC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Community Preservation Committee May 3, 2006 Attending: Joel Adler, Norm Cohen, Marilyn Fenollosa, Wendy Manz, Leo McSweeney, Richard Pagett, Sandy Shaw, Betsey Weiss Not attending: Dick Wolk The meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. 1. Busa Farm Agricultural Restriction: Oakes Plimpton, William Zucker and Meg Muckenhaupt, representatives of the Community Supported Agriculture group at Busa Farm, requested information about CPA and the application process for funding. The CSA members purchase a “share” in the farm, providing the farmer with winter income to purchase seed, fertilizer and equipment. Members in return receive weekly pick-ups of fresh produce at the farm throughout the growing season. They believe Busa Farm is now in jeopardy, although it is not on the market yet. They were interested in learning how the Town could preserve the farm by acquiring an agricultural restriction on the property with CPA funds. They acknowledged that such a restriction would probably be expensive. The Committee suggested that the CSA members speak with the Conservation Commission and perhaps the Board of Selectmen about their project. Applications for CPA funding will not be available until May 15. 2. CPC Tax Bill Stuffer: Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, presented a proposed form of tax bill stuffer, based on a form that Concord uses. The Committee also had previously received the suggested form that Marilyn had prepared, from a similar source. It was decided that Rob, Marilyn and Betsey would meet early next week to develop a form that incorporates the best language from each form. The first tax bill with a CPA surcharge will be sent on July 1, 2006, for payment on August 1; to meet this deadline, the stuffer must be sent to the printer by mid-June. The first two quarterly tax bills will contain an estimated CPA charge, since the actual tax rate will not be determined by the Selectmen until December (the last two quarterly tax bills will be adjusted for actual CPA charges). Applications for abatement will need to be filed by August 1, accompanied by payment of the tax. Leo asked if the Assessors’ office would require additional help and Mr. Addelson said that they were looking into it. 3. Questions and Answers sheet: Norm presented a form of Questions and Answers that the Selectmen’s office is distributing to answer questions about CPA. It was agreed that all CPC members would review the form and send their comments to Norm and Lynn Pease.