HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-17-CPC-min
Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
June 17, 2010
3:30 pm
Room G-15
Town Office Building
Present:
Board Members:
Betsey Weiss, Chair; Marilyn Fenollosa, Vice Chair; Joel Adler,
Norman Cohen, Wendy Manz, Leo McSweeney, Sandy Shaw and Dick Wolk.
Administrative Assistant:
Nathalie Rice
Absent:
Jeanne Krieger
Also in attendance were David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) and
John Bartenstein of the Appropriations Committee (AC).
Ms. Weiss called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm.
1.Goal Setting for Selectmen’s Meeting of June 29, 2010 –
The Committee
reviewed a draft of a Goal Setting document prepared by Ms. Weiss for an
upcoming Selectmen’s Meeting. The first item on the draft dealt with the need
for project proponents to seek grants to augment CPA funding. Mr. Adler
stressed the importance of encouraging applicants to apply for alternative
sources of funding, and noted that it could make the difference in a CPC vote
of support on various projects. Mr. Kanter pointed out that even though most
applicants do seek grants from various sources, placing this as a goal for the
Selectmen would raise their awareness of this need.
The second point on Ms. Weiss’ list was to meet with the Board of Selectmen
and the financial committees to establish policy guidelines in light of expected
revenue shortfalls. Members agreed this was very important, and Ms. Manz
stressed that doing so early in the review process would be critical. There
were four bulleted points within the topic of policy guidelines. The first of
these was the need for establishing reasonable time deadlines. The second
bullet was the prioritization of projects in the historic preservation category.
Members felt it was important to seek some type of priority list when
municipal historic projects were submitted. Members agreed on the wording
in the Goal Setting statement which stated that the CPC will “give
consideration to the priorities already established by the Historical
Commission”.
The third bullet dealt with keeping an appropriate reserve in the Undesignated
Fund Balance in order to plan for land acquisitions. Members supported
keeping monies in reserve, and agreed that such funds should be in the Fund
Balance, not in individual “buckets”.
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The fourth bullet concerned establishing an understanding with the Board of
Selectmen regarding the use of land purchased with CPA funds. The draft
statement had stated the CPC sought to “reach an agreement… regarding the
Town’s approach to land acquisitions, and how we can adequately consider all
appropriate uses for land at the time of negotiating a purchase”. Ms. Shaw felt
such agreement early in the process of land negotiation was very important.
The third major item on the Goal Setting Draft was considered to be more
philosophical and was eliminated from the Draft. It concerned a general
statement that the CPC sought to appropriate CPA funds wisely, so as to not
have a negative impact on the future effectiveness of the CPA in Lexington.
Members added a final point to the document; encouraging the Selectmen to
continue to support SB 90, the initiative to establish a permanent 75% State
Match. Motions were made to approve each section change individually.
Members approved all section changes with a (8-0) vote in favor, except the
section dealing with land acquisitions. The land acquisition section stated that
the CPC will seek to reach an agreement with the Board of Selectmen
regarding the Town’s approach to land acquisitions and how best to consider
all appropriate uses for a parcel during the negotiation process. The vote on
approving this section as amended passed (7-1). Ms. Weiss and Ms. Rice
agreed to make the agreed upon changes to the Goal Setting document, after
which Ms. Weiss will send it along to the Board of Selectmen.
2.Discussion of Summit Meeting -
Ms. Weiss informed the Committee that
Mr. Michelson of the Appropriations Committee had suggested the need for a
“Summit Meeting” with the Board of Selectmen, the financial committees and
the CPC. Topics he felt should be addressed were: CPC debt policy, funding
available for future municipal needs, and CPC priorities. The Committee
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agreed such a meeting would be useful, and set a date of September 23 or
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30 as possibilities. Ms. Weiss will get back in touch with Mr. Michelson
regarding the dates.
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The CPC set a tentative date of September 20 at 3:00 pm for its next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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