HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-10-CPC-minMinutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, October 10, 2013
3:30 pm, Parker Room
Town Offices Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present:
Committee Members: Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Richard Wolk, Vice - Chair, Richard Canale,
Norman Cohen, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Robert Pressman and Sandra Shaw.
Administrative Assistant: Nathalie Rice
Also in attendance were David Kanter, Vice -Chair of the CEC and Beth Masterman, CEC member.
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 pm. by Ms. Fenollosa.
1. 39 Marrett Road (Community Center) — Request for FY14 CPA Funding — The CPC
met with Patrick Goddard, Facilities Director, Michelle Ciccolo, Chair of the Ad hoc
Community Center Advisory Committee (AhCCAC), Town Manager Carl Valente, Robert
Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance and Linda Vine, Deputy Town Manager to
discuss the Board of Selectmen request for potential FY14 funding at Fall Special Town
Meeting for "move -in" costs for 39 Marrett Road (the Community Center). Mr. Goddard
presented the preliminary proposal stating that the AhCCAC had met with the Board of
Selectmen and had further defined the scope for the programming of the project. The current
CPA request is in the range of $775,000 to $1,210,000, though Mr. Goddard indicated that
the cost projections might increase by Special Town Meeting. He stated that the funding that
is presently being sought for the Fall Special Town Meeting is a portion of the $8.5m in CPA
eligible renovation costs discussed at the 2013 Annual Town Meeting.
Ms. Fenollosa questioned whether there were items in the proposal for which tax levy
funding might be sought. She noted that the Project Estimate list which had been sent to the
CPC included sidewalks, carpeting, other furnishings /items that might not be eligible for
CPA funding. Mr. Valente addressed this point, suggesting that all the items on the list made
the Community Center "functional for its intended use ". This prompted a discussion of CPA
funding eligibility for interior renovations. (Later in the meeting it was ultimately decided
that the Committee would invite Town Counsel, Kevin Batt, to attend the October 24
meeting of the CPC to respond to member questions about eligibility of individual items on
the "punch list ".)
Mr. Pressman raised the issue of the permanent Historic Preservation Restriction for the
Community Center buildings and grounds, and asked when the document would be signed.
Mr. Valente responded that the Town will not close on the sale until December 3 rd and that
the Restriction would be drafted at some point after that. Mr. Pressman noted that the CPC
would then be in a position of approving funding prior to knowing which portions of the
property were potentially limited by the Restriction. Ms. Fenollosa explained that the
Restriction is written by the Town and Town Counsel, and would include exclusions for the
proposed renovation work.
Mr. Pressman also noted that he was concerned about approving CPA funds for the portion
of the building which was built in 2003. He said he did not see the "addition" listed on the
Town's Comprehensive Cultural Resource Survey ( "the Inventory ") online. Ms. Fenollosa
explained that the entire building is on the Town's Inventory, but that the Inventory form has
not been updated on the website to show additional information resulting from the Town's
vote to purchase the property. She noted that the Massachusetts Historical Commission has
not updated its website due to staffing problems. She expressed certainty that the original
manse and its addition were eligible for CPA funding.
Mr. Wolk urged the CPC to be cautious in considering the BOS funding request, noting the
number of other important CPA projects. A discussion followed regarding pedestrian access
to the Community Center and the proposed sidewalk. Mr. Valente explained that the
sidewalk will be constructed on Marrett Road, from Mass. Ave. westward to the front
entrance of the property. The entrance is owned by the Scottish Rite, but the Town has an
easement over the roadway and the parking area. Mr. Valente said the sidewalk has not yet
been fully designed, and will complicated due to the lot lines and easements at the entrance
and the need preserve the brick entrance walls.
Mr. Pressman raised the issue of housing, noting that the carriage house presents an
opportunity for affordable housing. Ms. Ciccolo responded to this comment, stating that her
committee was charged with the programming for a Community Center, not for the inclusion
of associated housing. The plans for the carriage house will depend upon programming needs
for the Human Services and Recreation Departments. Mr. McSweeney raised this issue later
in the meeting for clarification, and it was reiterated that the AhCCAC is not charged with
and will not propose the possibility of housing on the site.
The applicants and the CPC discussed the time frame, which broke down as follows: a firm
cost estimate for Special Town Meeting is expected from the consultants by October 17 a
recommendation will be made to the Board of Selectmen at their October 21 meeting; the
BOS decision on the recommendation will be forwarded to the CPC on the 22 Mr. Batt
will review the eligibility of items on the punchlist after the 22 and the CPC will meet with
Mr. Batt on Thursday October 24 and hopefully reach a decision at that time on CPA
funding. Mr. Valente noted that the TMMA Information Session is October 29 at which the
CPC will need to make a brief presentation.
2. Approval of Minutes - The minutes of the meeting of September 11, 2013 were approved as
amended.
3. Preliminary Project List —Members had been sent a preliminary project list based upon
FYI estimates and recent applicant inquiries. Mr. Pressman noted that the LexHAB project
cost was presented as "unknown ". No application has been received from LexHAB as yet.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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