HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-07-CPC-min.exe Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Executive Session
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Hudson Room
Cary Memorial Building
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
4:00 PM
Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Charles Hornig (Vice-Chair), David
Horton,Jeanne Krieger, Joe Pato, Bob Pressman, Melinda Walker.
Administrative Assistant: Gina Federico
Other Attendees: Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison to the CPC; Carolyn
Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Alex Dohan, Conservation Commission, Phil
Hamilton, Chair, Conservation Commission; David Langseth, Vice Chair, Conservation
Commission; Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator.
Absent: Lisah Rhodes, Dick Wolk.
Ms. Fenollosa called the public meeting to order at 4:04 PM, and at 5:54 PM, upon a motion
duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call (7-0) to go into Executive Session under
Exemption 6 to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property and to
reconvene in Open Session; the Chair declaring that an Open Meeting might have a detrimental
effect on the negotiating position of the Town.
Executive Session under Exemption 6 Mr. Hamilton updated the Committee on 39 Highland
Ave., a five acre parcel of land with a farmhouse. Mr. Hamilton explained that the Conservation
Commission offered the owners $3,862,500 for the parcel which was the average of two
appraisals. The owners seem motivated to sell but they have yet to sign a notice of intent. Town
Counsel has advised that the owner's lawyers are trying to negotiate more money based on a
private appraisal of$4.5 million that they have not shared with the Town. Ms. Mullins has
noted that developers are interested in the property and the owners have been approached.
Ms. Fenollosa asked if the Town has a right of first refusal. Ms. Mullins said no. Ms. Walker
asked if the FY21 request is a placeholder. Mr. Hamilton said yes. Mr. Hornig noted that the
property is in tax title according to the Registry of Deeds. Mr. Pressman explained that after a
preliminary analysis of the site LexHAB has estimated that rehabilitation of the house for
affordable housing could exceed $1 million. Ms. Walker asked if LexHAB was not interested in
the project would that change the purchase price. Mr. Hamilton explained that if LexHAB was
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not interested the offer would be modified to only acquire the back parcel of land and not the
Farmhouse. Mr. Pressman stated that LexHAB needs to speak to this.
At 6:11 PM, after a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote
(7-0) to exit Executive Session and return to Open Session to attend to the remaining agenda
items.
The following documents were used at the meeting:
1. FY21 CPA Funding Application- Conservation Land Acquisition
Respectfully submitted,
Gina Federico
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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