HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-01-CPC-min-ex
Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, May 1, 2014
3:30 pm, Parker Room
Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present:
Committee Members:
Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Richard Wolk, Vice-Chair;Richard Canale,
Norman Cohen, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Robert Pressman and Sandra
Shaw.
Administrative Assistant
: Nathalie Rice
Also in attendance was David Kanter, Vice-Chair of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC).
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 pm. by Ms. Fenollosa.
1.Town Meeting Wrap-up –
There was a brief discussion of the CPA warrant article and the
Committee’s presentation at Annual and Special Town Meetings. Members agreed that the
CPA presentations had gone smoothly; Sandy Shaw noting that she felt the LexHAB
presentation was particularly well done. Mr. Kanter added that he felt the CPC presentation
was “superb”. General comments on the year included positive feedback from Nathalie Rice
on taking straw votes early in the fall, and a request from Bob Pressman that the CPA budget
model be available early in the application process.
2.Board of Selectmen Goal-Setting –
The CPC will ask the Selectmen to write in support of
the current amendment to return $25M in surplus State budget funds to CPA communities for
the 2013 fiscal year. Mr. Cohen agreed to take this request to the Board. Mr. Kanter noted
that the CEC will ask the Selectmen to take more timely votes on CPA projects. The issue
has put the CPC in the awkward position of approving projects, and even forwarding them to
Town Meeting, without a BOS vote. The CPC agreed this was a worthy matter to bring
before the Board.
3.Executive Session -
At 3:30 pm, upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by a roll
call vote to enter into Executive Session under Exemption 6 to consider the purchase, exchange,
lease or value of real property and potential litigation related to 430 Concord Avenue, and to
reconvene in Open Session; the Chair declaring that an Open Meeting might have a detrimental
effect on the negotiating and/or litigating position of the Town. The CPC returned to Open
Session at 4:30 pm.
4.Approval of Minutes –
The CPC voted (9-0) to approve the minutes of the meetings of
3/13/14, 3/18/14 and 4/7/14 as submitted. The Committee also voted (9-0) to approve
Executive session minutes of 11/24/08, 1/12/09, 3/11/10, 10/24/11, 12/19/12 and 2/20/13 as
submitted, but to release them only after review by the Town Manager.
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5.Updates and Member Concerns
a.Needs Assessment Report –
The CPC Needs Assessment Report will be updated
during the fall application period.
b.Buckman Tavern Opening –
Ms. Rice announced that there will be a member’s
rd
only Open House at the Buckman Tavern on Saturday May 3 at 3:00 pm and a
th
public Open House on Sunday, the 4 from 12 to 4pm. The ribbon cutting is
scheduled for 2:00 pm on Sunday.
c.Historic Preservation Restriction for the Community Center property and
buildings –
Mr. Pressman asked for an update on the status of the Historic
Preservation Restriction for the Community Center. Only Ms. Fenollosa, on behalf of
the Historical Commission, had read the document. (Mr. Kanter, on behalf of the
CEC, had also reviewed the document.)
Mr. Kanter stated he felt the Restriction was “minimalistic” and that he had expected
the Appendix, which dealt with the specifics of the restricted areas, to be more
detailed. Ms. Fenollosa said her concern with the document lay in the fact that it only
addressed the buildings on the site. She stated that the Restriction did not address the
historic landscape of the parcel. The specifics of grounds and lawn maintenance, the
future construction and use of the roadway, and the use/preservation of the carriage
house were also not included. Mr. Kanter said he felt strongly that a concise and
thoughtful Restriction had to be in place before upgrades to the Community Center
were commenced.
It was noted that the Lexington Historical Society will hold the Restriction, and that it
must also be approved by the State Historical Commission.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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