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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-11-CPC-min(2PM) Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, December 11, 2014 Parker Room, Town Offices 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 2:00 pm Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Richard Canale, Norman Cohen, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Bob Pressman and Sandy Shaw. Absent: Dick Wolk, Vice-Chair Administrative Assistant : Nathalie Rice Also in attendance were David Kanter, Vice-Chair of the Capital Expenditures Committee and Robert Addelson, Assistant Manager for Finance. The meeting was called to order at 2:03 pm. by Ms. Fenollosa. 1.Cary Memorial Building Sidewalk Enhancement, $162,000 – Mr. Goddard presented this project to the Committee, and showed the location of the additional sidewalk areas to be rehabilitated. The sections of sidewalk were located on the east and west sides of Cary Hall, extending toward the Police Station and toward the steps to the lower level of Town Offices respectively. Mr. Goddard explained that the Board of Selectmen had discussed the Cary Memorial Building Sidewalk Enhancement project, and had looked at the different surface options – concrete with a brick trim, or wire-cut brick. Based on recommendations from the Commission on Disabilities, Mr. Goddard said that the Board had decided on concrete with brick trim. Mr. Goddard also noted that the project included the installation of two light poles, which would be set in concrete. In response to a question from Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Goddard said he had not yet met with the Historic Districts Commission (HDC) regarding the sidewalk project. Ms. Fenollosa noted that there were in fact three choices regarding the surface of the sidewalk, the two options Mr. Goddard presented, and perhaps a third that might be preferred by the HDC. The Committee discussed the cost of the two options currently up for discussion, concrete or wire-cut brick. Mr. Goddard noted that the project was currently priced for concrete, and that wire-cut brick would increase the project cost to approximately $335,000. He said the installation of the sidewalk was planned for after Patriot’s Day. In response to a question from Mr. Canale, Mr. Goddard said that the bike rack in front of the Cary Memorial Building was to be re-installed after the sidewalks had been rehabilitated. In a straw poll, the Committee voted (8-0) to approve the sidewalk project as proposed at $162,000. The Committee also took a straw poll on the option of the more costly wire-cut brick at a cost of $335,000; that vote was (5-3). 1 2.Community Center Sidewalk, TBD – Mr.John Livsey, Town Engineer met with the Committee to discuss the Community Center Sidewalk project, which he admitted was somewhat poorly defined to date. He said the Board of Selectmen had reviewed three options for a possible layout of the path, but had not reached agreement on the location. th The Board would be visiting the site on December 29, and presumably decide on a final location at that time. There was a lengthy discussion of the location of the concrete sidewalk and its potential use, particularly for universal access. In response to a question from the CPC, Mr. Livsey said he believed the path could be designed and constructed for $250,000 or less, depending upon the location. Ms. Fenollosa noted that any sidewalk construction through the historic tree-lined entrance to the mansion would be an intrusion on the landscape and might not be in keeping with the intent of the Historic Preservation Restriction that is currently being drawn up. The Chair noted that the CPC could only approve the project as a placeholder, since no cost estimates had been received. The Committee voted in a straw poll to approve the project (6-2) with location and materials to be determined, at a not-to-exceed cost of $250,000. Mr. Livsey will provide the CPC with an amended application as soon as possible. 3.Parker’s Revenge Restoration, Amended Application, $36,790 – Ms. Krieger updated the Committee on the amended application of the Parker’s Revenge project which had been presented to the CPC in November. At that time, Town Counsel had ruled that the interpretive nature of the application made most of the project ineligible. The Committee encouraged Ms. Krieger (and Mr. Fenn, who also initially presented the project) to re- examine the project components for eligibility. Ms. Krieger said that the amended application sought funding for the archaeological portion of the project, which due to project delays, would be conducted in the late spring. Specifically, the project will focus on “artifact and feature analysis to study where each side was positioned during the battle. The analysis of the materials will lead to conclusions on the location of the Parker’s Revenge skirmish and additional details about the course of the battle.” The Committee discussed the project, noting Ms. Krieger’s request to have funds made st available shortly after Town Meeting (rather than waiting until July 1). Ms. Fenollosa added that Town Counsel, Kevin Batt, has deemed the amended application eligible. In a straw vote of (7-0) the CPC supported this application. (Ms. Krieger recused herself from the vote.) 4.Placeholder Land Acquisition Projects - Open Space, Recreation – Ms. Fenollosa reported that Karen Mullins, Director of Community Development asked to have the potential Open Space Land Acquisition placeholder remain under consideration for Town Meeting. Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation, however, indicated that the Recreation Land Acquisition placeholder could be removed from consideration for FY16 CPA funding. 2 5.Approval of the Minutes– The Minutes of the meeting of December 4, 2015 were approved as amended by Bob Pressman. 6.Needs Assessment Report – The CPC noted that it would be holding an informational hearing on the Needs Assessment Report in Cary Memorial Library later in the day (7:00 pm) to seek input from Town residents. Final edits were being made to the Report. 7.Updates – Ms. Fenollosa reported that Ms. Mullins of Community Development had offered to have the consulting firm of VHB attend a CPC meeting for the purposes of updating the Committee on the progress of the Open Space Plan. (VHB has been hired to do the 5-year update of the Plan.) Ms. Fenollosa said that she thanked Ms. Mullins for the offer, but noted that the CPC did not have time on its agenda for such a meeting. Ms. Fenollosa informed members of other venues where VHB would be presenting their update. The Committee asked Ms. Rice to contact Mr. Addelson about updating and presenting the CPA budget model so that members have a better idea of committed CPA spending in future years. The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Rice Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 3