Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-23-CPC-min 313212Opw-21;21bn 313212Opw-22;63bn Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, September 23, 2021 Remote Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 826 8627 0371 4:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Charles Hornig (Vice-Chair), David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, David Langseth, Joe Pato (arrived at 4:10PM), Bob Pressman, Lisah Rhodes, Melinda Walker. Administrative Assistant: Gina Federico Other Attendees: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs; Christine Botwell, Recreation Committee; Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation; Christine Dean (arrived 4:06 PM), Community Center Director; Phil Hamilton, Chair, Conservation Commission; David Kanter, Vice-Chair, Capital Expenditures Committee; Carolyn Kosnoff (arrived 4:08 PM), Assistant Town Manager for Finance; Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator; Ingrid Klimoff (arrive 4:17 PM), Town Meeting Member; Bridger McGaw (arrived 4:06 PM), Town Meeting Member. Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:02 PM. Vote to elect Chair and Vice-Chair- After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted by roll call vote (8-1) to reappoint Ms. Marilyn Fenollosa as Chair of the CPC. Mr. Pressman voted no. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted by roll call vote (9-0) to reappoint Mr. Charles Hornig as Vice-Chair of the CPC. STM Sutherland Park Supplemental Request - Ms. Battite summarized the discussion from the 6-3-21 CPC meeting about the supplemental request for Sutherland Park for Special Town Meeting (STM). Ms. Battite explained that the Recreation Committee is in support of the supplemental request and that timing is important so that the life of both structures would be on the same schedule. Mr. Pato stated that he is strongly in favor of supplemental support and that the use of the playground stretches well beyond the neighborhood. Ms. Walker referred to the draft minutes dated 6-3-21 and read a statement from Mr. Pato about projects being considered for STM only if the need is critical and stated that it is unfair that the application process for STM was not open to the public because other stakeholders did not have the opportunity to submit applications. Mr. Hornig asked Mr. Pato about other STM Warrant articles. Mr. Pato explained that there are Select Board (SB) member concerns about the length of STM but did agree that it was necessary. Mr. Hornig asked if the SB is inviting Committees to submit articles for STM. Mr. 1 Pato stated that the SB is expecting to receive a number of requests for Warrant articles from Committees. Mr. Pressman asked if neighborhoods know that they can request complete parks if they currently do not have them. Ms. Battite explained that this process has highlighted a need for more community outreach and neighborhood engagement so that the community will have a voice in playground replacements going forward. Mr. Pressman explained that he supports the supplemental request but suggests that neighborhoods that do not have complete parks should be made aware that they can request the Recreation Committee for complete parks. After a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call vote to recommend $75,000 for Sutherland Park supplemental funds to STM pending Town Counsel’s approval (8-0-1). Ms. Walker abstained. Old Reservoir Bathhouse Renovation- Ms. Fenollosa informed the Committee that there is a question whether the installation of a prefabricated structure is within the scope of the original bathhouse renovation project. Ms. Battite explained that when originally presented to the Committee on 6-3-21 she thought that the change of scope from renovating an existing structure to construction of a new prefabricated structure was within the original Town Meeting vote. Ms. Kosnoff stated that Town Counsel felt comfortable that a prefabricated structure is eligible for CPA funding but there is concern that the original vote stated that the existing bathhouse was going to be fully renovated. Ms. Kosnoff believes that there is a significant enough change in the scope of the project that it should be brought to Town Meeting for transparency purposes and recommends doing so at a $0 request since Recreation is not seeking additional funding. Ms. Fenollosa asked if the request can wait for Annual Town Meeting (ATM). Ms. Battite stated that if the request waited for ATM, timing for construction would be delayed another full season and it is Recreation’s intention to go out to bid at the end of 2021. Mr. Horton stated that he would hope to see a floorplan of what the structure would look like on both the inside and outside. Mr. Kanter stated that the bathhouse was presented to the recent Fall Fiscal Guidelines Summit and explained as a change of methodology and finds it appropriate to move to STM. Mr. McGaw stated that he hopes that the Committee will support this more cost- effective project and that possibly this project may offer a solution to the Center bathrooms discussion. After a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call vote to approve taking the restructured Old Reservoir Bathhouse project to STM with a $0 request (9-0). Conservation- STM Funding Request- Ms. Mullins summarized the discussion from the 6-3-21 CPC meeting about the supplemental request for Parker Meadow Accessible Trail for STM. Ms. 2 Fenollosa asked if the amount requested $235,750 is enough to complete the project. Ms. Mullins replied yes. Mr. Pressman asked if Ms. Mullins consulted with Mike Cronin, Director of Facilities on the contingency percentage. Ms. Mullins responded that she did not and used the standard 15% contingency number. Mr. Pato stated that at the recent Commission on Disability meeting the Commission strongly requested that the CPC grant the supplemental request because this project will be the first fully accessible area in the park system. Ms. Walker stated that when other organizations go before the CPC she hopes that they receive the same treatment as Conservation for budget overruns when it comes to circumstances out of their control. After a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call vote to recommend $235,750 for Parker Meadow supplemental funds to STM pending Town Counsels approval (9-0). CPA Fund Balance- Ms. Kosnoff explained the “Community Preservation Fund Balances” spreadsheet. After 2021 ATM the CPF balance is $7,907,741. After STM the balance will be reduced to $7,596,991 if both projects as presented are appropriated. Ms. Kosnoff explained that the FY23 approximate CPF balance will be $15 million and most projects would be able to be funded with cash. Mr. Langseth asked when the last debt service payment will occur. Ms. Kosnoff responded that FY25 is the last year of debt service and said that payment cannot be accelerated on remaining debt. Mr. Pressman asked if the CPF balance would be $11 million in FY23 after debt service, noting that the Committee has a policy of having a $2 million reserve balance. Ms. Kosnoff explained that currently there is $7.5 million available and she projects another $7.5 million in FY23 so the Committee will have over $10 million in FY23 after debt and a $2 million remaining fund balance. Annual Town Report FY21- The Committee discussed the draft submission of the FY21 CPC Annual Town Report. After a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted by roll call vote to approve the draft (9-0). The Committee discussed the photo submission for the Report and decided to use last year’s FY20 Zoom snapshot. Review Open CPA funded projects- The Committee briefly discussed the open CPA-funded project balances and status update. Mr. Horton asked a clarifying questions about the Cotton Farm Improvements update. Ms. Federico updated the Committee on the project status of Grain Mill Alley. Minutes- After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote to approve the minutes from the Public Meeting on 6-3-2021 (9-0). 3 Committee Business- The Committee discussed the next meeting and agreed to meet on th Thursday, October 28 to review and approve the Report to STM as well as hear 2022 ATM project presentations if there are applications. Ms. Walker stated that the Town made a commitment to look at the effects of systemic racism and affordable housing is at the top of the list. Ms. Walker stated that LexHAB has done a great job of providing homes for families of color and they deserve a lot of praise and gratitude and hopes that in the future that LexHAB deserve the respect and gratitude from this Committee and Town Meeting that they deserve. Mr. Hornig left the meeting at 5:02. After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote (8-0) to adjourn at 5:03 PM. The following documents were used at the meeting: 1)Annual Town Report Submission FY21 2)Annual Town Report Committee Photo 3)Sutherland Park Supplemental Request 4)Parker Meadow Supplemental Request 5)CPF Balances Spreadsheet dated 9-23-21 6)Open CPA Articles Balances & Update 7)Draft Minutes 6-3-21 Respectfully submitted, Gina Federico Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 4