HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-17-CPC-min
Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Parker Meeting Room
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
3:00 PM
Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Richard Wolk (Vice-Chair); Richard Canale,
Norman Cohen, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger
Bob Pressman joined the meeting by conference call.
Absent: Leo McSweeney, Sandra Shaw
Administrative Assistant: Elizabeth Lane
Other Attendees: David Kanter, Vice-Chair of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) and liaison to
the CPC; Dawn McKenna, Chair, Tourism Committee.
Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 3:06 PM and noted the remote participation of Mr.
Pressman via telephone due to his significant geographical distance.
1) Antony Park Construction Project- Prior to the arrival of Dawn McKenna, Ms. Fenollosa spoke to the
CPC regarding
regarding the Antony Park Construction Project. Ms. Fenollosa expressed to the CPC her concerns about
re-voting the project with two members absent and new information being presented so late in the
application process. The Committee agreed that a re-vote would only be appropriate if the project
issue no additional vote on the project.
2) Munroe Tavern Archaeological Dig, Indefinite Postponement Vote- Ms. Fenollosa reported that the
Lexington Historical Society withdrew their application for FY17 funds and the CPC voted 7-0 to
indefinitely postpone this article for the upcoming Town Meeting.
3) Revised Debt Service Figures- The CPC voted 7-0 to accept the revised debt service figures issued for
FY17.
4) Keeler Farm Community Housing Acquisition- The CPC decided to recommend the full acquisition cost
of $185,000 for the Keeler Farm Community Housing Acquisition. Due to the potential for LexHAB to
receive $70,000 in HOME funds to off-set the purchase price of the unit, the request was previously
reduced from $185,000 to $115,000. LexHAB planned to utilize approximately $35,000 in HOME funds
currently available to them and make up the difference with their own funds to close on the unit in May
2016. The CPC felt that given the uncertainty of the total HOME fund grant, the fast-approaching closing
date and the availability of only a portion of the HOME funds at the time of closing, it was best to
recommend the full purchase price amount to Town Meeting in order to ensure the acquisition could be
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completed as planned. The Community Preservation Fund (CPF) would be reimbursed with the total
amount of the HOME fund grant, once received. Mr. Cohen confirmed that he had spoken with Town
Counsel regarding the reimbursement to the CPF and Town Counsel confirmed that this was acceptable.
Since the CPC originally voted to recommend the full amount for approval at Town Meeting ($185,000),
no additional vote was taken. The Committee did note, however, that due to the anticipated closing
date in May 2016, funds would need to be appropriated from the remaining balance of the Community
Housing Reserve with the difference coming from funds available in the Unbudgeted Reserve.
5) Annual Town Meeting Consent Agenda- Ms. Fenollosa explained that she received a request from the
Town Moderator to place the debt service and administrative budget articles (articles 8(p) and 8(q)) on
the consent agenda for the upcoming Town Meeting. The CPC approved, 7-0.
6) Antony Park Construction Project- Dawn McKenna- Ms. McKenna explained that the intent of her
presentation to the CPC was to explain the background of the Antony Park project in order to avoid the
DPW and the Tourism Committee presenting contradictory information at Town Meeting.
She explained that the Antony Park concept was initially a Town project that the Tourism Committee
agreed to fund in full. She mentioned that the disparity between the estimated costs and actual costs
was due to staff-controlled issues surrounding the procurement of services. Over $60,000 was initially
raised in private donations but compensation for architectural services and re-work of certain
preparatory aspects depleted most of the budget. She also explained that Seasons Four donated most
of the planting material and the Tourism Committee paid for the trees that subsequently died during the
winter of 2015.
Ms. Fenollosa suggested that the Tourism Committee and DPW work out the issues surrounding this
project prior to Town Meeting and reiterated that the CPC remains an impartial body. Mr. Wolk
suggested that the CPC discuss this project specifically during their yearly wrap-up meeting in order to
learn from it. Ms. McKenna expressed support for that suggestion and hoped the process could be
improved moving forward.
7) Committee Business- After brief discussion regarding some of the FY17 CPA projects, the CPC voted 7-
0 to approve the 2016 Report to Town Meeting, subject to minor revisions and non-substantive changes
deemed necessary by the Committee Chair.
The CPC also voted to approve the minutes, as submitted, from their February 18, 2016 meeting. The
vote was 7-0.
The following documents were submitted at the meeting:
1) The Community Preservation Report to 2016 Annual Town Meeting
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Lane
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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