HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-09-CPC-min
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Minutes for the Community Preservation Committee
2/9/2023
Remote Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 978 3231 6352
Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair), Kevin Beuttell (joined at 4:07), David
Horton, Lisa O’Brien, Bob Pressman, Mark Sandeen, Melinda Walker
Committee Members Absent: Jeanne Krieger (Vice Chair), Bob Creech
Other Attendees: Sandy Beebee (Capital Expenditures Committee Liaison), Carolyn Kosnoff
(Assistant Town Manager-Finance), Cristina Burwell (Executive Director, Munroe Center for the
Arts), Brian Healy (Architect), Bridger McGaw (Town Meeting Member)
Administrative Assistant: Christopher Tierney
Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:02 PM.
1. Disposition of distribution from State Budget Surplus:
Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, joined the Committee to discuss the
additional $494,976 in revenue allocated to CPA from the State budget surplus. Ms. Kosnoff
commented that State matching revenue from the original distribution rounds fell short of FY2023
estimates. The budget estimated a 38% state match in FY2023 and the actual match from the first three
rounds was 31.45%. Ms. Kosnoff explained that the state only requires that a “good faith effort” be made
when making yearly allocations to each of the buckets, and there is no requirement to correct any
deficiency or surplus in the buckets once actual revenues are received. However, in this case, the $494,976
in surplus revenue mostly covered the shortfall that would have otherwise occurred in the current year
budget. This resulted in a balance of $157,956 as the "bonus" payment for FY2023. Ms. Walker suggested
that it would be appropriate to allocate an additional 10% of the "bonus" to each of the buckets.
Mr. Beuttell left the meeting at 4:31.
After a motion by Mr. Pressman was duly made and seconded the Committee voted by roll call
(4-2,3 not present) to adopt the motion and place $50,000 from the State surplus into each of
the 3 buckets ($150,000 in total) with the remaining $7,956 going into Unbudgeted Reserves.
Whipple Hill Funding:
During her time going over the State surplus, Ms. Kosnoff told the Committee that there would
need to be some revision of the CPA motion for Town Meeting and that the Whipple Hill Trail
Repair and Fire Access project would need to be put into a different bucket or else the amount
of money remaining in the Open Space bucket would be negative, which is not allowable. Ms.
O’Brien asked if the project could be split along multiple buckets, and Ms. Kosnoff said that it
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could. After some discussion Ms. Kosnoff stated that the Committee could allocate $250,000
from Open Space and the remainder from the Unbudgeted Reserve, allowing the greatest
amount of financial flexibility for the Committee and not requiring more debt to be issued. Mr.
Sandeen asked about the moving of funds and whether this would preclude the paying down of
debt. Ms. Kosnoff stated that she currently would not recommend using any more CPA funds to
reduce borrowing and that the current level of available cash should remain unchanged.
After a motion was duly made and seconded the Committee voted by roll call (6-0, 3 not present)
to use $250,000 to be allocated from Open Space and $50,000 to be allocated from the
Unbudgeted Reserve.
Munroe Center for the Arts Debt:
The Committee discussed the appropriate amount of debt to be issued for the Munroe Center
for the Arts project. After a motion was duly made and seconded the Committee conducted a
roll call vote (6-0, 3 not present) to support the motion of issuing $2,000,000 in five-year bonds
for the Munroe Center for the Arts project.
Review Motion for Town Meeting:
The Committee discussed the draft of the CPC Motion to Town Meeting, and after a motion was
duly made and seconded the Committee conducted a roll call vote (6-0, 3 not present) to approve
the draft Motion with the appropriate changes made to the funding sources for the Whipple Hill
project.
Mr. Horton left the meeting at 5:30.
Review Draft of 2023 ATM Report:
The Committee discussed the 2023 Report to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) draft. Ms. Fenollosa
informed the Committee of minor edits and that she is still waiting on some updated project
expenditures from the Department of Public Works. After a motion was duly made and seconded
the Committee conducted a roll call vote (5-0, 4 not present) to approve the Annual Report as
amended by the votes of this meeting and any updates from DPW and correction of “scriveners’
errors.”
Munroe Center for the Arts:
Christina Burwell and Brian Healey from the Munroe Center for the Arts offered an update on
their project and described a new scenario for the parking lot, changing the orientation from
east/west to north/south. The number of spaces would remain the same and would increase the
total size of parking area by approximately 1,000 square feet. The revised design would allow
greater accessibility to the open space behind the building, but would not affect the total cost of
the project. The Committee expressed its support of the reorientation but no formal vote was
taken.
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Minutes:
After a motion was duly made and seconded the Committee conducted a roll call vote (5-0, 4 not
present) to approve both sets of minutes (regular meeting and Public Hearing on the Needs
Assessment Report) from 12/15/2022.
Committee Business:
Ms. Fenollosa informed the Committee that the Town Meeting Member’s Association event is on
March 15th and any member of the Committee or staff is welcome to attend. The next meeting
of the Community Preservation Committee will likely occur after Annual Town Meeting.
Adjourn:
After a motion was duly made and seconded the Committee conducted a roll call vote (5-0, 4
not present) to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted
Christopher Tierney
Meeting Materials:
Draft of Annual Town Report 2023
Draft of Warrant for 2023
Community Preservation Fund Balances
Community Preservation Committee Projected Revenue and Debt Service
Munroe Center for the Arts site analysis drawings
Meeting Minutes dated 12/15/2022
Public Hearing Minutes dated 12/15/2022