HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-10-CPC-minMinutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Parker Meeting Room
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
4:00 PM
Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Richard Wolk (Vice- Chair); Norman Cohen,
Charles Hornig, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger Robert Pressman, Sandra Shaw (arrived at 4:05 PM)
Absent: Robert Peters
Administrative Assistant: Elizabeth Mancini
Other Attendees: Wendy Manz, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison to the CPC; Carol Kowalski,
Assistant Town Manager for Development
Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM.
1) Committee Business- Ms. Fenollosa reviewed the list of 11 communities that adopted the
Community Preservation Act during the recent election. She estimated that the increased
number of communities would reduce the state match by approximately 10 %. She also
reported that the upcoming FY17 state match would not be supplemented by any state budget
surplus funds.
2) Stone Building Analysis- Ms. Kowalski reviewed her request of $25,000 for an analysis of the
Stone Building. The proposal would analyze accessibility and security for the building while also
focusing on how to utilize the first floor as display space and the second floor as meeting or
event space.
The CPC's concerns with the current proposal included having no clear tenant to occupy the
building, no clear objective or deliverable and no clear future year development plan. Ms.
Fenollosa also asked about the possibility of selling the building, subject to a preservation
restriction. Ms. Kowalski acknowledged the necessity of having this as an option.
The CPC did not issue a straw vote for the project but ultimately decided it was worth having
Ms. Kowalski re- submit the proposal in order to address the lingering questions and
uncertainties. Ms. Kowalski appreciated the helpful feedback.
3) Wright Farm Additional Site Assessment- Ms. Kowalski also reviewed the request for $70,000
in additional funding for remediation of contaminants on the Wright Farm site. She explained
that an environmental assessment near the barn is underway which identified unanticipated
levels of lead in the soil, higher than the baseline permitted by Department of Environmental
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Protection. The break -down of the request includes $10,000 for remediation and $60,000 to
complete and file a conservation restriction.
The CPC was in agreement that the cost for the conservation restriction seemed excessively
high, citing a previous FY14 funding request that appropriated $25,000 for five separate
restrictions. The Committee thought that a further break -down of all associated costs would be
beneficial in addition to a report on how past CPA funds allocated to Wright Farm had been
used. Ms. Kowalski agreed that it was important to provide information to illustrate the overall
picture. The Committee expressed a general willingness to support the project but did not issue
a straw vote. Ms. Kowalski agreed to re -work the proposal and provide additional information
in order for the CPC to issue a more justified position.
4) Member Concerns- While Ms. Kowalski was still present at the meeting, Mr. Pressman asked
her about the possibility of the Planning Department applying for CPA funds to support the
design of community housing on the Leary property. Further discussion ensued about trying to
move along the design of previously acquired community housing properties while recognizing
the burden on LexHAB. The CPC agreed that a design proposal would be suitable for review in
the next fiscal year funding cycle.
After a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 PM.
The following documents were submitted /utilized at the meeting:
1) FY18 CIP Application- Wright Farm Additional Site Assessment
2) FY18 CIP Application- Stone Building Analysis
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Mancini
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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