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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-30-CPC-min Community Preservation Committee March 30, 2006 Attending Joel Adler, Norm Cohen, Marilyn Fenollosa, Wendy Manz, Leo McSweeney, Richard Pagett, Sandy Shaw, Betsey Weiss Not attending Dick Wolk The meeting was called to order at 7 35 p m. 1 Public hearing on projects to be discussed for 2006 Town Meeting a. Cary Hall vault --install environmental controls -- $60,000 Donna Hooper, Town Clerk. The vault is 800 square feet, it is now subject to high temperatures and low humidity—not the proper environment to maintain town records Also, the town has made a request to the National Endowment for the Humanities for a grant for shelving, which will give us 1-1/2 times more shelving space A CPA grant would serve as matching funds The vault contains police and fire logs (historical, for research purposes), old town reports, personal records (marriage and birth certificates), other things to be added that are now in smaller vaults and in different departments These improvements will centralize storage Richard What protections from fire are in the buildings The fire suppression system releases non-harmful gas, and is a self contained system located adjacent to main furnace room. Leo What does money buys the HVAC system Ms Hooper. Per attached diagram Area C is the reading room, B was originally a civil defense area, now used for records storage, A is the vault According to remarks from dedication in 1927, the purpose of the building was to "store relics and treasures pertaining to the history of the town." Norm. If we recommend this to Town, would it be part of capital appropriation or CPA articles It would stay part of Article 28 (item (i)) Betsey any questions from the audiences None b Police Station renovations to dispatch area -- $100,000 Chris Casey, Police Chief The request is for funding to upgrade the safety dispatch center The project will entail interior renovation to accommodate the larger equipment that we are required to have Of the $840,000 total cost, $100,000 is for interior renovations (the rest is radio equipment) Wendy is this "historic"9 Marilyn—yes, it is on State Register of Historic Places as part of Town Hall complex. But she doesn't think this project is appropriate for use of the historic preservation allocation of CPA funds Richard will the facility have to be updated latera This project is part of a long range plan to renovate and upgrade the facilities This upgrade will enable the police department to continue operations while back half of building is being renovated. So this investment would remain a sound investment Betsey Any other questions from the audiences No c Fire Station renovations $100,000 Bill Hadley, Director of Public Works This project is listed in Article 28 (c) The project includes replacement of the rubber roof on the rear of the building, it was last done 12 years ago, and now leaks Also, the basement needs a drain to prevent water buildup and growth of mold from the damp conditions Finally, the floor where the apparatus is kept needs to be shored up new equipment creates 2000 pounds more weight of pressure on the infrastructure The estimated costs are $50,000 for the roof and drainage, $50,000 for shoring up the flooring. Leo is a new fire station still under considerations Maybe, but this won't affect the need for this station. Joel why didn't existing roof last longer than 12 years Aren't they supposed to last 50 years Can we go back to manufacturers Mr Hadley is looking into it Is the periodic flooding from excavation at the Shell stations No —ground water Why does the station have a flat roof? It is at the back of the building, for vehicles— it was designed this way - 2- How will the mold be controlled By eliminating water problem. Betsey any questions from the audience Susan Bennett, Lexington Historical Society— is this "historic"9 Yes d. Administrative— $20,000 for open space plan, $5,000 for other expenses Karen Mullins, Administrator, Conservation Commission, Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation The Town's plan was last updated in 1997 The State Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) requires update every 5 years, ours expired in 2002 We need to update maps and information, and widely distribute copies Commonwealth Capital (a source of grants)has a scoring program. Because our plan is out of date, we don't get points that would affect the Town's ability to get grants and funds for land acquisition reimbursement, self help (competitive grants with other cities and towns ) A town can receive up to 50% reimbursement, and we have funded many of our open space purchases using this program. The Western Greenway from Lot One would be a good example of the kind of project that could be funded through this program. because it affects several towns, would probably be eligible for self help The plan is an important historical document because it keeps track of land acquisition history and use in town. Why $20,0009 We must redo maps, updating them and making them compatible with GIS As part of the process, the Commission must go back out to community for input, as well as conducting new surveys, etc The plan must then be copied and distributed. What does this do for Recreations The plan is required to apply for grant funding such as treating the Old Res for water quality, vegetation control, (it is now eligible because it is open to the public) It will also permit access to funding for the purchase of land for recreation and an inventory of our playing fields Richard—why under"Administrative" and not "Open Space" allocations Carl Valente, Town Manager—because the plan is a planning tool, part of the larger CPC plan that must be prepared. Betsey Any other questions - 3- Dawn McKenna—will any other projects be considered Betsey— no, because of the tight timing with Town Meeting, these projects are included because they already in the capital budget and can be funded with this year's CPA funds All other projects will be subject to an application process and vetted by the Committee for consideration at the next Town meetings, probably in the fall and definitely in the spring. e Reserves—we must allocate 10% of CPA funds to each of the areas that do not have projects Mr Valente he estimates receipts of$2 3 million from property taxes beginning 7/1/06 Proposed motion. Admin. — open space plan, $5,000 for CPC expenses Open space— since no projects before us, put total allocation ($230,000) in reserves Historic— amount depends on recommendations tonight Community housing—no projects so all in reserves Balance should be allocated to the general unreserved CPA fund balance so that if a project comes up, we could tap into the fund, after consideration by a special town meeting. The reserves will be invested, and the income from the investments stays with CPA trust fund. If actual tax receipts are more than the estimated receipts, the allocations will be similarly increased. How are CPA funds expended They are paid out through normal town payments after a project is approved by Town Meeting. It is up to department requesting project to manage and fund the project The CPC recommends but the project proponents handle all details Betsey any other questions from audience Ms McKenna— Can CPA funds be used for private projects' If so, she wants to recommend three possible projects - Renovations to the Depot -- This project started long before the CPA was adopted. We can't use CPA funds to reimburse for past expenses - Bathrooms at Lincoln Park—per the CPA statute, CPA funds can't be used to add to the amenities because the fields were not originally acquired or developed with CPA funds -New playing fields there is a lot in the Manor section, off Simonds Road on Williams Road (Baskin Field) — This area is too wet—it would require investment in a drainage system. There is another lot, the school site off Woburn Street on Utica Street we could put two fields there - 4- She also stated her support for the open space plan. Susan Bennett The Lexington Historical Society is about to launch a fund raising campaign for restoration of the Hancock Clarke House They have received a $25,000 Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for preconstruction plans, and they need to raise matching funds Under the terms of the grant, they will have to raise the money and pay the consultant by June 2007 in order to get reimbursed. What is the process for applying for a CPA grant Norm. we will have two town meetings— fall and spring—before payments are due There will be ample time to prepare formal application/process David Williams He thought tonight was to solicit ideas from the community This sounds like closed meeting—the committee has already decided. Wendy agrees with Norm—we have plenty of time for other projects Richard, Leo but this is more credible historic preservation project than the police and fire station projects Ms Hooper. in the future, if a private request is made, must the proponent submit an article for the warranty No—the proponent applies to the CPC, and the CPC presents a warrant article to town meeting listing all of the projects it recommends Ms McKenna. there is no guarantee of a special town meeting in fall, and spring town meeting may be too late Also, since this is public hearing, we must consider all projects brought forward—otherwise this meeting has no meaning. This project is ready and able to go to town meeting. If no process, it is unfair—the committee should reserve everything. Mr Valente the public had notice since the warrant was published re proposed projects discussed tonight It might be illegal to introduce new projects to town meeting now It would be up to the Moderator whether to consider them. Ms Bennett she is concerned about criteria being used to evaluate what is "historic" - 5- Wendy process is NOT narrow; we will review new projects Problem is that time is so short. Richard do we have to put in budget everything we want to spend CPA funding fors Mr Valente—yes Norm. We will have a warrant article that itemizes each proposed project so town meeting members will have opportunity to learn about it Ms McKenna, Mr Williams given the lack of time and process, the committee should bank all of the CPA funds to ensure a level playing field. All of these projects can wait 2 Close public hearing and proceed with deliberations a. Vault $60,000 Leo —is appropriate, important for community Agreed Wendy, Norm. Moved, seconded, unanimously approved. b Police Dispatch Room. $100,000 Marilyn not appropriate use of historic preservation funds Sandy this is an historic building. CPA funding will enable it to function. Not equipment but facility Meets statutory requirements Joel We can't support playground because of statute, since this is permitted, we should support it Moved and seconded. Passed, 7-1 c Fire station $100,000 Sandy This is an historic building. It needs work so it can function. Moved, seconded, unanimously approved d. Open space plan. $20,000 Moved, seconded, unanimously approved e Administrative $5,000 Norm. $5,000 is a comfortable amount, we can ask for more in the fall if we need it Richard How will we notify public of the application process Do we need a town- wide mailing (and therefore do we need more funds for postage)9 Mr Valente—we can put a descriptive insert in the tax/water bills Moved, seconded, unanimously approved f Lex Historical Society -- $25,000 for preconstruction study Moved and seconded—Failed 3-5 - 6- g. Reserves $230,000 for housing, $230,000 open space, $25,000 historic preservation, $1,530,000 to general unreserved fund balance of the Community Preservation Fund Moved, seconded, unanimously approved 3 Our next meeting is set for Wednesday, April 5 at 8 30 a.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room. 4 It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9 55 p m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Fenollosa - 7-