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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-05-CPC-min1 Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, December 5, 2024 Remote Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 879 2202 1076 4:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Jeanne Krieger (Co-Vice Chair), Kathryn Roy (Co-Vice Chair), Kevin Beuttell, Christian Boutwell, Robert Creech, Robert Pressman, Mark Sandeen, Melinda Walker. Administrative Assistant: Thomas Case Other Attendees: Melissa Battite, Director of Parks and Community Programs (arrived at 4:01 PM); Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation (arrived at 4:05 PM); Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager for Finance (arrived at 4:11 PM); Carol Kowalski, Assistant Town Manager for Development (arrived at 4:05 PM); Linda Prosnitz, Affordable Housing Trust (arrived at 4:16 PM); Tom Shiple, Town Meeting Member (arrived at 4:49 PM); Elaine Tung, Chair, Affordable Housing Trust (arrived at 4:10 PM); Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM. FY26 CPA Projects – Town Counsel Review – The Committee reviewed and discussed Town Counsel’s opinion of the FY26 CPA project requests. Ms. Fenollosa shared that Counsel had approved the eligibility for all projects (see Lexington CPA Recommendations FY 2026 dated 12.4.2024 for more detail). Mr. Pressman and Ms. Walker shared their disagreement with Counsel over identifying LexHAB’s decarbonization projects at non-CPA funded units as preservation instead of rehabilitation. 2024 Needs Assessment Report – The Committee discussed the 2024 Needs Assessment Report. Ms. Roy shared comments, edit suggestions, and questions on the report. Mr. Pressman said that the members responsible for the Community Housing section would review Ms. Roy’s comments and questions and make any necessary edits to the section. Mr. Boutwell explained what a gaga pit is and shared which recreation fields are expected to be offline during the High School project. Mr. Coleman left the meeting at 5:34 PM. FY26 CPA Finances – The Committee discussed the Committee’s finances and funding options for FY26 project requests. Mr. Case shared an overview of the CPC’s finances and noted that as the current requests stand, the Committee has about a $3 million deficit. Ms. Kosnoff shared that there are more general fund requests than funding available and so any project that is 2 partially funded by CPA funds may not receive additional funding. Ms. Kosnoff advised the CPC to avoid debt financing and to prioritize fully funding projects as opposed to partially funding multiple projects. Mr. Creech shared his observations of wear and tear and damage at Center Playground. Mr. Creech also expressed his support for compromise between recreation and community housing and suggested that if the CPC would be limiting their funding of open space, historic resources, and recreation in favor of increased funding for community housing, the CPC should communicate that with the Select Board. Mr. Creech and Mr. Sandeen expressed their support for avoiding debt financing. Mr. Sandeen shared that a majority of the Select Board agreed that the Center Playground project should be delayed until after the High School project. Ms. Roy expressed her support for delaying the Center Playground project and requested that the Committee receive photos and details on the specific damage at the playground. Ms. Krieger expressed her support for the Harrington Field project but suggested removing funding for the lights. Mr. Pressman noted that the total recreation requests exceed the available funding prior to any community housing requests. Mr. Boutwell expressed his support for protecting current capital resources before creating new capital resources. Mr. Boutwell noted that the Center Playground and the Lincoln Park Playground have both been identified by professionals as reaching their end of life, despite their appearance. Mr. Boutwell expressed skepticism at Center Playground’s ability to remain open until the end of the High School project but noted it could likely remain open if the project were delayed one year. Mr. Boutwell shared his funding proposal, fully funding LexHAB’s request and Center Playground and partially funding the AHT’s request and Harrington Field project (see Boutwell FY26 CPA Funding Proposal for more detail). Mr. Beuttell expressed his support for the value created by funding community housing compared to the other categories and expressed his support for the housing requests. Mr. Creech expressed his support for a transition period if the CPC would be funding community housing at a higher amount than previous years. Ms. Fenollosa noted that the AHT’s budget includes funding for LexHAB and suggested that the amount of CPC funding being allocated to LexHAB could be deducted from the AHT allocation. Ms. Tung shared that the AHT had removed that LexHAB funding from their budget prior to their $3 million request. Ms. Fenollosa asked about the ability to fund the AHT with the general fund. Ms. Kosnoff shared that Town Meeting could approve general funds for the AHT but noted that a request would have to be made by the AHT and likely go through the Land Use department. Ms. Kosnoff noted that general fund requests are currently in a deficit and noted that it would be unlikely for funding to be approved for FY26. Ms. Tung expressed her concern regarding support for general funds being appropriated to the AHT. Ms. Kowalski noted that appropriations from 3 general funds for housing trusts are rare and added that it would be difficult to accomplish in Lexington. Mr. Sandeen shared his funding proposal, delaying funding for Center Playground and partial funding the Harrington Field project (see Sandeen FY26 CPA Funding Proposal for more detail). Mr. Creech noted that delaying Center Playground for FY26 is not a guarantee for funding in FY27. Ms. Battite expressed her support for funding the Center Playground in FY26 based on professional inspections of the playground and to avoid potentially of having to close the playground. Ms. Battite and Ms. Fenollosa noted the risk of legal liability risk for the playground if it falls into disrepair. Ms. Walker expressed her support for adequately funding housing. Mr. Beuttell and Ms. Kowalski left the meeting at 5:45 PM and 5:48 PM respectively. The Committee compared and discussed the proposals from Mr. Boutwell and Mr. Sandeen. Mr. Boutwell expressed his support to prioritize Center Playground before the Harrington Field project. Ms. Kosnoff shared that the origins of the Harrington project was to address the Town’s field shortage and the Recreation Department’s projected revenue loss as a result of the High School project. Ms. Krieger expressed support for a proposal that splits the difference in AHT funding from the two proposal so that the AHT is funded at $2.7 million. Mr. Pressman encouraged Recreation to seek additional general funds for the Harrington Field project. Ms. Roy supported Ms. Krieger’s approach. Mr. Sandeen shared his preference for prioritizing funding for the Harrington Field project over the Central Playground. 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 11-21-2024 (8-0). Committee Business- Ms. Fenollosa reminded the Committee that they will have a public hearing to receive comments on the 2024 Needs Assessment Report and added that the committee can continue their discussion on FY26 finances and funding following the hearing. Ms. Battite left the meeting at 6:06 PM. Ms. Tung and Mr. Shiple left the meeting at 6:08 PM. After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote (8-0) to adjourn at 6:09 PM. The following documents were used at the meeting: 1) Lexington CPA Recommendations FY 2026 (12.4.2024) 2) 2024 Needs Assessment Report – Draft 1 3) CPA FY26 Budget Summary (12.5.24) 4) Boutwell FY26 CPA Funding Proposal 5) Sandeen FY26 CPA Funding Proposal 4 6) Draft Meeting Minutes – 11-21-24 Respectfully submitted, Thomas Case Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee APPROVED: 12/12/2024