HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-12-CPC-min (Regular Meeting)1
Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Remote Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 863 6267 8605
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 4:03
PM); Sandhya Beebee, Liaison, Capital Expenditures Committee (arrived at 4:59 PM); Peter
Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation (arrived at 4:06 PM); Christine Dean, Community
Center Director; Carolyn Goldstein, Director, Lexington Lyceum; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant
Town Manager for Finance; Mark Manasas, President, Lexington Lyceum; Lisah Rhodes, Vice
Chair, Capital Expenditures Committee (arrived at 4:08 PM); Elaine Tung, Chair, Affordable
Housing Trust;
Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:02 PM.
Committee Business – The Committee discussed postponing votes on FY26 funding
appropriations, as requested by Mr. Boutwell. Mr. Boutwell shared that the Recreation
Committee needed more time to affirm their stances and priorities on this year’s recreation
requests. The Committee agreed to take a straw vote on the current funding proposals to
provide the Recreation Committee with insights on the CPC’s preferences (see results on page
2).
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 12-5-2024 (9-0).
Public Hearing – The Committee held a public hearing to receive comments and questions on
the CPC’s 2024 Needs Assessment Report (see the CPC’s Public Hearing Minutes dated 12-12-
2024 for more detail).
Needs Assessment Report – Following the public hearing, the Committee voted on the Report.
After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote to approve the
2024 Needs Assessment Report (8-0-1). When his turn to vote was reached on the motion
calling for approval of the Report in its entirety, including the 5-year table, Mr. Pressman noted
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that last year, a separate vote was taken on whether to include the table. He stated that he
would abstain on this motion and did so.
Mr. Manasas and Ms. Goldstein left the meeting at 4:28 PM and 4:29 PM respectively.
FY26 CPA Finances and Funding Proposals – The Committee discussed the Committee’s
finances and funding options for FY26 project requests. Mr. Beuttell asked about the possibility
of decreasing the Committee’s reserve funding due to the low risk nature of the Affordable
Housing Trust’s request. Ms. Kosnoff shared the benefits of the CPC’s reserve fund, noting that
the fund also helps protect against a revenue shortfall. Ms. Kosnoff added that the CPC could
opt to decreasing the reserve fund below $1.5 million, but urged the Committee not to
decrease the fund past $1 million.
The Committee discussed voting procedures for a straw vote on the funding options and the
eventual final vote on a funding option and FY26 funding allocations. Each funding proposal
sponsor shared a summary of their proposal. Mr. Boutwell’s proposal funds the Affordable
Housing Trust and Harrington Field project at $2,540,054 and $1,610,000 respectively (see
Boutwell FY26 CPA Funding Proposal for more detail). Ms. Krieger’s proposal funds the
Affordable Housing Trust and Harrington Field project at $2.7 million and $1,497,904
respectively (see Krieger FY26 CPA Funding Proposal for more detail). Ms. Krieger added that
she was open to changing the exact allocation to the recreation projects following input from
the Recreation Committee. Mr. Pressman’s proposal funds the Center Playground and
Harrington Field projects at $745,000 and $1,942,904 respectively (see Pressman FY26 CPA
Funding Proposal for more detail). Mr. Pressman identified his rationale for supporting the
request of the Affordable Housing Trust of $3,000,000. He noted the statements made by Mr.
Beuttell and Ms. Walker during the previous meeting. He also alluded to the fourth-place
position of community housing in the history of CPA funding of the four categories. Mr.
Sandeen’s proposal funds the Harrington Field projects at $2,687,904 and opts to not fund the
Center Playground with FY26 CPA funds (see Sandeen FY26 CPA Funding Proposal for more
detail). Mr. Sandeen added that the proposed funding amount for the Harrington Field project
is to increase the chances for the project’s approval at Town Meeting and to comply with the
Town staff’s strong recommendation to avoid partially funding multiple projects.
The Committee took a straw vote on each member’s preferred funding proposal. The Boutwell
proposal received no votes, the Krieger proposal received three votes (Ms. Fenollosa, Ms.
Krieger, and Mr. Creech), the Pressman proposal received one vote (Mr. Pressman), and the
Sandeen proposal received four votes (Ms. Roy, Mr. Beuttell, Mr. Sandeen, and Ms. Walker).
Mr. Boutwell abstained.
Ms. Walker left the meeting at 5:13 PM.
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Committee Business Cont. – The Committee agreed to meet on December 19, at 4:00 PM to
conduct final votes on FY26 appropriations.
Ms. Dean and Ms. Rhodes left the meeting at 5:14 PM.
After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted by a roll call vote (8-0) to
adjourn at 5:15 PM.
The following documents were used at the meeting:
1) Draft Meeting Minutes – 12-5-2024
2) 2024 Needs Assessment Report – Draft 3
3) Boutwell FY26 CPA Funding Proposal
4) Krieger FY26 CPA Funding Proposal
5) Pressman FY26 CPA Funding Proposal
6) Sandeen FY26 CPA Funding Proposal
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Case
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee