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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-12-CPC-min Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Parker Meeting Room Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 4:00 PM Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair); Charles Hornig, David Horton,Joe Pato, Lisah Rhodes, Melinda Walker. Administrative Assistant: Gina Federico Remote Participation: Bob Pressman joined the meeting remotely due to his physical presence being unreasonably difficult. Absent:Jeanne Krieger, Dick Wolk (Vice-Chair). Other Attendees: Ellen Basch, Appropriations Committee; David Kanter, Vice-Chair, Capital Expenditures Committee. Ms. Fenollosa called the meeting to order at 4:03 PM and announced that Bob Pressman would be participating remotely due to his physical presence being unreasonably difficult. Ms. Fenollosa also stated that all votes taken during the meeting would be by a roll call vote. Review CPC Report to 2019 Annual Town Meeting (ATM)- Ms. Fenollosa informed the Committee that the proposed citizens article 4 to reduce the CPA surcharge from 3%to 1% has been indefinitely postponed (IP'ed). Mr. Kanter stated that the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) is going to include a write up in their report to Annual Town Meeting (ATM) detailing why the CEC does not support the article. Ms. Fenollosa stated that at a recent Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting on 3-11-19 the BOS voted unanimously for all proposed CPA projects with the exception of article 14 (b) and 14 (g) which were voted down by Selectmen Sandeen. Ms. Fenollosa then explained that Selectmen Sandeen made an error and mistakenly voted not in favor of the projects. Ms. Fenollosa informed the Committee of a conversation that she had with Pat Nelson of LexHAB regarding the CPC LexHAB guidelines. As the guidelines are drafted Ms. Nelson is concerned that number 5 would prohibit all demolition of buildings and structures even in cases where a structure is unsafe or unsound. Ms. Fenollosa suggested changing the wording of guideline 5 to "Buildings on the Cultural Resources Inventory should not be acquired with CPA funds for the purpose of total demolition except in cases where the structure is unsafe or unsound". The Committee decided to revisit the topic in a later meeting since the topic was not listed on the agenda. 1 Ms. Kosnoff discussed the indefinite postponement of article 14 (f) and as a result the extra $875,000 of unspent funds. The Committee discussed if the extra money should be applied to the Center Track and Field debt per Mr. Kanter's recommendation or banked for future use. The CPC decided to leave the money in the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) for future use because of an anticipated major land acquisition in the near future. Mr. Kanter stated that he is concerned with the CPC becoming a bank. Ms. Fenollosa responded that it was never the Committee intention to maintain a nearly$4 million fund balance. Ms. Fenollosa asked the Committee if anybody wanted to bring forth a motion to apply the money to the Center Track and Field debt. A motion was never brought forth. Discuss FY20 DOR DLS first round state match estimates- Ms. Fenollosa discussed the recent bulletin from the Department of Revenue preliminary estimating the first round CPA state match at 11.57%. Over multiple CPC meetings Ms. Kosnoff has provided the CPC with financial figures reflecting a state match estimate of 15%. Ms. Fenollosa asked the Committee if the figures in the report should be amended to reflect the new estimate of 11.57% or keep the original estimate of 15%. Ms. Kosnoff stated that both Town Manager Jim Malloy and she are comfortable leaving the estimate at 15%. The Committee decided to amend the figures in the report to reflect the DOR estimate of 11.57%for the sake of accuracy. Ms. Kosnoff will update the Community Preservation Fund Balance spreadsheet to reflect a state match estimate of 11.5%. Committee Business- Ms. Fenollosa informed the Committee that article 14 (b) has been slightly modified because a long time resident did not feel as if the proposed project reflected the scope of the work. Mr. Kanter noted that the report to ATM stated if legislation passed CPA communities would receive over a 45%first round state match. Mr. Kanter stated that the number is 40%and Ms. Basch confirmed. Ms. Fenollosa responded that the Community Preservation Coalition website states 45% and she will look into it further. Minutes-After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted in a roll call vote (7-0) to approve the minutes from 2-14-19. After a motion duly made and seconded, the CPC voted in a roll call vote (7-0) to approve the report as amended allowing for small adjustments if necessary, nothing substantive. After a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted in a roll call vote (7-0) to adjourn at 5:04 PM The following documents were used at the meeting: 1) Recreation Memo dated 3-5-19 2) Revised Article 14 (b) Willard's Woods 3) Minutes from 2-14-19 2 4) 4" Draft of the Report to Annual Town Meeting 5) Page 2 of the report to 2019 ATM 6) Division of Local Services Bulletin BUL-2019-1 dated March 2019 Respectfully submitted, Gina Federico Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 3