The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2009-12-14-CPC-min Community Preservation Committee Monday, December 14, 2009 3:30 pm G-15 Town Offices Present: Betsey Weiss, Chair; Joel Adler, Norman Cohen, Marilyn Fenollosa, Vice Chair; Jeanne Krieger, Wendy Manz, Leo McSweeney, Nathalie Rice, Admin. Asst; Sandy Shaw, and Dick Wolk. Mr. David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) was also in attendance. Ms. Weiss called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to take straw votes on the 21 projects under consideration by the CPC for CPA funding, and to conduct other matters of CPC business. 1.Appraisal Policy Approval of Final Changes - -The Committee discussed the Appraisal Policy, and a motion was made to insert the word, “first” before the phrase, “session of the Town Meeting or Special Town Meeting at which a real estate acquisition is to be considered.” The vote on this motion failed, (2-6). Ms. Fenollosa asked that the word, “fewer” be used instead of the words, “less than”, but the Committee did not approve this suggested change. The policy statement remained as drafted, and was approved by the Committee with a 5-3 vote. 2.Financial Policy Discussion - The Committee briefly discussed bonding th scenarios for the Busa debt service in preparation for a meeting on December 16 with Mr. Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager of Finance, Mr. Carl Valente, Town Manager, and the two finance committees. 3. Approval of Minutes -Minutes from 2009 were approved; 5/5, 5/5 Informational Session, 5/6 Caucus, 9/14, 10/26, 11/2, 11/5, 11/12, 11/12 (with the AC, BOS and CEC) 4.Town Report - Mr. David Tabling took a photo of the CPC for the Town Report. Ms.Weiss said she was reviewing a near final draft of the Town Report and would be sending it to the Committee for final approval before submitting it to the Selectmen. 5.Hancock School Condominium Project - Ms. Susan McLeish, President of the Hancock School Condominium Association and Mr. Scott Robins, representing 1 the Association, met with the CPC to discuss their amended application for the restoration of the roof and windows on the historic Hancock School Building. Ms. McLeish explained that the Historic District Commission (HDC) had told the Association that the HDC prefers a slate roof for the building, but that they would accept a rubber roof substitute under a hardship situation. The lifespan of a slate roof is 100 years, while a rubber roof is expected to last only 40 years. The Association is requesting $255,000 in CPA funding under a revised application. Their initial request was for $250,000. There was considerable discussion of the three types of roofing, and whether CPA funding was appropriate for such a project. While Ms. Fenollosa felt strongly that the project had valuable historic merit, Mr. Wolk questioned whether approving CPA funding would set a precedent for restoring privately-owned historic buildings that were underinsured. Members discussed the building’s historic value/public benefit versus using CPA funds for the restoration of a private structure. Members did seem to agree that the project would be very difficult to defend on the floor of Town Meeting. Ms. McLeish then described the revision to the window estimates. The amount of the requested appropriation had been reduced from $220,000 to $100,000 with the recent receipt of a more detailed estimate from their contractor. In response to a question from the Committee, Ms. McLeish explained that the cost of just repairing the existing wood frame windows was $84,000. She said the Association felt it would not be cost effective to repair drafty windows, and therefore prepared an application to the CPC for energy efficient wood clad windows for the proposed $100,000. The HDC, Ms. McLeish noted, would not allow metal frame windows. There was a lengthy discussion of the guidelines imposed by the HDC, and the impact of those restrictions on the project. Again, there was a general sense that the window portion of this project would raise a great deal of debate on the floor of Town Meeting. 6.Bikeway Preservation Project Update - Ms. Peggy Enders and Mr. Stewart Kennedy of the Bicycle Advisory Committee were in attendance for this discussion. Ms. Rice updated the Committee on the progress of the Bikeway project, explaining that Mr. Livsey, the Town Engineer, was pursuing the project with Town Counsel. Mr. Livsey believes that the elements of the project in the CPC request were never originally designed into the Bikeway, particularly the drainage work. He feels the proposed work is preservation in nature, not maintenance. He will itemize the proposed work in the CPC application for Town Counsel in order to make this distinction clear. Once this additional information is submitted to Town Counsel, it is Mr. Livsey’s belief that the project will be found eligible. 7.Greeley Village Project Update - Ms. Weiss updated the Committee on the progress of the Greeley Village project, stating that Mr. Steve Keane, Maintenance Superintendent, was working on an amended application. The initial 2 application for CPA funds for the repair of bathrooms, was deemed ineligible by Town Counsel. Mr. Keane is proposing a new project for Greeley Village – drainage improvements outside the units to eliminate flooded basements. Mr. Keane has talked to Ms. Karen Mullens, Director of Community Development, regarding the necessary Conservation Commission review and permitting for directing surface runoff into the storm drain system. 8.Cultural Resources Survey Supplemental Appropriation - - Ms. Fenollosa explained that the Historic Commission wished to slightly increase its requested funding to $5,300 from $5,000 to accommodate the necessary advertising costs for the project. The Committee supported this request. Ms. Fenollosa informed the Committee that Lexington has been formally selected to apply for the MHC grant, for which the Historic Commission was seeking CPA funding. 9.Straw Votes on Projects – Ms. Weiss called for a straw vote on the projects where there was sufficient information to take a vote. The votes are recorded below: a.Minuteman Bikeway Preservation$320,000(9-0) - b.Stormwater Mitigation Old Reservoir/Marrett Road – $190,047 (9-0) c.Center Playfields Drainage – Implementation Phase – $875,173 (9-0) . d.Greeley Village/Vynebrook Projects – $386,129 (9-0) e.Vynebrook Village Drainage Project – Design Study – $10,000 (9-0) f.LexHAB Purchase of Two Properties– $695,000 (7-1-1) g.Archives and Records Management/Records Conservation – $150,000 (9-0) h.Cary Library Preservation Project – Archives – $100,000 (9-0) i.Cary Memorial Building – Venue Improvements Study – $30,000 (9-0) j.Cary Memorial Building Signage – $25,000 (6-2-1) k.Building Envelope – $73,000 (9-0) l.Town Office Building Renovation – $1,933,947 (not a final number) (6-2-1) 3 m.Cary Memorial Building/TOB HVAC Controls Upgrade – $35,000 (9-0) n.Police Station Ventilation System – $31,700 (8-1) o.Muzzey Senior Center Improvements Stud– $45,100 (8-1) y p.White House Historic Structures Report – $18,000 (6-3) q.Stone Building Exterior Renovatio– $202,933 (9-0 n ) r.Munroe Tavern Capital Improvements – $400,000 (8-0-1) s.Comprehensive Cultural Resource Survey – Supplemental Appropriation - $5,300 (9-0) t.Battle Green Master Plan – $25,000 (7-2) u.Busa Debt Service – TBD (9-0) v.Administrative Fees – $150,000 (9-0) w.Land Acquisition – (no vote) x.Cotton Farm Land Acquisition – (no vote) The meeting was adjourned at 5:43 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Rice Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 4