HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-03-CPC-min
Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee
Thursday, February 3, 2011
3:00 pm
Room 207
Town Offices
Present:
Board Members:
Wendy Manz,Chair; Marilyn Fenollosa, Vice-Chair; Joel Adler,
Norman Cohen, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney, Sandy Shaw, and Dick Wolk.
Administrative Assistant
: Nathalie Rice
Also in attendance was David Kanter, member of the Capital Expenditures Committee
(CEC).
The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm by Ms. Manz.
1.Approval of Minutes –
Minutes from the meeting of January 27, 2011 were
approved as submitted.
2.Muzzey Condominium Window Replacement Project –
Ginger McGuire
representing the Muzzey Condominium Association was present for the
discussion regarding this project. Ms. Manz updated the CPC, noting that the
Association now had eight members who wished to participate in the project
and six who did not. She also informed the Committee she had spoken with
David Weiner, Town Counsel, regarding the structuring of the note and the
associated legal costs. She said Mr. Weiner was amenable to keeping the legal
fees for the project as low as possible. Ms. Manz then asked for an indication
of the CPC’s “enthusiasm” for the project, to which Mr. Adler responded that
the low participation was unfortunate since it would increase the per unit legal
fee and translate poorly to Town Meeting.
Ms. McGuire noted that members who did not want to participate in the
program were concerned about the lien on their property. She reported that
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there was a meeting of the Association scheduled for February 9, at which
participation in the project would be more definitively assessed. She
questioned the Committee about whether there was a threshold of
participation for going forward. Ms. Manz responded that she would like to
see a strong majority of the 35 unit owners sign on. Ms. Krieger noted that she
was concerned about whether Town Meeting would look favorably on the
project, but stressed her commitment to make the project work. In response to
a question from Ms. Manz as to whether the Committee was willing to wait to
hear from more participants, Ms. Krieger made a motion for the CPC to wait
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until after the Association meeting on the 9 before voting final support or
lack thereof for the project. The motion was passed (7-1).
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3.Battle Green Master Plan Implementation
– Ms. Manz reported on Town
Counsel’s response to a CPC email, which questioned whether certain parts of
the Battle Green Master Plan work could be funded with CPA dollars. At
issue were reseeding and painting of fences, which some had noted might
represent maintenance work. Ms. Manz reported that Attorney Kevin Batt
noted that such small jobs, if done separately, could raise concern, but as
insignificant portions of a $50,000 restoration job, which were arguably
integral to the work, they were not worth disputing.
4.Updates
a.)Needs Assessment Report Public Hearing
- Ms. Manz summarized the
points raised by attendees at the public hearing for the Needs Assessment
Report. These included requests that; (1) at-large CPC members be
appointed to represent precincts, and (2) a farmland preservationist be
appointed to the Committee to better represent the farming interests in
Town. The Committee discussed these requests, and noted that seven of
nine precincts are presently represented on the CPC. Regarding the
appointment of a farmland preservationist, the Committee noted that this
would be comparable to appointing an individual from Pop Warner, or a
Baseball League supporter. Such “special interest” representatives would
contradict the purpose of the statute which calls for an “at-large”
appointee. Further, such special interests are represented under the main
categories of the CPA appointment. Farmland is addressed under the
open space/conservation appointment, just as a Pop Warner supporter
would be represented by the recreation appointee.
Ms. Manz updated the Committee on an email she had received from
Margaret Heitz following the public hearing. She had responded to Ms.
Heitz’s concerns that the CPA funneled money from poorer town across
the state to wealthier suburban communities. The emailed response was
copied to the Committee.
b.)Cotton Farm Debt Service
- Ms. Manz explained that Mr. Addelson had
requested that the CPC hold the figure of $1,300,000 in their report to
Town Meeting since the Town was not certain when it would be
receiving the $500,000 State Self-Help funds for the Cotton Farm parcel.
5.Next Meeting
– The next CPC meeting was scheduled for Thursday,
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February 17 at 3:00 pm. It is anticipated that the CPC will take a final vote
on the Muzzey Window project at that time.
The CPC meeting was adjourned at 4:10 pm.
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One new document was presented at the meeting by Ms. McGuire of the Muzzey
Condominium Association. It was a undated printout of a powerpoint
presentation, entitled “Muzzey Window Replacement Project”.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Rice
Administrative Assistant
Community Preservation Committee
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