HomeMy Public PortalAbout2018-09-25 Community Preservation Committee - Press ReleaseMichael J. Driscoll
Town Manager
TOWN OF
WATERTOWN
Office of the Town Manager
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6465
www.watertown-ma.gov
townmgr@watertown-rna.gov
To: Honorable Town Council
From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager
Date: September 20, 2018
RE: Community Preservation Committee
Attached please find a Press Release regarding the Community Preservation Committee.
Steven Magoon, Director of Community Development and Planning/Assistant Town Manager
will bring this up under Communications from the Town Manager at the September 25, 2018
Town Council Meeting.
cc: Department Heads
PRESS RELEASE
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 25, 2018
Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking four (4) Watertown citizens interested in serving
on the Community Preservation Committee. The Committee is being formed as a result of the
voters of the Town of Watertown approving the provisions of G.L. c.44B, the Community
Preservation Act; and the Honorable Town Council subsequently adopting an Ordinance
Establishing a Community Preservation Committee.
Powers and Duties: The Community Preservation Committee shall have all the duties and
powers as set forth in G.L. c.44B §5, including, but not limited to the following:
a. The Community Preservation Committee shall study the needs, possibilities and
resources of the Town regarding community preservation, including the consideration of
regional projects for community preservation. The Committee shall consult with existing
municipal boards, including the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission,
the Planning Board, and the Housing Authority in conducting such studies. As part of its
study, the Committee shall hold one or more public informational hearings on the needs,
possibilities and resources of the Town regarding community preservation possibilities
and resources, notice of which shall be posted publicly and published for each of two
weeks preceding a hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town.
b. The Community Preservation Committee shall make recommendations to the Town Council
for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; for the acquisition, preservation,
rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; for the acquisition, creation, preservation,
rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; for the acquisition, creation,
preservation and support of community housing; and for the rehabilitation or restoration of
open space and community housing that is acquired or created; provided, however, that
funds expended pursuant to Chapter 44B shall not be used for maintenance. With respect to
community housing, the Community Preservation Committee shall recommend, whenever
possible, the reuse of existing buildings or construction of new buildings on previously
developed sites. With respect to recreational use, the acquisition of artificial turf for athletic
fields shall be prohibited. Recommendations to Town Council shall include their anticipated
costs.
c. The Community Preservation Committee may include in its recommendation to the Town
Council a recommendation to set aside for later spending funds for specific purposes that
are consistent with community preservation but for which sufficient revenues are not then
available in the Community Preservation Fund to accomplish that specific purpose or to
set aside for later spending funds for general purposes that are consistent with community
preservation.
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Qualifications: Citizens who are advocates for open space and land for recreational use,
historic resources, and community housing, who also:
1. Have deep connections to different constituencies within Watertown to make the
Town more responsive to the needs of its residents;
2. Can bring specific skills to the execution of tasks required by the Committee;
3. Can bring specific outlooks that may not normally be heard through the Town's
routine procedures; and
4. Value new approaches and ideas to identifying projects outside the Town's routine
budget priority process.
Applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information
concerning background or experience by Friday, October 19, 2018: by email to
townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager's Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown,
Massachusetts 02472.
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