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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2006-08-09 Minutes e\\\\\\tI 1 NIIIllli//0//U/ EWs ''' Communit y Preservation - FEL oeR B° �'Q % O p7/1 0 9 Committee f?z _ m` Town of Brewster � ,!'I` N 2198 Main Street BREWSTER BICENTENNIAL IC A! Brewster, Massachusetts 02631-1898 Iluu N / -vs.? Q Ili,it I I . N Eg RAP OR A�pO�C\ W /"//////iiii;111I1II111tOos MINUTES OF COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Wednesday, AUGUST 9, 2006 4:30 P.M. Brewster Ladies Library Present: Elliot Carr, Elizabeth Taylor, Rollie Bassett, Paul Ruchinskas, Michael Lach. Absent: Roy Robinson, Paul Hush, William Reyburn, Steve McKenna Guests: Keith Johnson, Conservation Administrator; Joan Carstanjen, Cemetery Committee. Chairman Elliot Carr convened the CPC meeting at 4:30l'M in the Brewster Ladies Library I. Minutes There were no minutes to be approved. II. Discussion of Current Applications Historical Preservation - Cemetery Committee 1. Joan Carstanjen of the Cemetery Committee discussed acquiring more funds to finish the Cemetery Project. She was advised by Carr to obtain a new application and Taylor offered to e-mail her the new application. Joan had brought digital pictures to show the Committee. It was suggested she also e-mail them to Taylor. A lot of the cemetery stone repair work that had been done previously, had been done incorrectly, wrong cleaning materials/methods and wrong repair methods. The person they are working with is very good. He has cleaned and repaired the stones, making new bases for a number of them. 2. Carr explained that the newly formed Historic Commission met in the A.M. and that Joan should send her information to them. 3. Carstanjen indicated that the delay in the project was due to the weather. The work had to be done at a certain temperature and it had been too hot in July to finish. The stones needed to be lifted, cleaned, realigned and one stone had to be laminated to save it. 4. Bassett stated that he thought the funding was to train Town people to do the work. 5. Carstanjen stated Town workers and two volunteers had been trained. She was advised to use the new application and re-submit her application for review for possible recommendation at spring '07 Town Meeting. Open Space - Conservation Lands 6. Taylor indicated that there were three applications from the Conservation Commission/Natural Resources Department. 7. Bassett— Why wasn't this put into their budget this year? Community Preservation Committee Meeting August 9, 2006 I of 4 8. Carr—I was telling Keith that I think someone ought to rank them, 1, 2, 3, and decide which ones are best and make a recommendation. 9. Johnson—There are three possible projects for your consideration: 1. Habitat on Wing Island — Funding for the third year. It is a full 3-year project. The first and second year have already been funded by grants. $5,000 will be needed for the 3rd year. 2. Betty's Curve - The cost for planting Betty's Curve is $6,200. Perhaps the Open Space Committee should be asked if they spent the entire $100K on the demolition. If there is remaining money perhaps that could be used for the planting of flora. 3. Ellis Property/Hawk's Nest- Slough Road -This property needs restoration of the open field. 10.Taylor—I don't think there is a budget. There is no budget for management of our Conservation Lands or any other work on our Town owned Conservation Lands. Grant funds have to be sought for any work that needs to be done. Americorps has also provided much needed assistance. We can buy all of the land we want, but the Town has yet to provide funds to take care of it. 11.Lach -There has been no authorization from Town Meeting for Cons Com to take care of these lands? 12.Bassett -That's totally wrong. It's like if you buy a building and let it fall into the ground. I think it should be part of Conservation to put together something and go to the Town, I will guarantee to you that they will get the money. It will pass with no problem at all. So I don't understand. I like Elliot's idea, that whichever one is best, maybe we choose one for review and possible approval. 13.Carr— Personally, I agree with everything. I think there is a lot of work, a lot of projects which they could be doing. Which I personally would be willing to fund, but one at a time carefully presented, rather than, sort of case by case. There is a lot of money that could be well spent in the Punkhorn, including creating an open meadow, which they tried unsuccessfully to do more than five years ago. 14.Taylor— People raised a ruckus when we tried initially to do that, but maybe it would be approved of this time with a better understanding of the importance of such areas. 15.Carr— But that was pre-Crowe's Pasture and Wing's Island. People have seen the beauty of these things out there. I may be wrong; I don't know who was so upset about the Punkhorn Meadow. But I think it is a much more proven concept now. 16.Bassett—I think they could get more funding if they tried, I just think that they don't try. Because, obviously Town Hall wants to keep the budget funding down to a certain level. If you keep it down you get a pat on the back. It was suggested that Conservation Committee put together a plan and go before the Town for funds. 17.Carr—Well, anything more on those? I think we have now dealt with everything except housing. 18.Taylor— Mike Lach has just resigned from the Open Space Committee because of time conflicts/constraints. I am glad that he will still be a part of those decisions as a member of the CPA Committee. I will make sure he is a part of our meeting with Keith Johnson. Housing Applications 19.Ruchinskas—In terms of the current applications, there will be a public hearing next Wednesday Community Preservation Committee Meeting August 9, 2006 2 of 4 at 4: 30 Town Hall —the Housing Subcommittee (which is right now Bill and I) will meet with the Housing Partnership to discuss applications. Jillian Douglass told me that she expects to get the consultant's report shortly, so we should have that available, so we can talk about it. 20.Taylor— But we don't have even an interim report from the guy who was vetting Tubman Road yet? 21. Ruchinskas - Not a final report. The committee asked for a couple of clarifications. 22.Taylor-We should be getting copies of these things as they go along, because we're responsible and are paying for the work. We need to keep close tabs on all of these projects. They cannot happen in a vacuum. 23.Carr— I would really love to do a land/housing project, but the Housing Partnership has an awful lot of ducks to get in a row in an awful hurry to have anything for this fall Town Meeting. They have to convince everybody to buy the land and I can see a real problem if we have no information. Agreements and Contracts 24. Ruchinskas—The other thing is that in regards to the projects we funded last spring, CDC is expected to close on Nickerson Park Condo, likely within a week or so. They have looked over the contract and the deed restrictions and everything looked right, so I think it is just a question of getting that executed by the Selectmen and the CDC. So that should be happening shortly and they will be getting the request in for the funding. Is there something from here that I am going to have to sign off on, or what? Forms, Procedures and Administrative Issues 25.Carr - I think that we need to establish a procedure to bring every grant that goes in front of us. Elizabeth, what do you think? Paul, when you think it's done in two weeks or whatever, why don't you come in and tell us and by then we will try and check up a little bit on whether we need any more forms or information. 24. Ruchinskas - I am assuming they will send something in to Lisa, so that leads to the question. 26.Taylor—Well, it should come to us first. It shouldn't go the Jillian and it shouldn't go to Lisa. It should come to this committee because information and materials is starting to go to them and we then are not aware of it and we do not see it either. And I am not happy with that. We don't see things that we should be getting and reviewing. Everything must go through us. 27.Carr- When we were meeting with Charlie and Sarah this morning, and some things came up that we knew nothing about— Charlie thought that maybe Jillian had them. 28.Taylor— I also talked to the Finance Director in Chatham —she was supposed to send us copies of all the forms they use — but I haven't seen anything yet. I will call h,y again. 29. Ruchinskas— But the Town Hall folks do everything in Chatham —they work very closely with the Chatham committee 30. Bassett—That condo there, it will have a deed restriction, right? 31. Ruchinskas—Yes, that was one of the conditions for approval. 32.Carr— Now that we have more help, we ought to be creating a roster of all projects: When they apply, when they are approved and when they are done. So that is something that we could be working on. 33.Taylor— I will ask Lisa if she is willing to become more involved. — because the finance director in Chatham is part and parcel with that Committee in everything they do. If Lisa is willing to do this, it would be very helpful. Community Preservation Committee Meeting August 9, 2006 3 of 4 34.Carr— I think she is. She is not only willing, but she wants to do all of the finances. Which I think is fine. In some towns they don't, they function totally separately. 35.Taylor- She may also have some forms already, I will have to ask her. 36.Carr— What do we have pending for Housing? We've got three, but probably one for Open Space. How many does the Historical Society have pending? 37.Taylor—The Historical Society has one, the Negative Plates Project and the First Parish Church. 38.Ruchinskas— We need to have the Archives Committee submit an updated application. 39.Taylor—We also now have a Brewster Historical Commission! 40.Carr—This group will be capable of accomplishing a lot. They apparently will be able to make decisions/ recommendation for designating structures/areas as Historical. Legal Issues 41. Bassett—Where do we stand on the Freeman's Way Soccer Fields and recreational projects in general? 42.Carr—Apparently these issues are still in committee at the legislature. However, Charlie indicates that the Town will include the Soccer Fields in this year's budget. However, we will have to put off the Whitecaps for at least another six months. 43. Bassett— I will call Claire Gradone and tell her. 44.Taylor— I e-mailed Katherine Roth at the CPA web site and they can only say that these issues are still pending. Some towns are waiting, some are not. 45.Carr—We have to correctly establish the legality of articles. 46. Bassett— In the future, this needs to be straightened out. And, not just for recreation. 47.Taylor—I spoke with Charlie Sumner to see what the status was for the consultation we agreed to pay for in regards to the Council of Aging building. He indicated that he would be going out for an RFP after Labor Day. 48.Ruchinskas— What is the status of the"new"office space? 49.Taylor—The room has been cleaned, painted and the rug has been installed. We are waiting for the electrical work to be done; wiring for lighting, an air exchange system, a ceiling fan, computer wiring and a phone lines. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 4:30 PM at the Brewster Ladies Library basement conference room. Respectfully submitted, Heather Pooler, Secretary Approved: r�G Signed: •,� „ I -- Date Clerk of the committee Community Preservation Committee Meeting August 9, 2006 4 of 4