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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2019-01-22 CPC interview Mark KraczkiewiczWatertown Town Council Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6470 Ad Hoc Community Preservation Interview Committee Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Town Council Conference Room, 2nd Floor Report Date: February 12, 2019 Present: President Mark Sideris, chair; Councillors Susan Falkoff, Tony Palomba, and Lisa Feltner Also present: Councillor Caroline Bays AGENDA: Interview resident Mark Kraczkiewicz, At Large Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Appointee Discussion included questions such as: How does your background and life experience fit with the duties of the CPC? Why are you primarily interested in serving this committee compared to other Town boards and commissions? How do you feel about the time commitment this volunteer committee may require? Please share any ideas and concerns about how this committee could best function, especially in times of conflict or competing priorities. What might the CPC initially need to get up and running? What ideas do you have for the CPC to engage the public, to ensure a community driven process and generate excitement about projects? Chair Sideris convened the meeting at 6:33 with resident Mark Kraczkiewicz, who described some of his involvement with Open Space issues as an Environmental Planner for Massachusetts starting in the 1960's. He also continues to work on economic development overseas, and tends to think housing and economic development go together; it's hard work developing affordable housing. Mark is eager to learn more about building and updating our current Open Space Plan, discuss findings from recently convened meetings about affordable house, study our Economic Development Plan and other documents, and reflect on what has been accomplished so far in order to help decide where we go from there. Mark looks forward to each CPC member gaining more exposure to different interests in all these areas (open space, affordable housing, and historic preservation) to help cross fertilize everyone's ideas about these topics. His experience in serving on larger committees is that a variety of personalities end up balancing each other out through the decision making process. He feels it is also important to learn about points of view from the community, including about Historic Preservation, through upcoming CPC public engagement work. One idea he shared for stimulating conversation included producing brief summaries on each of the three areas, to be aware of what Watertown has accomplished so far as a kind of base to start from. He expects the Department of Community Development and Planning would also share ideas about public planning exercises. Mark agreed that there should be a dedicated CPC web site, or page, and we should look at other more interactive ways to hear different viewpoints. He has also begun some research, looking at how other communities have used a 2 -step process for project applications. Some of the proposals may need to use funds to get reviewed by experts, who would help us determine not only their feasibility, but also how the public interest would be served, preserved, and what that investment would look like. Mark Kraczkiewicz expressed interest in working with Town staff and legal counsel, and wondered about workload and access. He is generally available, as he is retired but hopes to know the schedule of meetings ahead of time, as he still travels. Motion to appoint Mark Kraczkiewicz to the CPC for a one-year term to expire Feb 1, 2020 was made by Councillor Falkoff, seconded by Councillor Palomba, and approved 4-0. 7:00 p.m. Motion to adjourn by Councillor Palomba, seconded by Councillor Feltner, approved 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Councillor Lisa Feltner Attached: Town Manager Driscoll Memo of December 7, 2018; and Administration's interview questions. Michael 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-ma.gov To: Honorable Town Council From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager Date: December 7, 2018 RE: Community Preservation Committee Appointments As you are aware and as indicated in the attached excerpt from the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Message, the Community Preservation Act with a 2% surcharge was approved by the Watertown voters on November 8, 2016. Further, on June 26, 2018 the Honorable Town Council adopted the attached Ordinance 2018-59 Establishing a Community Preservation Committee. On September 14, 2018, the attached cover memorandum was sent to the Chairpersons of the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission and the Housing Authority respectfully requesting that a designated statutory member be forwarded by October 12, 2018. Four (4) designated statutory members were provided to the Honorable Town Council in the attached October 18, 2018 Miscellaneous Items. On September 25, 2018, the attached Press Release seeking four (4) Watertown citizens interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee was announced at that evening's Town Council Meeting. In accordance with the above mentioned Ordinance, the Press Release was widely advertised including in the local news media, on the Town's website and various social media sites as requested in the attached September 26th and October 5, 2018 emails. Fourteen (14) citizens submitted a letter of interest accompanied by a resume. One candidate subsequently withdrew from consideration. Interviews were held with each of the thirteen (13) candidates and all were asked the same questions which are included in this correspondence. Given all of the above and pursuant to the provisions of Town Council Ordinance 2018-59, An Ordinance Establishing a Community Preservation Committee, I am transmitting herewith a request for appointments to the Community Preservation Committee, which requires Council confirmation. The appointments will be as follows: Mark Kraczkiewicz Dennis J. Duff Elodia Thomas Jonathan M. Bockian 77 Riverside Street 33 Spruce Street 67 Marion Road 165 Irving Street 1 year term - February 1, 2020 1 year term - February 1, 2020 2 year term - February 1, 2021 3 year term - February 1, 2022 Additionally, Section 36.02 (1) of Town Council Ordinance 2018-59 regarding statutory membership states in part that one member will be appointed by the Town Manager who shall be a resident or employee of the Town who acts in the capacity or performs like duties of a Board of Park Commissioners. Please be advised that I have appointed Dennis J. Sheehan, Department of Public Works Director of Administration and Finance as this statutory member. The nine (9) members of the Community Preservation Committee would be as follows: Jason D. Cohen Mark Kraczkiewicz* Dennis J. Duff* Maria P. Rose Susan T. Steele Elodia Thomas* Michael A. Lara Dennis J. Sheehan Jonathan M. Bockian* One Year Term Planning Board Designee 77 Riverside Street 33 Spruce Street Two Year Term Conservation Commission Designee Historical Commission Designee 67 Marion Road Three Year Term Housing Authority Designee Board of Park Commissioners 165 Irving Street * Appointment requires Council confirmation Thank you for your favorable consideration in this matter. cc: Honorable School Committee Honorable Library Board of Trustees Jeffrey W, Brown, Chairperson, Planning Board Leo Martin, Chairperson, Conservation Commission Elisabeth Loukas, Chairperson, Historical Commission Allen Gallagher, Chairperson, Watertown Housing Authority Department Heads February 1, 2020 February 1, 2020 February 1, 2020 February 1, 2021 February 1, 2021 February 1, 2021 February 1, 2022 February 1, 2022 February 1, 2022 Excerpt from Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Message May 1, 2018 Page 5 Community Preservation Act (CPA) The Community Preservation Act (Mass General Law Chapter 44B) was enacted by the state legislature in 2000. The law allows municipalities within Massachusetts to raise monies through a surcharge, of up to 3% of the real estate tax levy, on real property. The state, through its CPA Trust Fund, augments local CPA revenues annually. CPA funds may be used only to: • Acquire, create and preserve open space • Acquire, create, rehabilitate and preserve land for recreational use • Acquire, rehabilitate and preserve historic resources, and • Acquire, create, preserve and support community housing The Community Preservation Act with a 2% surcharge was approved by Watertown voters on November 8, 2016. The CPA also requires that the Town Council establish a Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The Honorable Town Council has referred the matter to the Committee of Rules and Ordinances for their review and recommendation to the full Town Council. Once the Community Preservation Committee is established, the committee will begin a process which includes a development of a budget in order to determine what recommendations will be made to the Honorable Town Council regarding the utilization of the Fiscal Years 2018 & 2019 CPA funds. Budgeting and accounting for the CPA funds will be done within a Special Revolving Fund and is not included in the Fiscal Year 2019 Submitted Budget. ELECTED OFFICIALS: Mark S. Sideris, Council President Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Vice President & District C Councilor Caroline Bays Councilor At Large Anthony J. Donato, Councilor At Large. Susan G. Falkoff, Councilor At Large Anthony Paloniha, Councilor At Large Angeline B. Kounelis, DistrictA Councilor . Lisa J. Feltner, District B Councilor Kenneth M. Woodland, District D Councilor Watertown Town Council Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972.6470 ORDINANCE #59 0-2018-59 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE WHEREAS, on November 8, 2016 the voters of the City known as the Town of Watertown voted by ballot to accept the provisions of. G.L. c.44B, the Community Preservation Act; and WHEREAS; the provision of G.L. c.44B §5 require that the Town, having accepted the statute, establish by ordinance, a community preservation committee. NOW THEREFOR BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of the City known as the Town of Watertown that Title III of the Watertown Code of Ordinances, Administration, is hereby amended by the insertion of a new Chapter 36 as follows:. Chapter 36: COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE §36.01 Establishment There is hereby established a Community Preservation .Committee, consisting of nine (9) voting members pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 44B. §36.02 Membership and Term The composition of the Committee and the appointment authority for the Committee members shall be as follows: (1) Statutory Membership: There shall be five Statutory Members of the Committee designated as provided herein: a. One member of the Planning Board as designated by the Board. b. One member of the Conservation Commission as designated by the Commission. c. One member of the Historical Commission as designated by the Commission. 1of4 d. One member of the Housing Authority as designated by the Authority. e. One member appointed by the Town Manager who shall be a resident or employee of the Town who acts in the capacity or performs like duties of a Board of Park Commissioners. Any vacancy in the Statutory Membership shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original designation. Should any of the Statutory entities listed above no longer be in existence for whatever reason, the Town Manager shall appoint a member who acts in the capacity or performs like duties of such Statutory entity. (2) Appointed Membership: There shall be four members appointed by the Town Manager and confirmed by the Town Council. a. The four appointed members shall be residents ofthe•Town and shall not be employees or appointees under the authority of the Town Manager or elected officials of the Town, at the time of appointment or during the pendency of their terms. Acceptance of employment, appointment or election, or removal of residence from the Town, shall be deemed a vacating of office. b. The Town Manager should seek to appoint members who are not just advocates for open space and land for recreational use, historic resources, and community housing, but also who: 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. c. Publication and outreach for these positions must be widely advertised using all available methods including, but not limited to, the current methods but also using social media as an additional tool. Any vacancy in the Appointed Membership shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. (3) Term: Statutory and Appointed Members shall serve for alternating three- year terms, or for such shorter periods as they remain eligible for designation or appointment. Initial terms shall be as follows: one year - Planning Board designee and two resident members; two years - 2 of 4 Conservation Commission and Historical Commission designees and one resident member; three years - Housing Authority designee, appointed Statutory Member, and one resident member. (4) Removal: Any member of the Committee may be removed by their respective designating or appointing authority for cause as determined by each such respective designating or appointing authority. (5) Annual Election of Chair and Other Officers: The Committee shall annually elect one of its members to serve as chairperson and may elect such other officers, adopt procedural rules and regulations, and establish such subcommittees as it deems appropriate; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the Committee from reorganizing from time to time. §36.03 Operations (1) The Committee shall not meet or conduct business without the presence of a quorum and shall keep a written record of its proceedings. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. (2) Each fiscal year, the Committee shall recommend to the Town Manager an operational and administrative budget which cannot exceed five percent (5%) of the Community Preservation Fund estimated annual revenues. The Committee shall provide budget recommendation(s) as requested to the Town Manager. (3) Members of the Committee shall not be compensated by the Town in any way for their service on said Committee, with the exception being a Member whomay also be a Town employee as set forth in §36.02(1)(e). (4) The Committee shall report to the Town Council twice during each fiscal year and at other times as may be requested. §36.04 Duties (1) The Community Preservation Committee shall have all powers and duties as set forth in G.L. c.44B, and in particular G.L. ,c.44B, §5, as may be amended. §36.05 Effective Date Following Town Council approval of this ordinance, each appointing authority shall have 60 days to make initial designations or appointments to the Community Preservation Committee. Should any appointing authority fail to make their appointment within that allotted time, the Town Manager shall make the appointment for the membership of such appointing authority. 3 of And be it Further Ordained that the position of Community Preservation Committee member shall be classified as a special municipal employee position for the purposes of G.L. c. 268A, the Conflict of Interest law. Council mber • I hereby certify that at a regular meeting of the Town Council for which a quorum was present, the above Order was adopted by a vote of _6_ for, _3_ against and _0_ present on June 26, 2018. Wuri Marilyn ),�j� Pronovo , Council Clerk 4 of 4 2 Mark S. Sideris,,Council President S;/i nd P Michael 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 towmngr@watertown-ma.gov To: Jeffrey Brown, Chairperson, Planning Board Leo Martin, Chairperson, Conservation Commission Elisabeth Loukas, Chairperson, Historical Commission Allen Gallagher, Chairperson, Watertown Housing Authority From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager Date: September 14, 2018 RE: Community Preservation Committee The Honorable Town Council adopted the attached Ordinance 2018-59, An Ordinance Establishing a Community Preservation Committee, at their June 26, 2018 meeting. For background purposes, 1 have also enclosed a copy of G.L. c. 44B, §5. As stated in part of Section 36.02 (1) of the attached Ordinance regarding Statutory Membership: a. One member of the Planning Board as designated by the Board. b. One member of the Conservation Commission as designated by the Commission. c. One member of the Historical Commission as designated by the Conm ission. d. One member of the Housing Authority as designated by the Authority. Given all of the above, 1 respectfully request that you forward the designated statutory member to me by Friday, October 12, 2018. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. cc: Honorable Town Council Steven Magoon, Community Development & Planning Director/Assistant Town Manager Brian Costello, Executive Director, Watertown Housing Authority Department Heads Candidate's Name Community Preservation Committee Date 1. Please provide a brief description of your background and experience. 2. Why are you a good candidate for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)? 3. Why are you interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)? 4. How have you demonstrated a commitment to at least one of the three programmatic areas of the Community Preservation Act (open space and land for recreational use, historic resources, and community housing)? 5. Do you have deep connections to different constituencies within Watertown to make the Town more responsive to the needs of its residents? 6. What specific skills can you bring to the execution of tasks required by the Committee? 7. What specific outlooks can you bring that may not normally be heard through the Town's routine procedures? 8. What are your thoughts on new approaches and ideas to identifying projects outside the Town's routine budget priority process? 9. What are your initial thoughts on the best way to use the Town's Open Space and Land for Recreational Use portion of the Community Preservation Fund? "Open space" includes land that protects a scenic vista, forested land, land that protects wells, aquifers and recharge areas, fields, as well as land used for recreational purposes, including playgrounds and athletic fields (but not stadiums, gymnasiums or similar structures), trails, non-commercial sports, parks, and community gardens. 10. What are your initial thoughts on the best way to use the Town's Historic Resources portion of the Community Preservation Fund? This portion may be used to acquire, restore and rehabilitate "historic structures and landscapes ", defined as any building, structure, vessel or real property that the Watertown Historical Commission determines to be significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of the Town, or that is listed or eligible for listing on the state register of historic places. 11. What are your initial thoughts on the best way to use the Town's Community Housing portion of the Community Preservation Fund? This portion may be used for the creation, preservation and support of "community housing", defined as housing for both low and moderate income families (including seniors). Eligible activities could include: rental assistance; acquisition of land or buildings to create affordable housing; conversion of existing buildings for community housing; home modifications (including accessibility) to allow seniors to stay in their homes; and grants or loans to provide down payments, assist with closing costs, or subsidize interest rates for qualified buyers. 12. Is there any item or matter that could come before the Committee that you would recuse yourself? 13. Do you have any questions?