HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2016-04-27 Minutes F-W moi., Approved: 5/25/16
tvVOTE: 6-0-2
2198 Main Street
Brewster, Massachusetts 02631-1898
CORPOR (508) 896-3701
FAX (508) 896-8089
Iwo N
ITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Held a Regular Meeting
on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
at The Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA
MEETING MINUTES OF April 27, 2016
Present: Vice-Chair Jeanne Boehm, Roland Bassett, Joan Carstanjen, William Klein,
Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Johnson.
Also present: Historic Consultant Eric Dray, Town Counsel Sarah Turano-Flores, and
Janine Perry of the Cape Repertory Theatre, and Assistant Town Administrator Jillian
Douglass.
Absent: Chair Paul Ruchinskas and Barbara Burgo
The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 4:35 pm.
Recording or Taping Notification: As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the
Town will be audio taping and videotaping this public meeting. In addition, if anyone else intends to either
video or audio tape this meeting they are required to inform the chair."We request that all cell phones be
turned off or to vibrate.
1. Vote to approve minutes of March 23, 2016 CPC meeting.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the meeting minutes of March 23,
2016 as presented. William Klein seconded.
VOTE: 3-0-3
The meeting moved to Agenda item 3.
2. Vote:
A) To approve new mortgage on HECH's Housing Emergency Loan Program:
HECH - Brewster Housing Emergency Program: This is a new HELP program
mortgage. All of the rotted trim needs to be replaced and painted, a slider will be
removed, sheet rock to repair damage to the building, and the removal of a sun
space that is leaking for a cost of $20,657.35.
There was a review of the process whereas following receipt of an application,
the applicant is preapproved, then a scope of work is drafted to ensure the
project will not exceed the $25,000 limit and then the project is put out to bid.
Community Preservation Committee
Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2016 Page 1 of 4
Move that, pursuant to the Vote on Article 7 (Item 2) of the Brewster Special Town
Meeting held on May 4, 2015, and the Grant Agreement dated August 25, 2015 by
and between the Town of Brewster Community Preservation Committee ("CPC")
and the Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless ("HECH"), wherein the
CPC agreed to grant the HECH One Hundred Eighteen Thousand and 001100
($118,000.00) Dollars to administer the Homeowner Emergency Loan Program
(HELP) that would provide 0% loans of up to $25,000 for low income homeowners
in Brewster to make critically needed health, safety, and energy efficiency repairs
to their homes, and as a condition of the Grant Award, the CPC shall be entitled
to recapture its funding should the homeowner ever sell or transfer the Property
except to an income eligible heir who will live in the home as their principal place
of occupancy. Christopher & Skylar Rodericks, of 8 Sumner Lane, Brewster, MA.
have been certified to have met all the underwriting and program criteria to
receive a loan under the HELP and to secure such loan and the aforementioned
grant condition, she has agreed to grant the Town of Brewster a mortgage
interest of$20,657.35 (Twenty Thousand, Six Hundred Fifty-Seven dollars and
Thirty-Five cents) in the property and to record the mortgage instrument against
the title to the property at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, the
Community Preservation Committee hereby Votes to accept said mortgage
interest on behalf of the Town of Brewster.
Motion made by Peter Johnson and seconded by Roland Bassett. The vote was 6
yes, 0 no and 0 abstentions.
In the recently completed COA survey, it was noted that providing funds such as these
was important for people to be able to age in place.
B) To increase the funding amount on one of the mortgages on HECH's Housing
Emergency Loan Program: It has been determined that this is not necessary.
3. Discussion: Cape Cod Repertory Theatre Company rehabilitation of the historic
Crosby Barn
Jeanne Boehm informed the CPC that a Brewster resident had concerns about the
Cape Repertory Theatre project and approached the Finance Committee and asked
them to revote their decision. The Chair of the Finance Committee polled the
Committee and the consensus was not to take a revote. The Vice-Chair requested in
the future that if a resident has a problem with a project that they come to the CPC to
voice their concern.
Historic Consultant Eric Dray felt that a full foundation was the best way to preserve the
Crosby Barn even though it is larger than the original foundation that was there. Town
Counsel Sarah Turano-Flores agreed that the full foundation would help to preserve the
structural integrity of the building and thus was allowed. With the oversight of the
Community Preservation Committee
Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2016 Page 2 of 4
different parties involved, DCR, Massachusetts Historic Commission, and Eric Dray the
public views of the barn and the setting will be preserved as much as possible. Eric
Dray will put his information in an e-mail to the Vice-Chair for referral at Town Meeting.
Town Counsel Sarah Turano-Flores reviewed the long-term public benefit and she
contacted DOR and DCR relative to concerns about how to restructure a recapture
provision to ensure the long-term public benefit was protected. The draft grant award
letter covers this and should protect the town in the future. The draft award letters
including the Cape Rep Theatre were distributed to the Committee.
4. Grant Letters:
There was a review of the following grant award letters:
- Babe Ruth Baseball Field Rehabilitation: There was no review of the award letter.
- Cape Rep Theatre - Crosby Barn Preservation and Rehabilitation: Town Counsel
Sarah Turano-Flores reviewed the draft award letter. She has contacted DOR about
the process to recapture funds. DCR will be asked to enter into a contract with the
town that if the state decided to sell this property without any preservation historic
restriction, the state will reimburse the town. If this option does not fly with DCR, the
town's attorney has been requested to research with DCR what will work.
Janine Perry reviewed the public benefits of the Cape Repertory Theatre project and
passed out to the Committee a summary entitled, "Addendum to CCP Application for
funds to Save the Crosby Barn Cape Cod Repertory Theatre Company, Inc. (Cape
Rep) April 27, 2016," that outlined of all of the public benefits per her conversation
with the State Building Inspector.
1. Guided tours of the interior for educational purposes
2. Exhibits of the historical significance of the entire property lease by the theatre,
the Barn in particular and also the process of rehabilitation of the same.
3. State Building Department supervised and regulated receptions, lectures, and
other events open to the public to raise awareness of or educate the public in the
historical restoration project or events intended to raise money for its renovation.
Town Counsel Sarah Turano-Flores is satisfied that Phase I meets the guidelines for
public benefit. Due to the storage available in the barn, Cape Rep has one of the
largest set collections on the Cape and other theatres often come to them to borrow
props and set designs.
- Cape Cod Village: Town Counsel Sarah Turano-Flores reviewed the draft award
letter dated April 21,_2016 and this needs to be revised further to change the
language from a grant to a mortgage. The mechanics of making this award a
mortgage is still being worked on and will be made upon consultation with the
Chair of the CPC.
Community Preservation Committee
Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2016 Page 3 of 4
HECH - Brewster Housing Emergency Program: There was a review of the two
changes to this award letter as it was originally drafted. Asset limits were
reconfigured. HECH must ensure and certify that income and assets have been
investigated and meet the income eligibility to keep the home affordable. How the
income certification is to be done also needs to be outlined. HECH also needs to
agree to the form of mortgage documents have been negotiated in the 2015
project and have been tweaked for the 2016 project and that will be attached to
the award letter as an exhibit.
Upon return of the Chair, these drafts will be finalized and sent out following town
meeting. This makes the whole process streamlined.
The meeting returned to Agenda Item 2.
5. Treasurer's Report
Elizabeth Taylor reviewed the Treasurer's Report dated March 31, 2016. There was a
question on open projects particularly the Mill Sites. At the end of the 2-year grant
award, the Committee will decide if the project needs to be extended following an
update on the project by the applicant.
6. Topics that the chair could not have reasonably anticipated.
The Cape Cod Commission recently awarded Brewster a $25,000 grant to update the
housing production report and these funds will go to pay for a consultant.
On the CPA website it was noted that the Massachusetts House of Representatives
finalized the FY '17 budget and will provide up to $10,000,000 from the state surplus
funds if available.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 4:30 pm.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to adjourn the meeting at 5:25 pm. Peter
Johnson seconded.
VOTE: 6-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Donna J. Moberg, Recording Secretary
Items used at the Meeting:
• Draft Minutes of March 23, 2016
• Addendum to Cape Rep application
• Draft Award Letters for Cape Rep, Cape Cod Village, and HECH
Community Preservation Committee
Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2016 Page 4 of 4