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COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Held a Regular Meeting
on Wednesday,March 22,2017 at 4:30 p.m.
At The Brewster Town Office Building,2198 Main Street,Brewster,MA
MEETING MINUTES of March 22, 2017
Present: Chair Paul Ruchinskas, Vice-Chair Jeanne Boehm, Elizabeth Taylor, William Klein,
Faythe Ellis, Barbara Burgo,Roland Bassett, and Peter Johnson.
Absent: Joan Carstanjen
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:3 0 pm
Recording or Taping Notification `As required by the Open Meeting Lmv we are informing you that the Town will
be videotaping and/or audio taping 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 ofor to vibrate.
l. Review, discussion, and votes to approve Community Preservation Committee warrant
articles for Special and Annual Town Meeting.
Chair Ruchinskas reviewed the Special Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 5 changes
and the reasons why. The transfers as outlined in the Article as items 1-5 were reviewed.
The fund balances items 1 through 3 are now in agreement. Item 4 is debt service and
Item 5 is the salary of the proposed housing coordinator position to be funded with CPA
funds for the balance of this fiscal year. Because it is a salary, it needs to be approved
this way. There was a brief discussion on"active/passive recreational projects" and the
article should include both. CPA funds can be used to acquire and/or maintain land for
recreational use but cannot be used for programming. There was a brief discussion on
"general fands" and concern was expressed that CPA funds are being mixed with the
town's general monies. It was decided to review this with the Finance Director. There
was brief discussion on how to present this article at town meeting and it should be
explained that this article is a housekeeping article.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to approve STM Warrant Article 5 as presented.
Roland Bassett seconded.
VOTE: 8-0-0
CPC Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2017 Page 1 of 4
The Chair reviewed Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 9. Following a review there
were grammatical changes made to the article and the wording for recreational projects
will be changed to match the Special Town Meeting warrant Article 5. The Govei nor
Prence project has been eliminated due to their withdrawal of the project.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to approve ATM Warrant Article 9 except for
Brewster Woods as presented. Roland Bassett seconded.
VOTE: 5-0-0
Paul Ruchinskas and Barbara Burgo recused themselves from the Brewster Woods and
Governor Prence discussions. Vice-Chair Jeanne Boehm reviewed these two projects.
The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee have voted favorably on the
Brewster Woods. On Governor Prence, Eastham CPA has rejected this project. The
applicant has decided to withdraw all of their CPA applications.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to accept the Warrant Article 9 language for
Brewster Woods as presented. Roland Bassett seconded.
VOTE: 6-0-0
Motion made by Roland Bassett to accept the withdrawal of the Governor Prence
Application. Peter Johnson seconded.
VOTE: 6-0-0
Following these two votes, both Barbara Burgo and Paul Ruchinskas rejoined the
meeting.
2. Discussion and vote to approve draft award letter to the Town of Brewster for the part-
time housing coordinator position.
There was a review of the part-time Housing Coordinator job description. The Town
Administrator would like for this to be a staff position with the hope of making it part of
the town's operating budget if the position works out. Language will be added to the
award letter to stipulate how this position will be paid. There was discussion about who
this person reports to that is expected to be the Town Planner. Concern was expressed
about this person only working on CPC activities since the CPC will be paying the salary.
The duties should be related to affordable housing for the CPC and will include
maintaining a Iist of affordable housing inventory. There will be language inserted in the
award letter that the Town Planner will report on the activities of this parttime Housing
Coordinator to the CPC on a quarterly basis. How this will be reported was discussed. It
is hoped that during busy times the hours for this position could be flexible. The changes
discussed today will be incorporated in the award letter and returned to the next meeting
for approval.
CPC Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2017 Page 2 of 4
3. Update and discussion of status of 2016 Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless'
housing rehabilitation program award.
The Chair reviewed the status of the 2016 Harwich Ecumenical Council for the
Homeless' housing rehabilitation program award. Following a review of the program by
the newly hired HECH Executive Director, an e-mail has been received from HECH that
as the award is currently structured, HECH has decided they cannot operate this project
in Brewster. Concerns included the soft costs for the loans and the tracking of income
eligibility due to the risks for HECH. There was discussion about how important this
program is for Brewster residents. Possible changes to the program were briefly
reviewed and it is felt that further legal review should take place about allowable uses for
CPA funds. It is hoped that if changes are made that are acceptable to the Town and
HECH that this program may continue. The Town Administrator is working on resolving
these issues.
4. Discussion of request from the Town of Scituate seeking support for amending the
Community Preservation Act to allow funding for recreational water-based uses.
There was a review of the letter dated February 10, 2017 received from the Town of
Scituate seeking support for amending the CPA to allow for funding for recreational non-
motorized water-based uses. It is felt that this may be a good change for Cape Cod
communities. It was decided to refer this request to the Recreation Commission for their
opinion.
5. Vote to approve minutes of February 8, 2017 meeting.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the meeting minutes of February 8, 2017
as amended. William Klein seconded.
VOTE: 7-0-1
6. Vote to approve minutes of March 8, 2017 meeting.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the meeting minutes of March 8,2017 as
revised. William Klein seconded.
VOTE: 8-0-0
7. Items that the chair could not reasonably anticipate.
Peter Johnson has submitted a request for reimbursement from the Cape Rep and it is felt
that the project is about 80 percent finished. Eric Dray has been involved in the process.
8. Next meeting: Wed., April 12, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. @ Brewster Town Hall.
The next meeting will be scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 4:30 pm
GPC Meeting Minutes
March 22,2017 Page 3 of 4
9. Adjourn
Motion made by Elizabeth Taylor to adjourn the meeting at 5:26 pm. Jeanne
Boehm seconded.
VOTE: 8-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
9 54
Donna J. Moberg, Recording Secretary
Items used in the meeting:
• 2017 Special Town Meeting CPC Articles
2017 Annual Town Meeting CPC Articles
Brewster Housing Coordinator Job Description revised
• Town of Scituate Request dated February 10, 2017
• Draft Meeting Minutes of February 8, 2017 and March 8, 2017
CPC Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2017 Page 4 of 4