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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2017-03-22 Minutes `\\\a�luutss4lsrfftffrrlq�rni� �AEt'1►Spiiii���' Approved: 4/12/17 z s F3 VOTE: 5-0-0 o ' ti 2198 Main Street Brewster Massachusetts 02631-1898 RPORI"ES (508) 896-3701 1/�����/I/IllllflAlll1414411111111\\\\��" FAX (508) 896-8089 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