HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120719 - Community Preservation Committee - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON
Community Preservation Committee
MINUTES OF MEETING
July 19, 2012
A meeting of the Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee was held on Thursday,
July 19, 2012 at Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Members present:
Henry Kunicki, John Coolidge, Jeff Doherty, Al Rogers, Ken Weismantel, Bill Shaw
and Brian O’Keefe (who replaces Ken Driscoll as the Parks & Recreation Commission
designee to CPC). The Affordable Housing Committee seat remains vacant. Also present
was Michaelyn Holmes of the Hopkinton Historical Commission (HHC). Open Space
and Preservation Committee (OSPC) members Andre Griben and Nancy Peters were in
attendance. The presence of Mr. Doherty, who also serves on the OSPC, established a
quorum for that committee.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Kunicki called the meeting to order at 7:10PM in Room
215.
COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION: MOTION by Mr. Weismantel to name Henry
Kunicki as CPC Chairman for Fiscal Year 2013 SECONDED by Mr. Shaw. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-.56, No-0, Absent-2 (Mr. O’Keefe and Mr. Coolidge arrived after the
nominations), Abstain-1 (Mr. Kunicki). MOTION by Mr. Shaw to name John Coolidge
as CPC Vice Chairman for Fiscal Year 2013 SECONDED by Mr. Doherty. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-6, No-0, Absent-2.
CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE
DISCUSSIONS: Approval of Extension of Acquisition of 192 Hayden Rowe Street
(Hughes property). MOTION by Mr. Coolidge that the Community Preservation
Committee accept the extension of the acquisition by the Town of Hopkinton of the
property at 192 Hayden Rowe Street SECONDED by Mr. Weismantel. VOTE to
Approve: Yes- 6, No-0, Absent-1, Abstain-1 (Mr. Doherty). MOTION by Ms. Peters
that the Open Space Preservation Committee vote to accept the extension of the acquisition
by the Town of Hopkinton of the property at 192 Hayden Rowe Street SECONDED by
Mr. Griben. VOTE to Approve: Yes-3, No-0, Absent-2.
HHC member Michaelyn Holmes expressed concern about proposed demolition of
the house on the parcel, as the site is regarded as a potential historic district by the
Massachusetts Historical Commission and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register
of Historic Places. Ms. Holmes requested access to the house and offered the services of
an intern to photograph it. Mr. Doherty said the purchase and sales agreement stipulates
that the property be sold to the Town with the house on it. The amount approved at
Annual Town Meeting to acquire the property included expenses related to demolition,
but removing the house is not a condition. OSPC will negotiate the purchase of the parcel
and the disposition of the house; CPC will provide funding. Mr. Coolidge suggested that
it may be necessary to go back to Town Meeting for approval to keep the structure on the
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parcel.
43 East Main Street (Spengler) Property – Mr. Weismantel offered that the Town’s
acquisition of the parcel would have a significant positive impact on public access use
of this section of Legacy Farms. Mr. Griben noted that an area where a skating rink is
proposed could possibly be the site of buried Native American relics. Mr. Doherty stated
that the owner has been approached by developers, but would prefer the property to be
purchased for public use. The house will have to be negotiated separately from the land
and potential uses (active/passive recreation, open space, etc.) have not been discussed
in any detail. Mr. Weismantel reported that the Town has little interest in acquiring the
house. MOTION by Mr. Doherty that the CPC vote to approve an amount not to exceed
$2,500.00 to conduct an appraisal of the property SECONDED by Mr. Rogers. VOTE to
Approve: Yes-8, No-0.
Amended CPA Legislation – The most significant change in the Community Preservation
Act is that funding can be applied to Town-owned properties not acquired using CPA
money. Mr. Coolidge anticipates an increase in requests for upgrades to historic properties
and for recreational purposes.
Trail at Legacy Farms – Mr. Griben said that homeowners want to connect trails included
in the development with those under conservation restrictions. He will meet with LF
developers to clarify who will own/manage the trails. Mr. Weismantel said the layout of
the trail system remains fluid and asked if the CPC might offer administrative support to
facilitate meetings between the Town (CPC, OSPC), the developers and the homeowners
in order to come up with an acceptable trail layout proposal.
NEW BUSINESS: ►Chairman Kunicki requested that the OSPC provide the CPC with
a list of this year’s priorities at the earliest possibility. ►Mr. Coolidge suggested that
$10,000.00 may be needed for the Ash Street property stewardship account. A decision by
the Hopkinton Areal Land Trust regarding the future disposition of a community fund for
the house on the property is pending.
OLD BUSINESS: MOTION by Mr. Weismantel that the CPC approve the expenditure
of up to $1,500.00 for an appraisal of the Colella property (adjacent to the Hughes parcel)
SECONDED by Mr. Coolidge. VOTE to Approve: Yes-8, No-0.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Rogers to approve the May 24, 2012
Regular Session minutes SECONDED by Mr. Weismantel. VOTE to Approve: Yes-7,
No-0, Abstain-1 (Mr. O’Keefe).
MEETING DATE: A meeting was tentatively set for Thursday August 16, 2012 at
7:00PM.
ADJOURN: MOTION by Mr. Weismantel to adjourn SECONDED by Mr. Doherty.
VOTE to Approve: Yes-7, No-0, Absent-1. Meeting adjourned at 8:15PM.
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Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Aghababian
CPC Administrative Assistant
Documents Used:
1.CPC Meeting Agenda
2.5/24/11 CPC Meeting Minutes
3. Signed approval of an extension for the acquisition of the Hughes property on
Hayden Rowe Street
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