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Home My Public Portal AboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2018-01-24 Minutes (2) ��000\��zolIIiuII//// \� V% E W S r Approved : 2 14 �. �. / r �B t1A , ,Ph1 o pNi VOTE : 7 -0-0 V' BRUISTER T )il _ LER lot COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Will hold a Regular Meeting On Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 4 : 45 p .m. At The Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA MEETING MINUTES of January 24 , 2018 Present : Chair Paul Ruchinskas , Faythe Ellis , Roland Bassett, William Klein, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Johnson, and Diane Pansire Absent : Barbara Burgo Also Present : Recreation Director Ellen Bearse and Natural Resource Director Chris Miller The Chair called the meeting to order at 5 : 45 pm. Recording or Taping Notification : As required by the Open Meeting Law 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 tanned off or to vibrate. 1 . Discussion and votes on the completeness, Community Preservation Act (CPA) eligibility, and timeliness of the following : a . Brewster Recreation Department- ADA Improvements to Athletic Fields- $ 150 , 000 : Recreation Director Ellen Bearse told the CPC that about $ 5 , 000 of the request will be going for the engineering plans with the rest to do the actual work to make the ADA improvements to the athletic fields . The Recreation Director is working with the DPW . Because of the location of these fields to the water fields , a more expensive product will need to be used . A state grant for $ 100 , 000 has been applied for and these funds could go towards the engineering and plans . It was felt that in order for the CPC to take a vote, more information and a budget breakout needs to be submitted . It was felt that the application could be accepted now. Motion made by Peter Johnson that the ADA Athletic Field application is complete, eligible and timely. Seconded by Elizabeth Taylor VOTE : 7- 0-0 b . Brewster Recreation Department- Tennis Court Repairs and Resurfacini4- $ 35 , 000 : Recreation Director Ellen Bearse told the CPC that she does not consider the work to be done on the Tennis Courts normal maintenance . These tennis courts are very slippery when wet by morning dew and not considered safe to play on. The surface on these courts is different than the tennis courts located behind the Fire Station. Cracks appear in the surface over time and CPC Meeting Minutes 1 Of January 24, 2018 could be filled in but the expected life span of the surface is 7 to 10 years with the expected life span of the proposed improvements to also last from 7 to 10 years . Because the surface is permeable, water does go through the surface . It was felt that this project falls beyond regular maintenance . Motion made by Peter Johnson that the Tennis Court Repair and Resurfacing application is complete, eligible, and timely. Seconded by Elizabeth Taylor VOTE : 7-0 -0 2 . Votes to refer eligible funding requests to their relevant committee(s) for review and recommendations to the CPC . Motion made by Peter Johnson to refer these two recreation projects for the Athletic Fields and the Tennis Court projects to the Recreation Commission for their recommendation. Roland Bassett seconded . VOTE : 7-0 -0 The next Recreation Commission meeting is scheduled for the first Monday in February . There was a brief discussion about how the project may progress and how the DPW may be involved. If the grant is received from the state , the engineering will be done immediately . 13 . Discussion on the completeness , CPA eligibility, and timeliness of the following : a . Brewster Historical Societv- Cobb House Outbuildiniz Rehabilitation- $ 185 . 000 : There was a review and discussion of the Brewster Historical Society ' s application on the Cobb House Outbuilding Rehabilitation for $ 185 , 000 . The legal opinion received by town counsel was reviewed and there are questions about what part of the outbuilding is considered historic . Because of this, Eric Dray has been asked to review the plans and the site . He plans on doing this on February 5th and then he will submit his opinion to the CPC . It is hoped to have this ready by the February 14 , 2018 CPC meeting though it is not certain that it will be ready. The application appears to be complete . However, what part of the project is considered historic needs to be investigated further particularly with the additions to the building, some of which will be demolished . Legal fees cost $ 190 per hour . 4 . Discussion and vote on Open Space Committee professional services request for $ 500 to investigate the possibility of a sale of a parcel of interest . Elizabeth Taylor reviewed the Open Space Committee professional services request for $ 500 to contact the owners of a parcel that the Town would like to purchase . Motion made by Peter Johnson to approve the Open Space Committee professional Services request for $ 500 . Roland Bassett seconded . VOTE : 7-OA 5 . Discussion and vote on paying the $ 3 , 500 annual membership dues to the Community Preservation Coalition for 2018 . Chair Ruchinskas reviewed the annual membership dues to the Community Preservation Coalition for 2018 in the amount of $ 3 , 500 . The Coalition has always been responsive to requests for information, CPC Meeting Minutes 2 OfJanuary24, 2018 they plan on doing some workshops this year for new members and they advocate for community preservation . Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the annual membership dues to the Community Preservation Coalition for 2018 for $3 ,500 . William Klein seconded . VOTE : 7- OA 16 . Discussion about whether to keep or change the current % allocation per issue area of CPA funds . The Town Administrator has asked the CPC to have a discussion on the allocations as they currently stand or if they would consider changing them . This request has come from the Finance Committee . There was a review of the history of the Land Bank and converting to CPC . Some towns have kept the land bank and added CPC fees on top of that . Brewster decided to convert in total to CPC due to the state match and due to the money received from the land bank, the open space in town was allocated to 50 percent . This agreement was to stay in effect until 2020 . Because the town has purchased so much open space, the town does not have to sewer and that has saved the town a lot of money and protected the town ' s water quality . There was discussion about the practices of the CPC , how affordable housing is an issue currently, and perhaps more funds may want to be allocated to affordable housing . It was felt that it is appropriate to review the percentages due to the changes that have taken place in town in conjunction with the Vision Committee . The current formula does give the CPC great flexibility with the 30 percent fund . These percentages were voted by Town Meeting and reflect their interests at the time . The current percentages appear to be working and there does not appear to be any stress points and the way the percentages are structured, there could be up to 40% available for affordable housing . The findings of the Vision Committee should help in this regard. Natural Resource Director Chris Miller reviewed some of the Open Space purchases that are favorably looked on by the State . He feels that the CPC funds have helped to protect the character of the town . The CPA maximum tax is three percent and it can go lower but not higher . It was the consensus of the CPC that this is a discussion worth having, but not for this upcoming town meeting . 17 . Review and discussion of the 2017 CPC Town Report. The 2017 CPC Town Report is due by the end of the month. Elizabeth Taylor is working on it and will present a draft of it at the next meeting . 18 . Discussion of membership vacancies . Peter Johnson stated that he is resigning from the CPC due to some family health issues . The Committee thanked him for all of his work. There are currently two citizen representative positions available on the CPC . A good candidate be someone with an interest in one of the CPC areas, would like to improve life in Brewster and be able to commit the time . 19 . Vote to approve minutes of the January 10 , 2018 meeting . Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the meeting minutes of January 10 , 2018 as amended . William Klein seconded. CPC Meeting Minutes 3 OfJanuag24, 2018 VOTE : 7-0-0 110 . Items that the chair could not reasonably anticipate .1 111 . Next meeting : Wednesday, February 14 , 2018 @ 4 : 45 p .m. @ Town Halla The Housing Subcommittee is meeting on February 1 , 2018 at 7 # 00pm and it is hoped to review the applications at that time . February 2 , 2018 projected revenues will be reviewed with Irene Larivee . It is expected that there will be a meeting on February 14 , February 28 , March 2 , and March 16 , 2018 . 12 . Vote to adjourn. Motion made by Elizabeth Taylor to adjourn the meeting at 5 : 31 pm. Roland Bassett seconded . VOTE : 7-0 -0 Respectfully submitted, ff y Donna J . Moberg, Recording Secretary Items used at the meeting : • Cobb House Outbuilding Legal Opinion • Pro Services Open Space Request dated 1 / 16/ 18 • Coalition 2017 Year in Review • Brewster Coalition Dues 2017 • Draft CPC Minutes of 01 / 10/ 18 CPC Meeting Minutes 4 Of January 24, 2018