Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2018-11-14 Minutes � BDEC31 12 , BRELPST \\\���.. ER 04E % t`tlLlpf CLERK ERk SP , c 2198 Main Street APPROVED : 12/ 12/ 18 oco ' Brewster, Massachusetts 02631 - 1898 (508) 896 -3701 VOTE : 6-04 FAX (508) 8964089 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Held a Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 4 :45 p . m . at The Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA MEETING MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 14 , 2018 Present : Chair, Paul Ruchinskas , Vice-Chair Faythe Ellis , Elizabeth Taylor, Diane Pansire , William Klein, Roland Bassett, Sharon Marotti, Peggy Jablonski Absent : Barbara Burgo Also Present : Ellen Bearse, Recreation Director; Tom Lincoln, Dog Park Committee member; Jill Scalise , Brewster Housing Coordinators Donna Kalinick, Assistant Town Administrator; Hal Minis , Brewster Conservation Trust Chair Paul Ruchinskas called the meeting to order at 4 : 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 in form the chair. " We request that all cell phones be turned off or to vibrate. 1 . Public Hearing- The Brewster Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 14 , 2018 at 4 :45 pm in the Brewster Town Hall . The purpose of the hearing is to provide and gather information on the community preservation needs and possibilities in the areas of community housing, historic preservation, open space, and recreation. The CPC resources of the Town of Brewster will be reviewed, and the information gathered at the hearing will be useful in assessing any funding applications that the CPC may be recommending to the voters at the May 2019 Annual Town Meeting . All interested parties are invited to attend and questions and comments are welcome . Signed, Paul Ruchinskas , Chair, Community Preservation Committee , The Chair began by reading the Public Hearing Notice and then gave an overview of the Community Preservation in Brewster and the application process . He explained that in November of 2004 Brewster voted at the Fall Town Meeting to implement three actions . The first was to switch from the Cape Cod Land Bank which had been adopted by the Barnstable County voters in late 1999 and switch to the Community Preservation Act . What the switch 1 Community Preservation Committee Minutes ; November 14, 2018 meant was that the 3 % surcharge on the real estate property taxes remained in place ; however, rather than being used for one purpose (open space acquisitions) they could now be used for four purposes which included open space, community housing, historic preservation, and recreation . The next action was to create the Community Preservation Committee which is made up of nine members , 5 are appointed by Town boards and 4 citizen members that are appointed by the Select Board . The last action taken at the 2004 Town Meeting was to set the allocations of how funds are spent. 50 % has to be allocated to Open Space , 10 % to Community Housing, 10% to Historic Preservation, and 30% for housing, historic, or recreation purposes . The CPA went into effect in Town on June 1 , 2005 . Past projects completed with these CPA funds were reviewed and the amount of resources currently available were also discussed . The application process was then discussed . The Chair explained that all applications go through Town Counsel to ensure the request is CPA eligible . The Chair then opened the meeting up to members of the audience . Ellen Bearse, Brewster ' s Recreation Director gave updates on two grants . The Tennis Courts project has been completed as of October 2018 . The project came in about $ 10, 000 under budget. For the ADA improvements , they just got an engineer under contract who will be making up the plans and surveys for the three sites which include the Town Hall Field, Gages Field, and the Freemans Way property . The work is moving forward . Ellen continued that her main reason for attending the public hearing was to go over what the Dog Park Committee has been working on . They are currently working on securing a construction grant from the Stanton Foundation and an element of the grant is a 10 % match from the Town. Ellen explained that she has been working with Tom Lincoln and the Dog Park Committee on their application to CPC for those funds which will be forthcoming . They do not have an exact amount that they will be requesting from CPC at this time . The Chair asked if the final site of the dog park is still being determined . Tom Lincoln, a member of the Dog Park committee, explained that they do have a parcel of land and a location is roughly figured out with the designer . He further explained that they are hopeful to be ready on December 1 . Jill Scalise , Brewster ' s Housing Coordinator began by thanking the CPC for their support of community housing in Brewster. She explained how CPC has assisted with the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the town . She expressed to the Committee that earlier in the day, Brewster received its certification letter certifying the housing production plan which means that they have met the goal of producing over 24 units of affordable housing in one year . Brewster ' s subsidized housing inventory is now at 6 . 08 % and it was at 5 . 2% when the housing production plan was written . There are now 42 additional units on the subsidized housing inventory . Donna Kalinick, Assistant Town Administrator went over some requests that will be forthcoming including a request to continue the Housing Coordinator position . She expressed that she hopes CPC will continue to support outside entities in regards to housing such as Habitat for Humanity and Brewster Woods . Diane asked if the Housing Coordinator position should be part of the Town ' s budget rather than a CPC item . Donna responded that the majority of the positons that are funded from the first to the fifth year are typically supported by CPC funds . She explained that at some point in time 2 Community Preservation Committee Minutes : November 14, 2018 they may look at a different model but she didn' t think it would be this year due to what is going on in the Town . Hal Minis of Brewster Conservation Trust, first spoke regarding his experience with Brewster Vision Advisory Group . He provided copies of the vision plan and highlighted the importance of CPA funding in achieving some of the goals of the Vision Advisory Group which reflect the needs and desires of the members of the town . He then spoke to his involvement with the Brewster Conservation trust and expressed the importance of open space both in the vision plan and more generally . People like the green spaces around town visually, recreationally, and as a means to protect natural resources . He also brought up that only 40 % of the Zone 2 (drinking water supply areas) are protected and stated that it is a priority for the community to protect the large areas that remain that have not been developed . He also explained how open space contributes to the economy as people like to come to Brewster for the open space . Elizabeth brought up that at a recent Open Space Committee meeting some new ideas were discussed such as that some people desire open space to increase access for trails as well as connecting open space parcels so that people could walk the town more . There was also much discussion about increased coastal access such as possibly increasing beaches . Most likely if the Town was to purchase such parcels they would likely have to un- develop them . MOTIONto close the Public Hearing portion of the meeting at 5 : 32 PM. MOVED by Rollie Bassett. Seconded by Peggy Jablonski, VOTE : 8-0 -0 2 . Update on CPC Town Meeting Warrant Articles , Meetings , and Award Letters The Chair explained that the CPC articles received unanimous support by the Select Board . After this meeting the articles will be presented to the Finance Committee for their vote . All the award letters have gone out and are in process . 13 . Open Project Updates Faythe provided an update on the Cobb House outbuilding that they have the necessary permits from the Building Commissioner and the Conservation Commission and now they are working on preparing the area for the work. Elizabeth provided an update on the Long Pond Woodland conservation area . They are closing in January and should hear from the state in December regarding whether or not they will receive state grants . The Chair further stated that there is no further action that the CPC has to take in regards to the borrowing for that land . 4 . Items the Chair Could Not Reasonably Anticipate None . 3 Community Preservation Committee Minutes : November 14, 2018 5 . Announcements None . 6 . Vote to approve minutes of October 24 , 2018 meeting . MOTION to approve the minutes of the October 24 , 2018 meeting . MOVED by Rollie Bassett, Seconded by Diane Pansire, VOTE : 8-0-0 7 . Next Meeting Wednesday, December 12 , 2018 at 4 :45 PM at Town Hall . MOTION to Adjourn at 5 : 37 PM. MOVED by Diane Pansire , Seconded by Rollie Bassett VOTE : 8 -0-0 Respectfully submitted by, Sarah L . Plebes , Recording Secretary Items used at the meeting : • Balance Sheet of CPC Brewster Advisory Group Vision Plan CPC Open and Closed Projects List • Community Preservation Coalition Information Sheets Draft minutes of October 24 , 2018 CPC meeting I 4 Community Preservation Committee Minutes : November 14, 2018