HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2018-11-14 Minutes � BDEC31 12 ,
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(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
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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
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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 .
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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
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Community Preservation Committee Minutes : November 14, 2018