Community Preservation Committee Minutes March 6, 2014 7:30p.m. The chairman called the meeting to order. Present: Craig Dalton (chairman), Charles Comeau, Nancy Williams, Don Ducharme, Marilyn Kozodoy Not Present: Andrew Davis, Chris Hofmann, Susan Boyer, Paul Ricci Craig Dalton stated that the meeting was being held in Room 111 but Room 200 was now available and would like to move the meeting to that open room. Marilyn Kozodoy motioned to adjourn the Community Preservation Committee meeting to Room 200. Don Ducharme seconded the motion. 7:31p.m. VOTE: 5-0-0 7:33p.m. The chairman called the meeting to order in Room 200. Present: Craig Dalton (chairman), Charles Comeau, Andrew Davis, Marilyn Kozodoy, Don Ducharme, Nancy Williams, Chris Hofmann Not Present: Susan Boyer, Paul Ricci Powder House Present: Sia Stewart, Jean Landis-Naumann, Paul Armstrong, Brian McWilliams Marilyn Kozodoy stated that she had a phone conversation with Sia regarding the status of the application and suggested that she come and talk with the Committee. Paul Armstrong stated that the original application involved siting the Powder House in the front. It becomes a problem because of the access from the parking lot and doesn t meet the requirements for the Architectural Acts or the American Disabilities Act because of the pitch of the walk and the sidewalk. It can t be placed in its original proposed location and meet federal and state requirements. He stated that he spoke with Sia and suggested that they might be able to place it on the property but up at the corner of the parking lot. It would give good visibility from the Evergreen Cemetery and the old Town Hall. He reviewed plans with the Committee. Don Ducharme stated that he thought the issue was if the Powder House was not going to be located on the Library property then it would have to go back to Town Meeting for approval. He stated that if the Powder House remained on the library property then it would not be an issue. 1
Sia Stewart stated that the question though was whether this was actually the best spot for the Powder House. The other locations that would seem logical that would not preclude the library from doing the program that they planned to do would be the Town Green and the Faunce School. She thought they might not have the access issues there compared to the library location. She stated that they could perform the restoration work at its current location and then decide on a final site later. Don Ducharme stated that he did not have an issue as to where the Powder House would be located on the library property. The chairman stated that Sia Stewart was saying that they might want to entertain other areas if possible. He stated that he would bring this to the Historical Commission meeting next week. He mentioned that the salvaged town bounds could be used to protect the building if it was located in the parking lot. Sia Stewart stated that the other item that she and Marilyn Kozodoy (the liaison for the project) had discussed was the budget. She stated that she drafted a revised budget, presented it, and reviewed it with the Committee. The chairman asked about a time frame for the project. Sia Stewart stated that the study part of the project should go fairly quickly. They were working on the research portion that Finch & Rose had asked them to perform. She stated that Bill Finch from Finch & Rose would come down in the spring to complete his portion of the work (possibly a month worth of time) and then they can complete the restoration work. She stated that she was hopeful that by the end of summer/beginning of fall the restoration work would be completed. Discussion regarding safety concerns for the location of the building in the parking lot and the possibility of blocking off an entrance/exit and moving the entrance/exit to another area Sia Stewart stated that the location of the Powder House would not preclude the program. Don Ducharme stated that it sounded like there was no real good spot on the library grounds. The Committee should get an opinion from Town Counsel as to whether a change in the site location would need to be voted on at Town Meeting. Paul Armstrong stated that they needed to figure out who would make the final decision on where the best spot is for the Powder House. The chairman stated that the project would continue as planned and the Historical Commission would go out and take a look. The Historical Commission would offer an opinion to the Committee which would then consult with Town Counsel. Sia Stewart asked how invoices for the project would be paid. The chairman stated that invoices should be given to the Committee secretary (Brandi Gordon) to be processed. 2
Sia Stewart requested assistance in managing the construction portion of the project. The chairman stated that Paul Armstrong would assist with this issue and requested that he keep the Historical Commission appraised on the progress of the project. Brian McWilliams - Ex- Library Trustee, voiced his opposition to the Library Parking Lot location due to it being inappropriate for such an historical building. Affordable Housing Trust Proposal Present: Jean Landis-Naumann, Town Government Implementation Committee Jean Landis-Naumann presented an informational packet to the Committee on an affordable housing trust proposal that would be presented at the upcoming town meeting. She reviewed the packet with the Committee. Don Ducharme stated that he was elated that this had progressed to this point. He stated that the town had missed two great opportunities in the past three years on homes where the buyers did not want to wait because there were no resources to purchase the property. Jean Landis-Naumann stated that she was before the Committee for support and to have the Committee review the information to ensure that information was not overlooked in regards to the CPC funding. The chairman asked if purchases would be signed off by the Selectmen. Don Ducharme stated that it depended on how the Trust was organized. Jean Landis-Naumann stated that the Selectmen would appoint the Trustees and they would be the final authority. Don Ducharme stated that establishing the Trust would have to go before Town Meeting. The chairman asked if having an Affordable Housing Trust bypassed some of the procedures. Don Ducharme stated that they would be more independent for the ability to be able to move quickly on projects and possible purchases. Marilyn Kozodoy asked Jean Landis-Naumann to discuss more about who would make up the Trust. Jean Landis-Naumann stated that it was only a recommendation from the Planning Board as to who would make up the Trust. She stated that they were working with Town Counsel right now on the wording of the Article. Andrew Davis stated that timing wise, this would make sense. 3
Chris Hofmann stated that he was supportive of an Affordable Housing Trust. He asked if they would receive the entire amount of the affordable housing money from the CPC. The chairman stated that it would need to be voted on at Town Meeting every year. Chris Hofmann asked if the Affordable Housing Trust would be an applicant for a CPC budget. The chairman stated that he believed so. Don Ducharme stated that he didn t see much of a change with the way it s allocated now. He stated that it all depended on how Town Meeting went and how the Town By- Laws were written. Baclaju Present: Jack Burry 8:28p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 Jack Burry stated that he was asking permission to move things around in their $25,000.00 grant. The grant included masts, sails, ballasts, rope and hardware. He stated that they had been given a mast, sail and ballasts. He stated that they would like to apply the entire amount to the hardware. He reviewed the hardware that was needed. He stated that the hardware would be very close to the original hardware but better. The chairman asked if the boat would be completed. Jack Burry stated yes but probably not until the end of the summer. He stated that it depended on how much labor he could collect. Jack Burry stated that they were creating an endowment for the maintenance and operation of the Baclaju. Don Ducharme motioned to allow the budgetary change to the Baclaju budget to reallocate funds within the total budget as specified. The chairman requested a revised budget be submitted. Discussion regarding the possibility of advanced payment Discussion regarding the Affordable Housing Trust Surprize Hose House The chairman read a memo from Chief Heath regarding the return of $6,707.62 due to the project being completed under budget. 4
Marilyn Kozodoy motioned to unencumber the funds from the Surprize Hose House project in the amount of $6,707.62. 8:37p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 Public Presentation for Archaeological Dig Hall Swamp Site Marilyn Kozodoy reviewed details of the public presentation scheduled for March 19, 2014. She asked if the committee wanted to develop flyers for the presentation to post in town. Andrew Davis stated that Town Meeting Committee was sending emails through the Recreation Department to their registered users. They were also using blackboard connect through the town. Discussion Procedures as it relates to our board as a role in the town Andrew Davis stated that he was disappointed in the way the last meeting had gone. He stated that he felt he had asked for things that Craig had often asked for at meetings. He stated that he specifically asked to see the applications that the Historical Commission had applied to the State and the correspondence. He stated that none was brought to the meeting. He stated that the committee was very particular in some spots but not in others. For this board to make an educated decision, we didn t see some of the information that was requested and supposedly we didn t have all of the reports. He felt that it was being force fed. He stated that when they had motioned and seconded for discussion, he proceeded to try to work the win-win and was essentially told to shut up. He stated that the meeting was awful. The chairman stated that he understood his concern, but he could only answer to the Historical Commission side of it. He stated that there was no paperwork on it because by the time this had come forward they had missed the application time for the MHC grant. He stated that there was no file. He stated that as far as the perception of the project being railroaded and not having enough time to talk about things, he would be interested in hearing from the other board members if they felt the same way. Chris Hofmann stated that he respected Andrew s concerns in the matter but from his own stand point saw it as maybe special circumstances and could be interpreted as a continuation of a project instead of a new one. Don Ducharme stated that he recalled the chair had felt that the project had already been vetted and discussed at prior meetings and so she ended the discussion. The chairman stated that he would like to thank Marilyn for chairing while he was away. It is not always an easy job. He stated that he had 100% faith that she was trying to do the best thing and keep order and not try to ram anything down anyone s throat. Marilyn Kozodoy stated that at the time they were considering this a continuation of an already established project. As far as any new information other than the question that 5
Andy put forward, emails had been sent out asking for any questions to be submitted so that she could forward them so that Fran Botelho-Hoeg as the presenter could be prepared to answer those questions. She stated that she didn t receive any questions back from any of the other members of the CPC. The documents that Andrew Davis had requested did not exist. Andrew Davis asked if they had mentioned before that they had applied. The chairman stated that on the application it did say that they had applied but it was a carryover from the last application. Marilyn Kozodoy stated that Fran had taken the original application, tweaked it and missed that edit. Andrew Davis stated that he requested the first and second application. The chairman stated that he had the information for the first application and could provide it. Marilyn Kozodoy stated that when Andrew Davis had seconded the motion for discussion, the discussion was opened up and he wanted to have a cross conversation with Fran and it was that brokering quid pro quo thing and she disallowed it. She stated that she was following parliamentary procedure according to Roberts Rules. The motion on the floor was to whether or not to recommend the project for Town Meeting. The discussion was not regarding making a deal and therefore outside of the motion on the floor. Andrew Davis asked how they would come to some sort of resolution with the Historical Commission and how this was all going to work out if they couldn t discuss it at that point. Marilyn Kozodoy stated that you could not work out a deal with only one member of the Historical Commission. Fran could not give a position for a board. Even if she said anything she couldn t stand on it and a quorum of the Historical Commission was not present. It also was not a joint meeting. Marilyn Kozodoy stated that anyone present speaking to the motion had an opportunity to speak. Discussion regarding having a discussion at a previous meeting about some sort of compromise for the archaeological dig/fields Write ups for Articles Historical Commission Archaeological Dig Recreation Basketball Courts Mary MacKinnon KIS Playground Bills Payable - Gatehouse Media - $213.84 Request for Bid for First Congregational Church 6
Andrew Davis motioned to approve $213.84 payable to Gatehouse Media. Don Ducharme seconded the motion. 9:00p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 - Gatehouse Media - $42.08 CPC Public Hearing Notice Don Ducharme motioned to approve $42.08 payable to Gatehouse Media. 9:01p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 - Discussion regarding Wharf project invoices Minutes Reviewed the draft minutes of December 18, 2013 Don Ducharme motioned to accept the minutes of December 18, 2013 as presented. 9:13p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 Reviewed the draft minutes of January 8, 2014 Don Ducharme motioned to accept the minutes of January 8, 2014 as presented. 9:14p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 Reviewed the draft minutes of January 28, 2014 Marilyn Kozodoy motioned to accept the minutes of January 28, 2014 as corrected. Don Ducharme seconded the motion. 9:16p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 Reviewed the draft minutes of February 3, 2014 Don Ducharme motioned to accept the minutes of February 3, 2014 as presented. Marilyn Kozodoy seconded the motion. 9:17p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 General Discussion Don Ducharme motioned to adjourn. 9:20p.m. VOTE: 7-0-0 7