Community Preservation Committee

January 26, 2006 - Meeting Minutes

Committee members present: George Bailey (Selectmen), Arnold Kublin (Housing Authority), Janet Sargent-Tracy (Selectmen), Corey Snow (Moderator), Robert Young (Historical Commission), Peg Arguimbau (Conservation), Arnold Cohen (Planning Board). Guests: Katherine Roth, David Grasfield (part of the time).

The committee unanimously voted to approve the minutes of January 12, 2006, as amended.

There was discussion of who may call a meeting. Mr. Bailey had suggested that any member be able to call meetings. “Two members” was suggested. Mr. Young: “Topics of discussion should be in writing, and only those topics discussed.” Ms. Sargent-Tracy: “Notice should be given a week ahead of time.” Ms. Roth: “A week’s notice requirement would preclude meeting in an emergency, for instance, a deadline.” Mr. Bailey: “That rule could be suspended.” Mr. Snow: “You’d have to have a meeting to suspend the rule.”

Election of Officers: Mr. Bailey volunteered to serve as Chair; Mr. Snow, as Treasurer; and Mr. Young, as Clerk. They were elected by unanimous vote for a term ending June 30, 2007. Thereafter, terms of office will be for one year.

Staffing was discussed. Ms. Cheyer offered to serve as interim secretary (paid with “senior hours”--the property tax work-off program) until after May TM, when the committee would have had time to get an appropriation for administrative expenses and could advertise for, interview, and hire, a paid, part-time secretary (perhaps 6–10 hrs per week) like those who work for other committees. The committee voted unanimously to approve Ms. Cheyer’s being the interim secretary paid with senior hours, subject to COA agreement and confirmation of feasibility.

Ms. Roth suggested that the committee ask May TM to appropriate the full 5% for administrative expenses so it could have flexibility. Discussion as to whether any amount of this not spent could be carried over or would have to go back to the general CPA fund. Ms. Roth will check.

Discussion of the draft committee bylaws, including how to accommodate the expression of minority views within a majority report or TM recommendation. Mr. Bailey: “We are a committee of equals.”

Ms. Roth suggested having a public meeting regularly in March, and at least this year to introduce the committee and its purposes to the public and possibly get input. This could be a public meeting (no legal notices because the committee has no money for them yet), and a public hearing (with legal notices) could be held later. She urged members to read the DOR’s “Community Preservation Fund Budgeting and Finance Issues,” which she provided and which discusses schedules. Some discussion of whether the committee should actively initiate projects or wait for applications. It was agreed to hold a public meeting March 9 and to prepare an application form and some presentation materials. Mr. Bailey said there should be “no rush” in considering projects.

The committee approved putting up a Web page.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9, at 7 p.m. The agenda will include protocol for submission of projects (application form and some information to go with it – appropriate projects, etc.),

March 9 public meeting (prepare presentations, plan publicity), review article for May TM (asking for appropriation of entire 5% of administrative costs, as suggested), approve committee bylaws and minutes of 1/26/06, other business. Mr. Kublin will be away until April and will receive materials by mail, not

e-mail, during that time. The meeting ended at 9:10 p.m.

Submitted by Alice Cheyer,

Interim Secretary