Town of Sharon

Community Preservation Committee

Draft Meeting Minutes of 8/23/07

Committee Attendees

George Bailey - Chair	Allen Garf
Corey Snow, Treasurer - Absent	Arnold Kublin
Arnold Cohen	Susan Rich - Absent
Peg Argiumbau

Guest Attendees

Jennifer Goldson - Consultant

Laura Russell

Town of Sharon

Community Preservation Committee

Draft Meeting Minutes of 4/24/08

Approved on 6/26/08

Amended and Approved on 1/24/08

Committee Attendees

Corey Snow - Chair - Absent	Allen Garf
George Bailey - Treasurer	Arnold Kublin
Arnold Cohen  - Clerk	Susan Rich  - Absent
Peg Arguimbau

Guests

Jennifer Goldson

Chair’s Report

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Treasurer, George Bailey.

CP Coalition Presentation

The Committee decided to wait to vote on joining the Community Preservation Coalition (CPC) which helps communities to understand and adopt CPA until the full Committee is present. This item should be placed on 5/22/08 agenda.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Bailey stated that there should be a 65% match in funding from the State which is higher than thought. At the end of fiscal 2009, the CPC will have $193,000 in unexpended funds. This year we funded $11,000 from historic projects in the form of the survey. By the end of fiscal 2008, we will have put as much down as possible on the debt service. Both Mr. Kublin and Mr. Mr. Garf asked about paying down the debt even more. Mr. Bailey said he will report back on what investment possibilities are available for the $193,000 of unencumbered monies.

By-Law changes

Mr. Bailey reviewed the bylaws for CPC and suggested some changes for consideration. He provided a hardcopy version to the Committee for review and comment. He requested that Mr. Cohen review these from a legal perspective. Mrs. Arguimbau suggested that a vote to change the bylaws will not happen until the next meeting. Mrs. Arguimbau provided language suggestions for item #5 under Section 3 entitled Organization.

CP Plan Update

Ms. Goldson appeared before the Committee to provide updates on the feedback received on the draft community preservation document which was available on-line, at Town Hall, the Library and the DPW. She said that in general people liked what was put together. The comments included factual edits, proofreading and there were also clarifying comments which requested more things be included like data links and sources. Comments were received from MAPC, Sharon Housing Partnership as well as various citizens like Alice Cheyer, Eli Hauser and Paul Lauenstein. Ms. Goldson will correct the grammar. The document provided by Ms. Goldson was as follows:

Review of Citizen Comments on Draft Plan

Summarized by JM Goldson Sharon CPC Meeting 4/24/08

Overall

1. Who commented?  CP Coalition, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Sharon Housing Partnership, a few citizens.

2. Overall a positive response – impressed with layout, content, and quality

3. Comments generally affirmed guiding principles and goals

Chapter 1 Overview

1. Some concern about minimizing borrowing as part of guiding principle.  How strongly do you feel about this?  Would you turn down important project that required borrowing?  Hold discussion on this until Fin Com comments submitted?

2. Affirmation supporting “embracing flexibility” principle

Chapter 2 Community Housing

1. Maintain the explicitly stated preference for conversion of existing over new construction?  Multiple comments affirmed this preference.  But, Housing Partnership (HP) suggests that this be changed to give equal preference for conversion and new construction.   

2. Move Local Preference Criteria goal to top, as HP suggests?

3. Maintain explicitly stated preference for homeownership over rental?  HP suggests amending Homeownership goal to remove phrase about rental. 

Chapter 3 Open Space

1. Affirmation of goals.

Chapter 4 Recreation

1. Questions regarding factual basis of need for new active recreation.  No supporting data for claim.  Ability to justify goal?

Chapter 5 Historic Preservation

1. Question eligibility of historic signs & markers. 

2. Other than comment above, comments affirmed HP goals.

Chapter 6 Implementation

1. Clarify if plan will be updated annually or periodically reviewed. 

Next Steps

1. Anticipating comments from Fin Com next week.  Will forward to CPC.  Depending on nature of comments, may need to meet again to discuss how to address comments.  (Hold as agenda item for May 22, if needed)

2. Edit to create final Draft Plan for CPC review with photos and maps

3. Final CPC meeting to adopt CP Plan (target date:  May 29/June 26?)

4. Distribute bound copies to CPC members

5. Post final on web, distribute hardcopies to Town boards and commissions, provide hardcopies for general public at municipal buildings

The Committee discussed the document and stated:

· Relevant to Chapter 1, the Committee all agreed to leave the borrowing language as is.

· Relevant to Chapter 2, Ms. Goldson will workout the language to reflect what the law says. She will include language about previously developed sites. Mr. Garf questioned how important the plan is to the project and Ms. Goldson stated that if you bring the plan to the meeting; ideally, all CPC members will know the goals.  The Committee all agreed to focus this goal on home ownership and can take out text regarding rentals.

· Relevant to Chapter 3, all good things were said.

· Relevant to Chapter 4, Mr. Bailey has a map that shows fields and homes within a half mile.

· Relevant to Chapter 5, the Coalition said signs and markers are not eligible. They said there is no legal interpretation rather it is their interpretation. Ms. Goldson said she will ask Town Counsel.

· Relevant to Chapter 6, the committee said to leave as is.

Ms. Goldson summarized by stating that in an ideal world, the CP Plan will help to shape discussion. In the application that the applicant submits, they should review the plan and in their presentation tell how their request meets the plans goals. The plan should say that the CPC could reserve the right not to spend funds in every given year. It should be based on the merits of the applicant, and the benefits to the Town. Sometimes a request may be deemed not significant enough. She will add this wording into fiscal responsibility. She will send out the plan prior to the meeting. It is thought that there will be a Public Hearing on 6/26 to get comments for the upcoming fiscal year.

Meeting Minutes

The meeting minutes for 3/20/08 were reviewed. Mr. Bailey moved to approve the minutes of 3/20/08. Mr. Garf seconded the motion and the Committee voted 4-0-1 in favor.

 we therefore

Meeting Initiation

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM by Chair, George Bailey who reviewed the evening’s agenda.

Meeting Minutes

The meeting minutes for 7/26/07 were reviewed. Mr. Garf moved to approve the minutes of 7/26/07 as written. Mr. Cohen seconded the motion. The Committee voted 4-0-1 in favor. Ms. Argiumbau abstained due to her absence from the 7/2607 meeting.

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Bailey discussed Ms. Goldson’s revision to the schedule of meetings with the Board of Selectmen and the various stakeholder groups. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Garf attended the Selectmen’s presentation. Mr. Kublin is reviewing housing issues with Ms. Goldson and Ms. Desberg to establish priorities for housing.

Mr. Bailey also suggested that the committee think about changing the process for finalization for recommendations that go before the committee. He suggested having a hearing before the committee acts regarding money. He suggested a public hearing be held at least a month or two ahead of time. This would give the committee members time to make sure all bases are covered before taking action.

Mr. Bailey reported that as of last Tuesday, the Selectmen acted on the Horizon’s for Youth Bond issue. It went out at 4.63%.  He also stated that the first fiscal year was not heavy on open space issue. Its 3-4% on 1.2 million spread January – August which makes the model change. Instead of 30% open space and 40% recreation, $33,000 needs to be encumbered for funds for open space because it went beyond fiscal 07. Mr. Bailey wrote to the DOR and they said encumber the amount for open space. Mr. Bailey will put a spreadsheet on the website to explain the process.

Discussion

Laura Russell came before the committee to discuss project #016 – Borderland Massapoag Trail. She explained that the project began in the 1995 – 1996 timeframe. In 2002 a petition to build sidewalks along Massapoag went to the state and it was determined that it was not eligible for TIP funding. Now the residents have put together an effort to request a trail along Borderland and Massapoag and transition to sidewalk to the wate rtower. This would be a recreational access connection to promote safety and access. She worked with the DPW to determine a monetary estimate to perform the work.

Mr. Cohen asked if the sidewalk would be separated by strips of land or granite curbs and Ms. Russell said the right of way would be the setback. Mr. Cohen replied that if it is part curb and part meandering paths, can’t it all be meandering roads. Ms. Russell replied that a huge part is recreation and the sidewalk is part of recreation.

Ms. Goldson recommended that this be looked at as a trail for nonmotorized activities. What’s the proper width for bicycles on a shared use path? BHB, a company who does work on transportation, Chapter 11 shared use path and greenways said ideally a treadway is 10 feet to accommodate shared use for bicycles but would allow a  reduction to 8 feet wide.  Mr. Cohen said he was not sure of the logic behind a 1 mile bike path. Ms. Russell replied that the ultimate goal is to create a bike path to the lake. Mr. Garf questioned if the $600,000 estimate covers 10 feet. Mr. Bailey suggested an examination of various alternatives.

Mr. Kublin stated that this project is a work in progress that started in 1995. What is the town government – DPW, BOS reaction to the proposal on the drqwing board for 12 years?  Ms. Russell said the BOS was excited to put in the TIP plan but funding did not come through however there is a desire.  Mr. Cohen said if people want sidewalks, impose a betterment on the Town.

Mr. Kublin stated that sidewalk construction has to take into consideration people and children walking . The criteria is safety where people have to walk. If the Town stopped that’s unfortunate but we are looking at a substantial sum of money requested but there are other areas that have safety issues. Mr. Cohen said he would like to see bikepath but not on top of the road.

Mr. Bailey said regarding TIP funding that there is no money at the DCR. He recommended to think about flexiblity to get state DPW money and CPC funds to meet the criteria that doesn’t call it a bike path for a cost savings. He recommended that Ms. Goldson go through the report.  Ms. Goldson said that she evaluated the request and more design is needed. CPA allows or trails and not sidewalks. In terms of guidelines for the project submission everything is clear.  Mr. Cohen said this concept talks about 3/10 mile gravel. Is this where Massapoag reaches Borderland and Ms. Russell replied yes. It would be 1.1 miles of paved sidewalks with curbs.

Mr. Bailey said we are facing a financial challenge and agrees with Mr. Cohen that a sidewalk is not viable because the Town needs a lot of sidewalks in different places.  Ms. Arguimbau asked if  this could be divided into 2 projects; Massapoag to first section of Borderland. Ms. Goldson said if we got away from the sidewalk scope you can go with a gravel path idea. Mr. Bailey said he would support the stone dust street. Goldson said find out from the DPW about the stone dust trail and can it be handicap accessible. This project is competing against other projects. The main issue is the cost. Can it be justified or bought down. It is CPA eligible if there are no sidewalks but a trail.  Determine if there are any other funding sources. Could there be a a cost sharing with Easton? Mr. Cohen asked how practical it is to build a trail off the road.  It was also stated that the DPW must be asked more questions about the setback, the scenic look at the road, the number of tree removals required. Ask if  there another way to design it. Get the layoutof the street with topal lines

Treasurer’s Report

Mr. Snow was not in attendance so a report was not presented.

ed that he is closing out all invoices for FY07. $49,000 was paid for the painting of Hixson Farm. $11,500 was spent form Administrative non-payroll out of 20K. The excess of $8,500 was encumbered. There was an excess of $2K on the payroll account. Any excess will be appropriated to pay down debts. The annual forms to the state are due in the fall.

CPC Consultant

and therefore that amountJennifer Goldson, the CPC Consultant began her discussion at 8:30PM and stated she was glad to be back. She had gone through all of the data obtained at the Public Hearing and had a lot of detail to go through. She first asked for general impressions of the meeting. Mr. Kublin said he had doubts about the small # of people providing input and feels it was not a good enough representation. Mrs. Rich said the table she facilitated had good ideas. The people were involved in the Town but not true representatives of the Town. Mr. Cohen said it is hard to get a representative vote. Mr. Bailey commented that the people who attended are a structured group with ideas. Ms. Goldson commented that there were a lot of ideas on the table. Mr. Kublin saw more interest in open space than housing; Mr. Garf was impressed with the presentation, Mr. Bailey saw more interest in recreation and trails and Mrs. Rich thought the maps were useful.

Mrs. Goldson provided the CPC with a handout of actual notes taken related to the focus group discussions and individual comments, a handout summarizing the responses for Community Preservation plan questionnaire and a summary of the needs for Community Housing, Historic Preservation, Open Space and Recreation as well as associated suggested projects.  All of these handouts are available in the CPC files. She also provided a suggestion of proposed next steps with reference to her services as a consultant to the CPC.

Ms. Goldson said the next steps to get to the next level of community input would include her going to other Boards and Committees and presenting the information generated so far. She would solicit feedback and any new ideas to determine what’s out there that we do not know about. She suggested holding a second community meeting the fall after going to the other Boards and Committees. This would help give more feedback before writing the draft plan.  The CPC then reflected on these choices.

Mr. Garf moved to adopt Jennifer Goldson’s proposal entitled: Stakeholder Groups for $4,000 and report back to the CPC with any changes. Mr. Cohen seconded the motion and the Committee voted 6-0-0. The Committee did not vote on Mrs. Goldson’s proposal regarding an additional Town Meeting and the preparation of associated materials. Mr. Cohen suggested that another Town hearing would not provide much more information. Mr. Kublin suggested looking for more in the way of community education. Mrs. Rich suggested perhaps a spring meeting when the process was further along. Mr. Bailey would like to see the program explained with numbers.

Mrs. Goldson said that she will provide the CPC with written summaries of what she has discussed with the various groups and will prepare a plan outline in October.

Business

Mrs. Levitts provide the CPC with award letters for the Massapoag Brook neighborhood, the Water Department, The Historical Society, the Drake Cemetery and the School Department for signature.   

Next Meeting Date

May 22, 2008

August 23^rd, September 18^th and October 25th, 2007 and June 26, 2008 were selected.

Election of Officers will occur on September 18^th.

Meeting Adjournment

Mr.r. CohenCohen moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:5510:25 PM and Mrr. GarfKublin seconded the motion. The Committee voted 46-0-0 in favor.