5/22 CPC Meeting Absent Cohen, Kublin, Arguibau arrived at

Town of Sharon

Community Preservation Committee

Minutes of 3/22/10

Amended and Approved on 10/21/10

Town Hall

Committee Attendees

Corey Snow, Chair	Jane Desberg, Treasurer
Meredith de Carbonnel - absent	Susan Rich
Allen Garf	Amanda Sloan

Others

None

Meeting Initiation

Chair Snow called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM.

Meeting Minutes

Ms. Desberg moved to approve the meeting minutes of 2/25/10 as amended. Ms. Rich seconded the motion and the Committee voted 4-1-1 (Ms. Sloan abstained).

FY2011 Budget

Chair Snow said he is working with the Accounting Department to do a full reconciliation of the CPC funds, between Accounting and the CPC account. The deadline for this is 6/11/10 as that is when the current short term note of $750,000 rolls over. Chair Snow suggested he would like to pay down the debt but this is up to the Treasurer with CPC guidance. He reported that the state match for next year should be between 31% and 32%.

Chair Snow also reported that he made a financial review presentation to the Finance Committee last week. He focused on walking them through FY11 Administrative Budget and provided historical information for the past four years which included FY 07 - FY11. He requested the FY10 Administrative Budget be set at $20,000. This amount would include salary, consulting fees, legal fees, supplies or anything related to performing the CPC duties. He suggested that perhaps the master plan should be updated in 2011 and a consultant would be needed.

Mr. Garf moved to recommend to Town Meeting the amount of $20,000 for the Administrative Budget for the CPC for FY11. Ms. Sloan seconded the motion. The Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor.

Project #22 Civil Defense

Mr. Snow reported that this project does not qualify for Community Preservation funds under the Act unless the building is historically significant as stated by the Historical Commission, the State Historical Commission or the National Register. Chair Snow notified the applicant as well as the Capital Outlay Committee.

Project #23 Sharon Conservation Commission Conservation Restriction

Chair Snow stated that the executive office of environment and energy is now enforcing the conservation restrictions. The Conservation Commission acquired the conservation restriction on Town owned land in the past but they can no longer hold the conservation restriction on their own land. A second party needs to hold the conservation restriction so this is how this request came to the CPC. Chair Snow called a multitude of people to gain a better understanding of this issue. The question he has which is before Town Counsel and the DOR is "can CPA funds be used to fund a service fee for land not acquired using CPA Funds?” The CPA said it probably is not allowed but they are not a legal entity. Chair Snow awaits the answer within the next two days and if the response is positive he will call for an additional meeting of the Committee. He also stated he has calls in to price this out because it is needed for all conservation restricted land. A lot of Towns have their own land trust as it is less expensive but you would need to assemble a non profit disinterested party.

Chair Snow reported that there is a conservation restriction on CPA land at Horizons for Youth parcel which was purchased using CPA funds in 2007. This parcel is comprised of 3 parcels with 5 and a half acres of waterfront. Chair Snow called the Audubon, the Trustees of the Reservation, Neponset River Watershed and Wild lands Trust. He has a commitment from the Trustees of the Reservation for $10,000. They are taking on a legal liability as a party to the restriction. They have to perform a yearly walk of the property and keep notes. They have to determine if they see any encroachments by a private party or the Town. If so, they would need to take legal action at their costs. This project would clearly be eligible for CPA funds because the land was purchased with CPA funds. Chair Snow said he has a firm opinion from the DOR, Town Counsel and the CPA. The $10,000 quote is firm but he hopes to beat it.

Mr. Garf asked if this can wait until the next cycle but Mr. Snow said he was unsure. The Committee deliberated both motions. Mr. Snow thinks it is appropriate because the land was purchased with CPA funds by this committee.

Motion 1:

Ms. Desberg moved, that the Community Preservation Committee recommend that Town Meeting appropriate up to $15,000 form the Community Preservation fund to pay costs associated with obtaining conservation restrictions on the parcels of land previously acquired by the Town using Community Preservation funds, as part of the Horizons for Youth summer camp acquisition, such funds to be taken from the Community Preservation Fund account balance for the Open Space category, as of July 1, 2010. Related expenditures shall include, but not be strictly limited to; 1) Payment of fees to a private party to acquire and service the Conservation Restriction, in accordance with State regulations, 2) Legal fees incurred by the Town related to execution of the Conservation Restriction. Ms. Sloan seconded the motion. The Committee voted 4-0-1 in favor. Mr. Snow abstained.

Motion 2:

Ms. Desberg moved, the Community Preservation Committee waive Committee rules pertaining to the requirement that votes be taken at 2 separate CPC meetings before a recommended appropriation may take effect, strictly for the purposes of expediting the approval of Motion 1 (above) at this late date. Ms. Rich seconded the motion. The Committee voted 3-0-2 in favor. Mr. Garf and Mr. Snow abstained.

Project #24 Town Owned Land Assessment Study

Chair Snow presented this project to the Finance Committee. He said the Finance Committee is concerned with the consultant’s entry level point. Ms Desberg said that the partnership would do whatever they could do in house upfront before the consultant began by using existing Town resources. Mr. Garf moved to approve for the second time the Sharon Housing Partnership project #24 for $20,000. Ms, Rich seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor of the motion. Chair Snow said this information would be good input to help update the Housing Production Plan and Community Preservation Plan.

Project # 25 Exterior Renovations to 21 South Pleasant Street

The Sharon Housing Authority is an independent entity that is funded and regulated by the state. It is looking at other avenues to do capital work. This project is for doors, fencing and the apron. Mr. Garf moved to approve for the second time the amount of $15,000 for project #25 for 21 South Pleasant Street. All monies are to be allocated under the historical category. Ms. Rich seconded the motion and the Committee voted

5-0-0. Ms. Desberg said she presented this project to the Historical Commission and they voted to approve the project.

Project #24 Town Owned Land Assessment Study

Next Meeting Dates

4/29

Meeting Adjournment

Mr. Garf moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 pm and Ms. Desberg seconded the motion. The Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor.