Town of Sharon

Community Preservation Committee

Minutes of 2/25/10

Amended and Approved on March 22nd, 2010

Sharon Recreation Department

 

Committee Attendees

Corey Snow, Chair 

Jane Desberg, Treasurer

Meredith de Carbonnel

Susan Rich 

Allen Garf

Amanda Sloan - absent

 

Others

Ed Little – Housing Authority

Hank Langstroth – Conservation Commission

Mary Tobin – Housing Partnership

Ralph Generrazo - Housing Authority

 

Meeting Initiation

Chair Snow called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

 

Project # 25 Exterior Renovations to 21 South Pleasant Street

The Sharon Housing Authority representative Ed Little, presented a project submission for exterior renovations to the family housing complex at 21 South Pleasant Street. He stated that over the past several years, the exterior components of the property have deteriorated: specifically the foundation skirt and drip cap, the stockade fence, exterior doors and stone foundation. If not corrected he said, the integrity of the building will be compromised. Jane Desberg stated that the building is within the Historic District. The Housing Authority has not yet met with the Historic Commission regarding this project but is scheduled to do so. The total projected cost for the repairs is $14,500. Mr. Garf asked Ms. Rich if the Historic Commission would have any objections to this proposal and she stated that the Historic Commission would want to see a list of materials to be used in the project.

 

Mr. Garf moved to approve the submission for exterior renovations to 21 South Pleasant Street as submitted by the Sharon Housing Authority for fiscal 2011; also named project # 25 in the amount of $15,000. The source of funding is the historic reserves. Ms. de Carbonnel seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor.

 

Chair Snow suggested that this project be allocated under the historic category.

 

Project #24 Town Owned Land Assessment Study

Mary Tobin of the Sharon Housing Partnership presented a project submission request for $20,000 to hire a consultant to research and identify Town owned properties, unrestricted by conservation. She stated that the Partnership wants to achieve 10% affordable housing in Sharon. They want to meet the needs of the community by providing elder housing and have affordable ownership for young families. Currently the Town is at 6.4% affordable. She stated that the partnership wants to move forward and they have spent time chasing land not suitable. They want to hire an expert to look at the entire Town owned properties that are not conservation restricted and can be used to build affordable housing. She also commented that this study would benefit the Housing Production Plan which comes due in December, 2010. We are no longer protected by 40B. She thinks this project is not only important for the Partnership but for the Town as a whole. She said she has informal support from the Economic Development Committee, Planning Board and Selectmen.  As a Town, she feels we need to be proactive. The information collected will allow a starting point. She wants the consultant to capture potential properties and then pick 4-6 properties that look good from the topography access and neighborhoods to identify developable areas.

 

Chair Snow asked if the partnership had any other source of funds available to them. Ms. Tobin replied that they do not.

 

Mr. Garf asked Ms. Desberg if the monies from the Glenview property go into a Sharon Affordable Housing Trust. Ms. Desberg replied that there are currently no funds in the trust; and there is no money to be used to  perform the survey. Chair Snow asked if funds from 9 Glenview would be used for this project and Ms. Desberg stated she would look into this issue. She also stated that there needs to be a clear and complete picture of Town owned properties to determine what sites are reasonable to consider because  it is really unknown at this point.

 

Mr. Garf moved to approve the Sharon Housing Partnership project # 24 as submitted for the $20,000 requested for the Town owned land assessment study. Ms. Rich seconded the motion and the Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor.

 

Chair Snow stated that if this request is approved by Town Meeting, the funds will be available on 7/1/10. The project needs to be voted on twice by the CPC and the applicant needs to present their request at Town Meeting.

 

Sharon Conservation Commission – potential project #23

As stated in the meeting minutes of 1/28/10, a project was received from the Conservation Commission for monies to have the Audubon Society monitor the Conservation Restriction held on Town owned land and Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club land. The requested fees are $20,000. Mr. Garf said he would like to confirm if this project falls under the CPC funds statute. Ms. Rich said she would call the CP Coalition to determine if this project qualifies for CP funds.

 

In tonight’s meeting Ms. Rich commented that she spoke with Mr. Saginor of the Community Preservation Coalition and he would like additional information to determine this projects eligibility. He said that it is written within the CPA amendment that monies can not be used for municipal buildings. Mr. Langstroth from the Conservation Commission responded that the $20,000 requested for this project would be for the Mass Audubon Society to perform this task in perpetuity. Mr. Snow stated that a lot of land is under Conservation restriction. He asked how the restriction is monitored. Mr. Langstroth stated that it is monitored through a neutral third party.

 

The Committee agreed that the next step is to determine this projects eligibility. Ms. Levitts will fax the request to the Coalition to obtain feedback on how to make this more eligible or  more acceptable.

 

Civil Defense Project #22

Ms Rich reported that the request for replacement of windows at the Civil Defense Building as stated by the Community Preservation Coalition is not a project that will fit into any Community Preservation category. Mr. Snow further stated that based upon discussions with and the opinions of the Mass Department of Revenue, the project would not constitute an allowable use of CPA funds. He further said that while the building is more than 50 years old, it would have to be declared historically significant by the Sharon Historical Commission to be eligible for CPA funding. Mr. Snow will advise the applicant and the Capital Outlay Committee that the project does not qualify for Community Preservation funds.

 

Financial Review

Chair Snow provided the Committee with a financial overview to date. He is moving to reconcile the bank account with the Treasurer’s office. CP expenses are being moved out of town accounts and back into the CP accounts. $593,506 is approximately the funds available from prior years. On July 1, 2010 all funds collected through fiscal 2010 will be applied to the account. Interest will be added to this $593,506 which will help to  increase the amount. Mr. Snow recommended to the Town Treasurer to allocate whatever monies that Fiscal Year 2010 ends with in order to pay down the CP debt. Because a substantial payment can be made, it will keep the borrowing in short term status and debt free for the next year.

 

Ms. Desberg moved that the CPC request that the Town Treasurer use all uncommitted/unreserved funds accumulated in the CPA account through Fiscal Year  2010 towards the $750,000 in combined debt incurred for the purchase of the affordable home at 9 Glendale Road and the Billings/Glenview land. Mr. Garf seconded the motion and the Commission voted 5-0-0 in favor.

 

Mr. Snow mentioned that he was working with the Town Accountant to close completed projects form the books. A spreadsheet showing the projects and amounts for each was signed by the Committee indicating they were closed. Ms. Levitts will provide this page to the Accountant for her files.

 

Open Meeting Law documents supplied by Marlene Chused regarding new laws were provided to the Committee for their review. Each Committee member signed an acknowledgement sheet that they received the materials and Ms. Levitts will bring these to the Town Clerk.

 

Meeting Minutes

Mr. Snow moved to accept the minutes of 1/28/10 as amended. Mr. Garf seconded the motion and the Committee voted 4-0-1 in favor. (Ms. Desberg abstained as she was not in attendance at the last meeting.

 

Next Meeting Dates

3/22

 

Meeting Adjournment

Mr. Garf moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 pm and Ms. de Carbonnel seconded the motion. The Committee voted 5-0-0 in favor.