Good evening. This is the Community Preservation Committee meeting on February 4th of 2026. Um I'm I did write down that we do have a new uh Zoom ID number from last month, but I just want to keep reminding people
that there is the the new number and I do have to read the remote participation text. In accordance with chapter 2 of the acts of 2023 suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law, public bodies otherwise governed by the OML are temporarily relieved from the
requirements that meetings be held in public pro places open and physically accessible to the public so long as measures are taken to ensure public access to the body's deliberations through adequate and alternative means. This meeting will be live on Zoom. The
public may participate remotely by joining Zoom meeting ID number of 846 06008222 or by calling 929-2056099. For additional information about remote remote participation, please contact Carly Antineellis, the assistant town
manager at atmirair.mma. US or 978-772-8220 extension 100 prior to the meeting during business hours. Right. I've already called the meeting to order. Um an approval of the agenda if at all
possible. Can we uh get a motion to move uh to approve it or um any corrections or additions? >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as written. All right, Colleen made the motion. Can I get a second?
>> I'll second. >> All right, Jess. I got to do roll call. Let's see if I'm going to get this right. All right. Uh, Jess, >> I >> Barry, >> I. >> Colleen, >> I. >> And Julie? >> Yes.
>> You got it. And the chair says I got it. Now, the approval of the minutes. Um, I did not see any anything that needed to be corrected. It all looked great on my end. Anybody see anything on
the minutes from January 7th? >> No. >> All right. >> I >> All right. That means Jess did a great job again. So, >> so can I get a motion to approve the minutes as written, please?
>> So, move. All right. Barry makes the motion. >> Colleen seconds. All right. I'm going to do roll call. Uh Jess >> I. >> Colleen. >> I. >> Julie. >> Yes. >> All right. I Beth. Um.
>> Yes. >> All right. And Barry, thank you. >> All right. >> And the chair says I. So that's all well and good. You got it. Thank you. I say people keep moving around. Um, all
right. Next, correspondence and invoices. Um, I have not really had anything. Did any, you know, other than the applications that had come in, did anybody receive anything that they want to bring up to the meeting?
>> Janet, I'm gonna try to just say this. I apologize. It's Julie. Um, I did actually get a reach out uh a phone call from the chair of the Shirley CPC. um just talking to us about our procedures and how we go about things. So, I'll connect with you um separately with the
direct questions chair to chair. Um but I just wanted to let everyone let let everyone know I spoke with them. >> All right. Thank you, Julie. >> All right. Okay. Next on the agenda is the grant agreement update. Um, I have
sent uh another email to Robert saying we definitely need to discuss them, especially since the housing authority is moving ahead with some of the work that they need to get done. They've already got uh responses back for one of
the RFPs, which I'll go over with committee reports, but um Ken is looking to move forward. So, I did put the emphasis to Robert today of going ahead and getting some feedback from him. Other than that, I don't have anything
any other grant update. I'm just moving right along, guys. Okay. Um the review of moving on for the review of the application of the air affordable housing trust. I just want to make sure everybody knows that um on the
website we do have the applications for the um housing trust as well as Sandy Pond School um and they are on the link if you go to the agenda there is a related event link on the bottom of that
page and it will bring you to the documents. So they are out there. Um, so I'm just going to go ahead and Colleen being the representative of the air affordable housing trust, the CPC representative on there. I'm going to
let her take it away. Do you want me to put the application? I can share it. >> I was just going to ask I have it open on my computer. So if you want me to share it, I can do that as well. But if you have it, might be might be good to
share it. It's pretty much identical to our request last year to CPC. So, if you will recall, we asked, well, now I can't remember the number. I'm sorry, it's
been a long, you scroll down a little, >> we had requested Oh, yeah. 200,000. It costs us roughly 72,000 a year to fund the rental assistance program. We feel comfortable with keeping that, you
know, capped at 12 families. We're starting to have families who've been on the program for three years who will be cycling off. Um, and so part of our ask is to fund the next year of the rental
assistance program. And then we had also last year asked for the additional funds above that 72,000 the 128,000 so that we would have a fund available to us. I think similar to the conservation trust
where if there was an opportunity for a project that the money would be there ready for you know around affordable housing for us to use as opposed to you know having to wait for town meeting to move forward. We had such a project with
the Devon Crest ass they came to CPC for funds but they also came to the affordable housing trust and we were able to commit those funds sooner which you know they could use in some of their other leveraging of you know trying to
get other funds lined up. So we are essentially looking to replenish what we have promised to Devon's Crest out of that additional fund. though we're asking for the same amount. >> Do you remember the amount that was
given to Devon's Crest? >> H that is a very good question. Hold on one second. I can probably find it pretty quickly. Um
because I wrote up the minutes. Uh I want to say 170, but I'm probably wrong. I want to say you are yes 170. >> Okay, thank you.
Um so yeah that is the the rationale behind the funding request um and why the two sort of buckets of money that are part of it. Okay. And from what I understand um the
100 um 28 um part of that there would be like 3,000 um for admin just in you know because that you have the >> Yes, we do have to as part of the bylaw
is do an audit every year that we have to pay to have done. So yes, I forgot to mention that some of that a small piece of that money is for those administrative costs. Amazing that an audit costs that much. But
>> and it's an independent audit, right? >> Right. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> That's why it doesn't get wrapped up into the towns. >> So, all right. Um I'm I'm pretty straightforward with this. Does anybody have any questions?
>> Nope. >> Nope. >> All right. Um, are there any concerns or can I just get a motion to move this to a public hearing next month? >> So, move
>> with that. >> All right. Jess made the motion and Barry seconds. Let's do this the roll call. Um, I'm going to do it. Jess >> I. >> Barry. >> Yes. >> Colleen, >> I. >> Julie? >> Yes.
>> All right. And Beth? >> Yes. All right. And the chair says I. So, it's unanimous. Um I'll let you >> We have We have Oh, we did vote. That was the vote. Yes. >> Yeah. To to move it. Yeah. To move it to a public hearing.
>> Um which would be on March 4th, which sounds so good. That's March 4th with this project. Um I'm sorry that was that was bad. Slap happy. Um with that, Colleen, um can you touch base with them? And uh you know when I say them,
Sean or Alicia and >> yes, I will let them know it moved towards a public hearing and we have our next meeting next week on Wednesday. So um we'll let the whole committee know. >> All right. Excellent. That sounds great.
Okay. 34 public and I will do the um announcement in the um I want to say public spirits uh the nubbaba voice. Hold on a second. I have a cat that's getting ready to pounce on the computer.
So, let me All right. Got to move him over a little. Um All right. So, next on the agenda is Irv. Are you here still, Irv? >> Unmute me. Yes, I'm here.
>> Oh, okay. It's like, wait a minute. I'm trying to scroll up and down. All right. >> Okay. We have um Irv from the Sandy Pond School um association and they are requesting
um the Let me get rid of this here. Hold on. I'm trying to do this on now with one hand. Let me stop sharing and I can go ahead and I can share your application as well. Welcome. Um I I see that you guys have really been doing a
lot um there. So hold on. >> Yeah, we've been we have been working. >> Yeah. And it's been good. All right. Hold on. Here it is. Let me see if I can get back to that.
Sorry. Sometimes it works with one hand and sometimes it doesn't. >> I know that feeling. >> All right. Where is Word doc? Here it is.
There we go. Thank you for your patience, everybody. >> Okay. It's great. >> All right. So um also again this this application is um on the website as well as some of
the supportive documents and I did put the letter from the school um up. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Great. >> Take it away. >> Okay. Um uh sort of by way of preface on
this particular um application. This this uh is sort of a uh This this is a side effect. This particular application is a side effect of the grant we lost uh back in 2021 or 2022.
Um the uh the mass preservation project fund that was going to accompany the second grant from CPC. And had that happened, um we would not be needing to have a separate uh uh
fundraising effort now to to install this uh HVAC system in the schoolhouse because the the combined uh proceeds from those two grants would have included this and it would have been done. Um the um the the include the
addition the installation of a of an HVAC system in the schoolhouse was part actually of the conditions assessment that was originally done by what was then Spencer invoked uh in uh in in 2017 at the very beginning of the restoration
program. Um and it's always been in the uh in the in the restoration plan. Um, but when we lost that mass project grant and had some and had some uh additional expenses because of price increases,
particularly the roof, um, we had to cut a couple things out. We didn't have uh didn't have money to do all the things we had planned to do at phase 2. And the biggest omission was the the HVAC system. Um, and as it turns out, we can't go back to MPPF for that
particular project because they don't fund that. They wouldn't fund such a project. Um, so, um, we managed to get the the school basically restored. It is restored, but right now we're limited, uh, to using it just in warm weather. Um
and uh that is kind of putting a a cramp uh a crimp in in in our hopes and plans to have more activities and events at the schoolhouse. Um and for one specific example is the new uh student the elementary school visitation program. We
had the first session of that this past May on May 2nd. We had uh 57 fourth graders who came through in installments. Um and it was quite a lively quite a lively event and a and a very happy one. Um and we want that to
be an annual program now and and in fact the plans are now underway for a 2026 um uh version of that program and that will also take place in May. Um, and we're able to do that at at that time of year because just barely because there's
a lot of things that happen that are very busy uh in the uh elementary school calendar at the end of the year and at the beginning of the year and those are the only two times we currently could actually have such a program at the schoolhouse because of the weather. Um
so um the goal here is very simple. We want to make the building more accessible to the public, more useful for events of a variety of sorts, um, and sort of get it onto the increase the visibility of the of the site of the schoolhouse simply by being able to use
it more often and have it open more often. Um, the cost um is relatively small amount all things considered, at least compared to everything else that we spent. And we have we have funded we have sent in two grant applications. One to uh CPC and we're requesting half of
the estimated cost namely 12,500 and the other 12,500 we have uh have some hopes of getting from Mass Cultural Council from their uh capital fund. Um and we had that application went in in December. Um so we have both of them uh
in in the pipeline as it were and if things were to go as we hoped they would and grant those both are granted uh then we would put this system would be installed over the summer. We'd go out and get quotes and bids. We're working on that right now actually um for for
June and and it wouldn't be that big a deal in terms of installing it. It would probably be this is a this is a actually probably based on experience I had putting heat pumps in my house. This is a two or three day operation at most. So, um, what we need is about $25,000.
If we had done it back, um, at the time that the project was originally estimated in 2017, the cost would have been $16,000. Um, but prices have gone up. Um and and basically the rationale for the for the project simply is that this is a way to
really get uh our investment money out of the schoolhouse by enabling it to be open much more often uh and and useful for more events. Um in particular, we've uh talked about having some holiday events in particular. Right now we couldn't do that. Um
what we're looking to put in is a um a a minimally uh conspicuous we hope uh uh heat pump system. Um the schoolhouse was heated obviously when it was a school and it was heated with that very large
stove that we still have in the in the building. It's the the stove that was used. Um, but for a variety of reasons, that doesn't seem to be an optimal method of heating the building in a current environment. Um, >> V, would you still keep that there though as a fixture?
>> Yes. >> Yes, we will. Makes >> sense, right? Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. We've had that stove looked at. In fact, there were two stoves in the schoolhouse. There's also the kitchen stove in in the little uh annex. Um, they're both from the same company uh which is a very local company. It was
in in the in the area right here in northern Middle Sex. Um we've been told that the stoves are of some historic value actually. So >> I would imagine. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> In fact, in fact, it could actually you could make that stove work. You would
have to spend a fair amount of money on the actual installation and the stove needs a modest amount of repair work. But um it just having a wood heat in a historic building um and u not being sure that everybody who's going to be dealing with the stove would really be
uh how should we say well well experienced with it just doesn't seem a good idea. Mhm. And also too, I mean again, you know, just from prior applications and and information, you do want to open it up for other events, and this definitely will give you a chance
to to do that if someone, you know, was to, you know, look for the schoolhouse as a place for an event. Um, >> you've got an like I mean I don't know if you've thought this far, but like an application and would there be a fee to
go ahead and rent it? >> We will have such we will have such an application. I've I've done a little research on that and started to put together a very rough draft, but that would go up on the website as soon as we know that we're going to be able to accommodate that.
There has been interest in uh you know in using the schoolhouse for for things like this and some of these have come out of the blue. Probably the most interesting one was back 20 I don't know 15 I think or 2016 we
had a military promotion ceremony at the schoolhouse. Um it was a family of military um that were both husband and wife were in the in the services and they had lived here in in air for a number of years and they had small children and the wife was in the air
force and she was being promoted to major um and apparently they have a ceremony when that when that occurs. The Air Force has a drill for this and they wanted to have it at the schoolhouse and they did. Um and uh and the amazing part was we asked them for a $50 donation and
they gave us 250. Um so they really wanted to use it. Um we also found out that that the number of people we had there was pretty much the maximum seating capacity. We had about 40 people there and I'd say that's about five people more
than you'd really want to do on a regular basis. But we've had a few few other things like that. So >> right now there's not, you know, people I think don't think of it as a as a venue because the only times it's available, you know, it's a limited time
frame and it's just not on everybody's agenda to think about doing something in the summer. But we think >> with a building being usable over a longer span of time, we'd be able to promote it um and and and get a more public attention.
Have you um I mean was the heat pump um what they is was it Stacy Spies or Spencer? Um did they you know recommend that it would be something less intrusive like that? >> That was what the that was what the original conditions assessment
recommended. Yes. >> Okay. That's good because you know again it's a historical building. So >> Right. Right. And we're kind of limited with this building in terms of what we could do. there is no ducting in the building. It would be not actually
physically possible to install it uh at any reasonable expense because there's no space underneath the building. Um and you well you just you wouldn't want to do that job and you'd still and we also wouldn't have a place for the you know
for the actual um uh furnace either. Um that would have to be you have to have an add-on with the heat pumps. Um the the the the main units will be outside the building on the rear. There probably will be two, one large and one small.
Those will be outside the building on on the back. Um and there will be the uh interior units will be mounted on the walls, one in the annex and one one in the classroom. Um so they will be visible. Um >> okay. >> But not not terribly conspicuous.
They'll be >> they'll be up in the air. Mhm. >> Okay. All right. I know. Does any anybody have any Go ahead, Colleen. >> I just have a quick question. I
understand, you know, asking for half um with the hope that the other grant comes in, but I'm wondering I don't know what our historic funds are like, Janet. So maybe you can answer this question better, but whether
we should be you should be requesting the whole amount and then if the grant comes in obviously using those funds over us, but that way if it doesn't come in, you don't have to wait another year
to ask for more funding so that this can get going because I think it's a great project. I love the, you know, that the elementary schoolers are coming in. I was a little bit disappointed. I had a fifth grader last year, so he just missed out on the visits to the
schoolhouse. And I'm thinking with more openings, there'll just be more >> Yeah. >> opportunities. So, you know, I don't I don't know if it's okay to ask that, Janet, but >> it is. >> That's just what popped into my head. Have a contingency plan.
>> I I like the way you think. >> No. No, I'm glad Kylen mentioned it. Um, we did put money back in because we didn't use all the money for the howitzer that was that's in front of town hall. Um, so we did put money back into uh the historical fund and right
now, all right, Jess, if you want to know, um, as of today, the historical resources um, categories got 321,16,551. >> 51 cents. >> And 51.
>> Is that 51 or 61? >> 51. >> 51. Thank you. All right. So, with that, um, that's a good good idea, Colleen. And if you do get the grant, you won't use all the 25,000, >> you know,
>> but hold on a second, Jess, go ahead. >> I was just going to say, I mean, if if this work is done either in August or September, that money will be returned pretty fast. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Too. So, >> yeah. I wasn't sure what your financial
situation was. and we, you know, we really, you've done a lot for the schoolhouse. Um, and and so we really wanted to be have a have a a genuine attempt to get some money from another source, and we've done that. We have the grant application in, but it would be
>> that's a good Colleen's idea is a good one, I think. So, >> all right. I see Beth. >> Yep. I um I agree. And I wonder if you know when you might hear from the MCC grant. Um >> they they said June.
>> Yeah. Cuz it it's too bad that it's not, you know, timed so that we would know prior to town meeting, but it's still close and like they said, you know, it would um be something that, you know, wouldn't be expended if not necessary. But I'm I really appreciate that you're
seeking the external grants and think that you know that's a that's a great source and wish that there were more grants available for historic preservation projects, but it's great that MCC has that capital grant program. So, thank you. Um definitely definitely support advancing the project.
>> Yeah, we can't count on that outcome for sure, but the it's a very good fit we thought between the project and and the grant that particular grant. So, >> yeah, it sounds good. I see Barry, you had your hand up. >> I just had a question. As far as CPC is
concerned, do we justify a heating system as an upgrade from the wood stove or how do we justify that? >> Um, I mean, I'm going to say it would be historical um because we would be protecting the uh the building as as
>> building or the contents of the building. >> Well, both the building and the contents. um you know just like we did with um oh geez I'm trying to think >> generator at the at the town hall >> at the town hall and also to at Pleasant Street school because you want to make
sure that that stay >> No, I just just wanted to ask >> Yep. >> Uh the other thing I was going to ask now if you had you're going to have this heated how how were you setting aside funds to have it like a winter like this plowed snowblowed and everything else to make
it accessible? Well, that that's a good question. I don't think we'll have a problem with the electrical bill. Um the uh the snow removal issue is another one. And if it's a normal piece of property, we would have to hire, you know, someone to do the plowing.
>> Um and uh so it's a got to be a matter of number one, seeing what that might actually cost, and number two, maybe talking to DPW to see if they'd be willing to sort of help out there. they what they still do um have done for some years is they mow the property in the
summer. Um so it might be that they could find a way to um do the snow removal or or at least do it at a reduced cost from what we might have to pay if we have to go outside. My dad used to do snow removal, so I'm really
familiar with that with that schedule. I was the only kid in town who didn't have to shovel his own driveway because my dad had my dad did it. All right, that works out good. But that was a good question, Barry, because that's what I was thinking. I was like, okay, making sure that people do want to
rent it out that it's accessible. I think it's a step in the right direction. And um again, I I think that if we can get a revised application for the for the funding request of 25,000.
and note that you've got that application that if you do get it um it can reduce the amount that would be paying out. Go ahead. Okay, hold on a second. Beth, >> just one more question um about
preservation of the artifacts and things. Um what what do you have for like a humidity monitor or anything like that? And as you're installing the heating system, is that something that you would need to think about? like I just don't know if anything like that
has been recommended or discussed. >> Um we don't have anything like that now. That's for sure. Um and I think long-term preservation of the collection uh and the other items is something that is on our agenda. And we've been uh
talking to among others the Northeast Document Conservation Center about what might be involved in trying to conserve some of the documents, the photographs um and uh and and the books. Um and what we've learned is that those things can
be done. Uh they cost money. Uh they're actually going to cost quite a bit of money and I think it'll be a separate that'll be a separate project. We also have discovered um though we probably should have known from the beginning that we have a couple of physical items that at least a couple that that might
have some that do have historic value and that could could be restored and might even in the process being restored put back into use. And one is the piano um and the other is the violin uh that we have in the schoolhouse. the violin. Turns out um to have a connection to the
Hosmer family. Um um there and the Hosmer family is well known in Conquered. Uh there was a Minute Man uh named Hosmer. Um and the the Conquered Museum has many Hosmer artifacts. Um and
the V the violin is actually um it seems to me not in terrible shape. Not that I'm an expert on violins, but we think that could be restored in the piano also. Um, again, we those are kind of on our list of things to get to as we are
able to, you know, get to them and they'll all involve raising money. >> Excellent. How do you spell Himemer? >> Oh, h I think the minute man was named Jacob, and my recollection is he died at the north bridge.
There's a Hosmer House in Sudbury. That's a museum. >> Yeah. >> That is run by the historical society. >> Yeah. >> And that was for the violin, right? >> Yes, it is. Yeah. >> Yeah.
Piano is interesting. It's about v The vintage is about 1910. It's what's called a square grand. It's a style that was very popular late 19th early 20th century and has since gone out of fashion. Although these days my understanding is you can if you got a
lot of money buy a new one. Um it's a very special sort of thing and uh you know a real niche. But the piano is overund years old now. Um 115 years old about. >> Right. Yeah. Um, and uh, and it and it
it appears that with restoration it could be used. You can still uh, pick a few notes out on it, but I wouldn't say that it's tuned. >> Well, no, this will be good because like I said, this will get you in the step in the right direction. Barry, go for it.
>> I didn't know I could raise my hand, but I figured out how to do it. Uh just just as an extra side note, if you decided to have the stove uh refurbished, uh we've used me we meaning the historical uh we've had the fountain in front of the
town hall and the one at depot done by Ericson's in Littleton. >> Yes. >> Dave Erikson. Yeah. >> Yes. He's very good. >> He looked at the stove and told us that he thought it could be could be restored. Yeah. Oh, so he has looked at >> Yeah, he looked at both of the stones
actually. He was very interested in the >> Oh, yeah. He's and he's got a a wealth of knowledge when it comes to that that stuff there. So, >> yeah. >> And then when it comes to the documents, definitely speak with Luke um over at the library because they've just um you
know, they've been um digitizing all the uh the newspapers which I've used constantly, you know, for searching. So >> yeah, that that's one of the options for the books in particular, also for some of the documents. The books
>> um the Northeast uh uh conservation center, the will has has a well they they will they tell us if we can bring the books to them, which we have we have about 35 or 40. >> They will go through them and give us, you know, sort of quick opinion on what
could be done with them. And one option that they could provide would be to digitize some of them. >> Um, a number of them, I mean, they're they're they're old textbooks. They're 19th century textbooks for the most part. Um, and and they are they are
interesting and they are and they're valuable. Um, but they're very fragile in their current condition. It would be hard to put them on display. Um, some of them perhaps could be at least in some limited way and others not. They're just too fragile. um we did not get cost
estimates from them yet. I I know from my own experience in publishing that that can be done and that it's pretty expensive. Yeah, I have I have some in my mother's old house of u um you know the the readers the CJ and C you know C spot C
all those and they're they're still in good condition which I was sort of amazed because I thought we destroyed them when we were kids but they're they're way back um before my mom's time. So, um, all right. Um, any other
questions from the team? >> I just have one more. >> Go ahead. >> Uh, now where did you get that figure of 25,000? Was that was that from another a company or was that >> got
>> It was from two two uh one uh these I have to say were oral numbers estimates. Um, one was from TAG here in Ayer and the other one was from an outfit called Healey up in Westford. Uh, Heel has promised me, they promised again today,
they'll get me in writing a proposal and we would plan to go back to TAG for the same thing and might get a third one. Our the contractor's done all the work on the building up to now um uh uh has also indicated that he gave us a
ballpark figure too because and he thought it was everybody thinks it's about $25,000. That's what everybody thought. So that's how we came up with that number. Yeah, >> it just be good to see it in writing. >> Yes. Yes, it would be. Yeah, we would definitely want that.
>> Get it to you by if we you know, again, I haven't had the vote yet, but um March 4th, you can >> and we will have letters of recommendation from the select board and historical commission in addition to the
one from the school. I talked to both Robert and George today and they both promised me they'll get us something. >> That's excellent. All right. So, um if anything else from the team if
>> Good. >> Okay. If not, can I get a motion to um take the application at 25,000 um and move it to a public hearing on March 4th? Can I get a motion?
>> So moved. >> Barry makes a motion and Colleen, you gather you seconded. Excellent. All right, let's go ahead and do roll call. Jess. >> Hi. >> Barry, >> I. >> Colleen, >> I.
>> Beth? >> Yes. >> And Julie? >> Yes. >> All right. And chair says I. So it's unanimous. Irv, you're going to take the edited application. >> Yes. >> And bring it forth to the May four or
March 4th public hearing. >> Okay. That's wonderful. I'll get it to you shortly. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> This excellent. Thank you so much for giving us a chance to continue working
on this on this project and have it be something that the kids enjoy. And sorry, Colleen, that your your son missed it by a year. But he gets to go to other things, you know, that will happen there with these new events. >> Yeah.
>> So, I think that works out well. All right, V. Thank you very much. Um, I'm going to keep moving on to the agenda. Um, so the next one on here is public comment. Um, I'm
looking here. Oh, wait a minute. Let me stop sharing. Um, sorry. I can see everybody. I think we're all set with participants. I don't see anybody extra from the public. Um,
so I'll just make the mention that I usually do. Anybody who's watching this on Apex YouTube and you have a question for the community preservation committee, please contact Carly Anthonyis and she gets in touch with me or one of us and we will be back in
touch with you. Um, so we do appreciate it. All right, moving forward to committee reports. Um, I'm just going to continue with the housing. Um, and because I did speak about the housing
authority looking for that grant agreement that um is in Robert's hands and town council's hands. The other um is that they have started they received the requests for proposals the RFPs for
the um infrastructure updates within the area. They're going to be ripping up the asphalt, putting in new asphalt as well as new sidewalks to make it more ADA compliant as well as new um handicap
parking spots. And >> where is that again? >> At that housing authority on Palm Street. >> Okay. >> And that's why they doing all that work. That's why they want to put the generators in because they're going to be, you know, doing construction down there. So, might as well get it all done at the same time.
>> Yeah. And then the other um good news that I just heard about two about two hours ago is that um there's something called a congressional he was congressional
development funds or whatever uh senators Marky and Warren were able to get a HUD grant of $4 million for air commons. That's the pro project that is on Fitsburg Road and they were able to
get the four million. Um I don't know there'll be a you know big announcement but just got a letter from Alicia saying that Phil told her they got the the HUD grant. >> So that wasn't anticipated initially,
was it? >> Um I think they were looking for a HUD grant. They're still looking that for the um tax incentive from the state. So this is a federal one. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it's a CDS which stands for
congressional direct spending or something. So again it's part of HUD which would be federal. So they are looking for state funds still and that's the application that they are on a second phase on. So, we'll see which is
great. Um, so that's it for housing. Um, Jess, >> um, let's see. Um, we have just we're in the process of issuing our request for proposals for
the annual pond treatments on Sandy, Flanigan, and Pine Meadow ponds to control the uh, aquatic ve vegetation. Um, we just, uh, reviewed a DPW
project and permitted it. There have a very small amount in our jurisdiction at the corner of Park Street and Bishop Road for installing a water man and utilities that will be used for going down to the senior center.
And there's right at that corner though, they're tying into a little wetland mitigation area on the National Grid property. So that's why it was jurisdictional, but it's nice to see the senior center project starting to move forward.
Um otherwise, we're just continuing extending our review of a project at um the extension of Orion Park Drive, which I think is also before the planning board. We have to postpone our review because the ground is covered with snow
and we can't evaluate the wetland or buffer zone conditions and there's a a potential vernal pool very close to where they want to do some storm water work. So, we want to be careful about that. That's it. >> I'm sorry, which project was that?
>> Um, this is an Orion Park Drive. It was previously approved a number of years ago but never completed. But they're extending um the drive into a culde-sac and they want to they need to um also install
some storm water basin and some treatment infrastructure. So sort of uh I think a bets at a distance the um development over on um is it Crabtree or
is that in the ACE one of the ACEC's? >> Um I don't believe that is >> okay. I wasn't sure. >> Yeah. >> Because I think that one's before planning board as well. I had looked at those. >> It is. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Same. We probably had to postpone our review because it snowed.
>> Mhm. Yeah. Madam Chair, do you mind an additional question for Jess? >> Go for it. >> Um, the senior center project, if if you're starting to review a a permit, do you know what the status
of MEPA is? >> Uh, no. What our understanding, because we were talking about this, there's the where the senior center itself is has nothing jurisdictional to us, to the conservation commission. Um
>> but under MEPA the utility project associated with the senior center project would be jurisdictional for MEPA and probably >> if you wouldn't consider that then it's project segmentation I think so yeah
something >> well what we were considering was is was way off the property where the senior center is so that would be a different application thing down the road. And this is just a very minor thing with um extending a pipe into a head wall. All
the work is almost all the work is done in the roadway that's jurisdictional to us. And it's just a little bit of extending a pipe um at the beginning of Bishop Road into this um little sort of mitigation area for overflow because they have a big
water pooling problem right there. So that water goes untreated into the wetlands nearby. Anyways, this would improve it and provide at least 80% treatment before it gets to the overflow level.
>> But they told us that um the senior center they're planning now to do a septic system and not tie into the sewer just on a cost bas because of cost. >> Right. That's what I heard. No, down the road when they get to that, I would
anticipate if there's stuff that would come before us, we would see applications. >> Okay. It's good. Great to hear that the storm water there can be improved. So, >> yeah, just at that one little spot, right? Right. Good. >> Yeah.
>> All right. That it, Jess? >> Yep. That's it for me. >> All right. Well, then I'm gonna go back to Beth. Um, seeing that you're unmuted. >> Yeah, just very briefly that for the Nashville Wild and Scenic Rivers um
stewardship council has their community grants are open now. So, those are due March 6th. Um I've had a few conversations with folks about um possible proposals, but you know like if anybody is interested um you know feel free to to uh contact
me for you know any questions or encouragement um you know it's been a project or a opportunity that projects have been successful in getting some relatively minor amounts of funding but have been able to move things forward. Um, and then the other thing, and I don't know, you know, Julie might be
able to mention as well, and uh, Janet and I had a communication with town planner today on the, um, old firehouse has a a modification request before the planning board. And so I did just reach
out to Danny to let him know and Janet chimed in as well that you know the former iteration of the project had CPC support both for affordable housing and for historic preservation. Danny seemed to think that the historic preservation
um um commitment is still there and I don't know if Barry, you know, you might have any information about that as well. Um, but just something that we should, you know, like kind of try to, um, see if
there's anything that we can do to help. And I know Janet, you know, certainly offered that as well. And it's a, you know, I'm really excited that it is moving forward. And, you know, seems like >> it could be a really great historic asset for the community, you know,
refurbished and and serving a a nice purpose for um, apartments, I believe, is what they're planning. There won't be um any mixed use this time around. It's all proposed to be apartments >> and I think one of them is supposed to
be affordable. Is that right? I mean from what I I read, Beth, >> right? That's what that's what Danny offered. So, I don't know if there's an opportunity to increase affordable number of units if there would be any additional funding, you know, because we could certainly um talk to them about
that and, you know, so we can we can continue to reach out. >> Yep. Which we will. All right, Barry. >> Nothing. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Oh, just want to make sure Beth, are you all done? >> That's all. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. All right, Barry.
>> Uh, we had a meeting yesterday. nothing nothing set in stone what we're doing just yet as far as the um howitzer at the uh at the Civil War uh mon uh graves at the um Woodlon Cemetery. Uh but we
decided to give a datalless conservation uh a call in Watertown. They they do all kinds of historic preservation whether it's cemeteries. They've done a lot of work in Boston I guess. So, we thought we'd have them come out and just see
what they have to say about how to how to conserve that that Howard uh in the Civil War area. Um, but because there's been so much snow, there's no sense getting him out here too soon. So, >> and then we're also talking about oral
history and I we're get trying to get ideas for how to change the um the rail trail kiosk for next year. So, we want to keep changing the display once a year anyway to >> just uh show interest.
>> All right. I do see, you know, when there wasn't any snow, I do see people looking at it when I go down the hill. So, just want to let you know it's not just someone just scoops on by it. Yeah. So, good job. And certainly if anybody has any
other companies to uh to check with to come out and take a look at the howitzer might just send them towards me >> historical >> datalus restoration in water town. >> It is. Yeah. It's called datalus
conservation. It's d ae d a lus conservation. They do his conservation on historic artifacts, sculpture, and architectural ornaments. >> And I'll check to see who they use for um the howitzer down in front of town
hall. I think I still have the the copies of the application. >> Uh wasn't that someone in Shirley? I think I >> But what we want to first do is because the the the the wheels like the case on
it holds the the howitzer is all iron and it's rusted. What's the best way to preserve that? And we also had a question because we had two different sides of the coin. Do we have the Howard polish so it looks beautiful like the
first day it came or do we, you know, leave it in the green patina, you know, from forund and some more years since the Civil War. So I I'm not really sure. So we thought we'd have a conservative look at it and give us an idea their their opinion. Anyway,
>> nice. Thank you. Um, Julie, you able to >> I can try if you guys tolerate it, but I think I'll just be brief. You guys um covered everything that I already or as much of an update as I could on the old
firehouse. Um, we were wrapping up 3 to 5 Park Street and dealt with some construction vehicle and traffic routes with Lincoln Hills or planning board if I didn't start out with the words planning board. Thank you. All right.
Sound sounds great. Julie, Colleen, >> we have not met since our last CPC meeting. We meet next week. Um and uh we're thankful for the moving the application forward to public hearing, but that's about it.
>> Excellent. All right. I will um I think I got everybody right. Um pardon. >> It looks like >> Okay. It's like again people keep moving. Um I'll have more of a an
updated amounts for what's currently in our budget um you know in our little coffers and I will post that as well for the March 4th meeting so people know what we have and um how we're doing. I mean overall we're doing pretty good. um
when I I met some individuals um going to some of these other little meetings that I've been handling and uh I think for our little town of I we're going to be hitting 9,000 people um in our little town. Uh we we've been doing really good
for CPA funds and what we've been expending them on. So um so I want to say thank you very much. Great team. Um, is there anything else people want to bring up? >> Just a question since Kevin's not here.
Um, if you know what the 71 Sandy Pond um like status is because I saw there was a design plan available on that committee's website, but I just didn't know what the next steps were. >> We haven't had a meeting since the last
one that he, you know, gave us some information on. Um there hasn't been one um that I'm aware of. I don't know. Just did George. Was it George? No, George is >> John. Yeah. >> Yeah, John. Okay.
>> Yeah. I know. Um I think they they didn't they come up with uh moving towards one particular design? >> Yeah. And they were going to get some feedback from the public on it. >> Yeah. which I think from what I gathered
from John um feedback would be useful because he wasn't overwhelmed. >> Right. Right. And that's that that's what I heard. And I don't know, you know, again, now we're starting to get into crunch time for
I know annual meetings in April, but it's like it ends up becoming crunch time that all of a sudden, you know, the articles are going to need to be done. And so, so we'll see. Um, I'll hopefully Robert responds to me and if I can get an update, um, I'll let everybody know
what the update is. Um, >> thank you, Beth. Yeah. No, thank you. Um, because again, sometimes it goes on the back burner and you wonder where it goes. >> Yeah. And I just I I really do hope that they pursue, you know, opportunities for community engagement and input again. Yeah.
>> Yep. Absolutely. Because to do anything, I would assume they'd have to come to somewhere like CPC for funding. >> Maybe >> maybe I again it depends upon what they're going to be doing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I know
>> it does have the way it was purchased as with part of CPC open space money. They have to live up to some of that. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. I mean, the way I keep emphasizing to Robert is at least half because we pay for half. >> So, >> yeah.
>> Yeah. Okay. All right. That's good. If there's nothing else for um that people want to bring up again, I just want to say thank you and then I have a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I'll move. >> So,
>> all right. >> Pick one. Who do you want? >> Abdu Barry. And you can second, Jess. >> Okay. >> All right. And I think all in favor guys, please keep warm and be safe.