Good evening everyone. Um, I'm going to call the Community Preservation Committee regular meeting to order. It is Thursday, September 18th. Um, it is 5:05 p.m. We are in person at the Prime Time Building and available via Zoom. This meeting is being recorded and can
be viewed at a later date on the Town of Dy YouTube channel. If we could all just stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] And we'll just start off with committee member introductions. I am Kevin Smith, chair and parks representative. Alicia Wilson, vice chair and member at
large. Brian Sedron, I'm a member at large. Jonathan Gale, that's me. His planning board representative Gail's historical commission representative.
Everybody. So, uh, first thing up we have is, uh, approve prior meeting minutes. Um, we skip those until the next meeting just cuz we're catching up on the summer. Elizabeth and I were going back and forth just trying to make sure everything was accurate. In the last few days, we had one meeting that didn't record and then well then I think
she had the next meeting. So, her and I going to collaborate and make sure we can catch those things up. Was from April or June? I don't remember. I think it was May. May a collection I sent you um one meeting. Yeah, from April. Yeah, that one's also okay.
Yeah. And I think Yeah, we had to fix those. But then the May one was the one that she wasn't with us. And then I kind of I think I goofed up on the recording. So, we're just going to collaborate, make sure that everything is good, and then we'll um we'll have those that those in this meeting for next time. Um so, first
things first, um financial reports. So, just kind of to catch us up. Um I guess we'll do um I I must have misprinted. We'll we'll do our um project updates too under this as well, just cuz it's going to all fall
together. Um financial reports. Um Serena the town accountant had did our CP1 reporting just showing our revenues from the past year. Um nothing. So we'll have some now that that's done. I'll get that report
that was just submitted. It was due the 15th once I have that information back from her. We can um review all of that. We'll show our, you know, up- to-date income. Um and then were you were you planning on doing library just in general or
I'm planning? Well, I I'll just speak to quickly to like the financial side of things. Um I did speak to Serena today where um we are still awaiting the actual funding being um sent to us from the mass cultural grant and her and I are going
to sit down sometime next week to go over because there was like a little bit of jostling around of things cuz we had to cover some cost until the grant went. So, we're going to kind of do some um reconciliation of how what funds were spent. But now that we're there pretty much done, there might be a couple small
little things, but we'll kind of have a really good idea of what actually came out of CPC funding. Like we know that we dump we went down from 323 to 123 because of the 200,000 reimbursement, but there's some like small ancillary
things that that needed to be covered um within our funding. So her and I will clean all that up and make sure that it's we have like a firm number um for that unless do you have anything how much was small? Yeah, I can't even I'm not even going to
speculate on that like but small compared to three small compared to 323,000. Okay. Yeah. No, I mean like I went through quickly with her because uh Mark the library director was sending me invoices and I was signing as they came in. Um
but what happened was because we didn't have the reimbursement at that time there were certain things that went through but then we had some other so it's like part of the HVAC came from this pile and some came from our you know CPC so there's a little bit of just reconciliation that needs to happen
but um like if you know not hundreds I mean there's there still thousands you know probably tens of thousands of dollars but nothing in the grand scheme of the 323 um you want to help give us opening. Yeah. So, the grand opening is on
Saturday. Um I heard from Ron this afternoon and they've got their occupancy permit for 85 people. So, that's good. I have seen it and it looks like a library. Looks really good. Um
so, you know, the books are on shelves. The um internet was connected. They were waiting for phones today. I think the electrician filled up. Well, they had to finish that up to get the occupancy permit. Um, so they're working on
sprucing up the outside for landscaping for Saturday. Um, there's some minor details that still have to be, you know, addressed. Some of it's just once you get in the building, you realize, oh, oops, this wasn't done kind of thing. But it is going to be a functional and
wonderful library. And a lot of the um have to commend Tom Barry and his highway department because they worked hard along with Jim Aguar on making sure that the building retained the historical integrity that it has. So
yeah, it does still like there's still so much, you know, preserved architecture there, but it's this all the new components are are great. I had a chance to I had to stop by to drop off the giant scissors and ribbon. So, I got a chance to have a little sneak preview this afternoon. And
that's the first time I've seen it in person. You know, I've seen pictures. It's amazing once they put those shelves in how it just filled up and took the echo of a bin all away. Yeah. So, will we even have a CPC sign there that's permanent?
Yeah. So, actually, too, I'll have um I'll bring that with me Saturday. got to have the the plaques that we have produced um um so that they can have that and we'll just request that they post that somewhere where people can actually see it and recognize it. So, I'll make sure that's delivered on Saturday cuz I'm
going to go down for that. Um as far as other projects go, I um I got a report from Chris Pico that all the work is complete. Everything's been invoiced for the Winslow Davis Museum. They got to get a hold of the electrician a couple things for electrician. he started
school. Um, but that's good. They actually came in slightly under budget. So, I think we had allocated $185 and it was like $1862 or something. 400. Yeah, right around $400 left over of CBC fund. So, thank you to them for just
being conscious. And actually, the contractor was actually able to fix some add on the same wall. So, they didn't leave the scope of work on that same wall. He was actually able to do some additional repairs within that funding that they didn't notice until they opened things up. So that was good. So that whole
Right. They have a wall south wall. Yeah. The whole south wall is is is in good shape now. So update prime of the main part of the building. Right. Right. It looks good. Um I think we're doing a good job. That's his name right? Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead.
Go ahead. Did a good job. You know this time his workers were good. They were very considerate of the property and everything. So, it looks good. Yeah, it does. Looks really good. Um, for the Timothy Ryan's playground, I
actually just spoke to our playground representative yesterday. We're expecting that the equipment and the installers will be on site sometime around the second, possibly the third week of October. Um it's not a very big project.
So they'll probably be in and out of there in a week and then we'll have some finetuning to do with um just setting mulch and mats and things like that just to get it everything like finished finish. So like I'm I'm hopeful for an end of October completion date for that.
And that will be um good to go. It'll be nice to get that done before the weather starts to get cold cuz we'll probably do some sort of ribbon cutting for that. I'll make sure that we post one of the yard signs there once things are happening just so all people are driving by they can recognize that it was CPC
funding. So I'll keep you guys kind of updated as that progresses. But that's exciting that that's finally happening. It probably would have been done. Actually told me there's one piece that's kind of a custom piece cuz we have a theme of like police and fire riders and the police one was kind of custom. I was like, "Oh, if you didn't
order that." Um so yeah I'm excited that that's going to be happening. Um so where are the historical project the um hope finishing company national register application for nomination to
the national register has been started. Um you know commission decided to go ahead um after talking with mass historical commission that the program is still in place. were kind of a little nervous with the federal funding. Um but
once that budget was settled, we decided that we would go ahead um the national parking though was cut federally, they're still funding that particular program. So it still will take two years probably in the long run. Um but it also
by doing the application, it also further documents the history of that area in a little more detail, you know. So, which is important for us to also have. What will it include? Houses as well as Yes. All of the village.
Okay. Yeah. What signage will be there? I don't know that yet. Oh, okay. We have to go one step at a time. We have to get the Gotcha. get approved. Yeah. Right. Right.
Um, we're kind of encompassing project updates with financial plus. Do you have anything on financials? No. outside. I'll try to vote people. Okay. Yeah. What I'll do is I'll send an email to the both of you and so we can um uh can we talk about Lincoln Woods at
all? Is that forward the electrical panels? Oh, that was completed. I think that was in one of I think in our last meeting. Yeah, I think that was Yeah, that was that was completed. Yeah. So, all that has been invoiced.
They got reim cuz that was a reimbursement. They had paid that out and then we reimbured them. Um just looking up one thing before we move on. Is there anything else? Nothing.
Yeah. 9:00 when starting actually starts at 9:30. All right. Does anybody else Does anybody have any old business that they wanted to discuss before we move on to new business? All right. So, new business. Uh the first thing was just to review and
discuss uh CP3 CP3 reporting. Uh se on September 15th, the um Department of Revenue and the Community Preservation Coalition requires some reporting to be done. I submitted the CP3 report, which is just the new projects or any project
updates that we had. um and you know because of books that happened at our town meeting. So I I initiated um the new projects into the database and I think like the very next day I think Chris said we're all everything's done.
We're all set. So I got to go back in and update what's completed. Um but that is up to date and then between the um the assessor's office and the accountant's office they work together. the CP1 which is just the reporting of
revenue. Um they had that submitted on the on the 15th as well and I think later in October is the CP2 which is uh strictly done by the um the assessor's office. Um what I'll do I think
we should probably start some sort of Dropbox for CPC to like put some cuz like not everything is printed at this point. Some of it's just digital. So that way we kind of have a place to land all these documents so everybody can on the committee can see them. So
I thought we had maybe we do. Yeah. Yeah. I do remember this. That's when we were when we rewrote all of our files we were using. We were working. But were we working off of using your Dropbox? Yes.
Is there still space in it that you're fine with us continuing to use it or is it like if you fund the projects that I put forth? [Laughter] Come on. Yes. No. All right. So, we'll just proceed
that way. I'll go back. I'll make sure everybody had I know I still have access to the whole cuz our commission on disability stuff is in there, too. So, it just be a different folder. Yeah, it is a different folder. I just have to make sure that we have everybody's name on it. Yeah, I can work with you on that to make sure if we need to send
permissions, we will. So, yeah, kind of it's it's tough to explain without being able to like pull it up. So, if we can kind of drop some of this stuff in a place, even like the applications and stuff, we have our own little digital. I think there's some availability to through like the archive
section of the town website. I'll kind of follow up with Leanne on that too, how we can like have like a dig some digital storage like that's actually town property too. Um, so that's it for reporting everything. We're good as far as all of our state requirements on that. Next thing I had was review,
discuss, and act the CPC annual public meeting. Um, just kind of open to suggestions last time in May, correct? Yeah, it Yeah, it was it wasn't last night before. I think we we've we did two. We've done
two since I think most of us have been together anyway. Um yeah, so I just kind of wanted to follow up and just start thinking about it. Um cuz it seems like one of those it seems like everything comes up pretty fast. September, next thing you know,
April, sorry. Yeah, it would be summer again. We'll be like, "Oh, we didn't do it." So yeah, just kind of kind of some forward thinking of things cuz we've had the summer off to just catch ourselves up. But yeah, we want to kind of think about keeping it consistent with or do
we I think the only thing was do we want to try to hold it a little bit earlier with like maybe the turn of the new year so that way we're ahead of warrants opening and closing for town meeting. But like maybe that would be a little
bit better approach now that we've done it a couple times and we know what we're doing and what to expect. March maybe. March. Yeah. Or yeah, March. Just to kind of get it out there and try to, you know, garner some interest in
potential projects. That makes sense because if people have questions about the projects, that would be the time for them to come give people time to think about it. And then it will still and the the information will be fresh leading into
um well actually so we do March is a little tight. March is a little Yeah, we might want to consider February because usually the warrants are it March. No, it's May like late April, you know, and then May they're talking about dates and finalizing it. So maybe
we'll consider FE like and then again it gets a little bit more pressing now. doesn't seem so absurd to talk about it in September. We're thinking February. Um, but we know what we need to do as far as posting. Um, does everybody kind of feel like February work?
Somebody want to make a motion to hold it as part of our February meeting? Make a motion to hold the CPC annual public meeting. Public meeting um as part of our February meeting. Is there a second?
Second. Any discussion? hearing none. All those in favor? I I February meeting on that and I'll just double check all the requirements to make sure we have all I think it's it's literally just posting on the town
website and then doing the newspaple. It have to be posted like you know in the legal section. Yes. Yeah. It's going to go into that um like just like how conservation posts theirs and stuff like that. So pretty
similar um requirements. And then next I have review, discuss and act the community preservation coalition annual dues. Um every year they ask us to pay and to support the coalition so that they can
continue to help us. Um the coalition dues are $875. I know we do have the one line item for subdues and subscriptions. Um, which I think we funded in around 1,500 bucks if I remember correctly. I think it's a little higher than what our
actual. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Cuz it's part of the um clerical area like that the 5% but I think that specific line item we have funded around 1,500. So there is the money in there to do it. So if everyone's okay with that,
I'll entertain a motion for the coalitions. Motion to approve the coalition dues at $875. Is there a second? Second. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? I
Does anybody else have any other new business that they wanted to bring up while we're here? Do we have any potential projects anybody's heard of that might be coming or I haven't heard it's been pretty quiet anything. Um
I have a suggestion, okay, for a project and I'm actually thinking about how to best shop it around like what committee may be supporting it. Um at a really high level, it's basically something we've talked about a little before, which is um a combination
of open space and um support for agriculture. We have several farms in town, as many as we used to, but we sell some farms, farm land. Um, and the idea of a town purchasing development rights for
commercial form land that's in active use. Um, so basically you're paying the difference between what it would be at its current value and what it would be like to a developer who wants to put subdivisions on it. And that's the difference as a
development. So if the town owned the development rights, you really can't do anything with the town other than farming or whatever is in the contract, but you know the town allows them to that would limit solar ponds too. Anything really
if it's viable land for agriculture should be used for agriculture. Jan, what I would say to you on that thought is we have on the 6th of October. Um, we have someone coming, excuse me, let me think. Actually, I take that
back. It's going to be October 1st. October 1st at our new meeting place at uh in the town hall level, we have somebody coming specifically broken space to talk about land trusts. So, this would be a little different than land trust, but similar vein. Yeah,
is is a similar concept and whether or not this can be manipulated into land trust, I don't know. Um I know that other towns have done similar what you're talking about and incorporated into their land trust criteria. So it might be worth coming if
anybody's interested to come on first, you know, to hear what they have to say, to ask questions and see if what you're thinking about can be metriculated in or not. Um because if it's for preservation Mhm.
which is part of what land trusts are. Mhm. Um there may be ways that can be done and we're going to have the trustees there as well. So I think if you know if anybody knows they're going to know. I like I like your thought process with that and it kind of reminds me of what we had talked about last year on a
couple different times with with with affordable housing like having like that buy down like almost like the reverse type of thing where and it's much more affordable than the town buying a lot to preserve. So you're not buying the lot, you're buying the
differentials of like could be is and could be. Yeah, a few years ago we did a agricultural restriction on a piece of land. It's a little different. And there may be money for that eventually from the state too because
the town's open space plan for 2021 was never formally adopted by the town. So, we're in the process of open space right now. Um, do we have a potential for an extension for 3 years? Because there will be grant money
for open space. And um, in order to get to qualify, we have to have everything in by the end of December. There are 12 items on our list. We've ticked off like eight of them already. So, I think we'll have it all in by late November, early December. But again, that goes along with what you're talking about. And
we'll have a three-year extension for open space land. I think one difference and you might know from a legal perspective is agricultural restrictions are often time limited. It's like a restriction for the next 25 years or something to that effect.
And two, it can be challenged in land court. Yeah. And you know if it doesn't time has gone by and the person wants to challenge it, it's not unheard of that it could be overturned. Whereas I own the rights to develop it. You can't do anything
because I own those rights. That's a very different platform that they'll be working from. So it sounds a little bit more trust can be like 50 years also that's up to the owner. Yeah.
With renewal in I was yeah they all have a time restriction but it could be 100 years. It's it's the rule against perpetuities when it comes to the trust. So it's 99 years and six months.
to be exact. So it can't be in perpetuity. It cannot be in perpetuity. They can be they can be reviewed and renewed under different parameters, but it can't exist in perpetuity. But a deed where you own the rights, you're right, is a very
different type of item. So you're owning those rights to develop the land instead of only owning the trust land. attempt to be in perpetuity. Indeed would be.
Yes. Um and I was going to ask Paul if he was here, but my understanding is that when the town never proposes for bonds, town holdings would include property are considered as part of the reading structure. So this is property. It's a development
rate. It's not a piece of crown, but it's property. So probably not a very marginal way but nonetheless it folds into the town actually getting a better rating when it comes to things like that. So there's a couple pluses that stand out.
Wonder if we do would a town have the capability to lease plan for agriculture. They do today and the economic development committee went through like 20 different parcels that the town owns that Paul put together. We kicked it to the
agriculture commission and said look at these and tell us if any of these are suitable for leasing for farming and one by one they scratched them off the list and they said it's too wet it's too wooded it's too whatever and but there's
one lot that ares today I believe on council okay well no that's good to know because like I think that's like a a consideration to have like if there was a piece of property at one time on William Street that the town did in some
way, shape or form have some interest in and it kind of like then I stopped hearing about it. Um but like in that instance if there could be a collaborative effort between ourselves you know conservation commission and then the thought like possibly even if we have to go out for a bond to purchase
the piece of land but if we have the capability to lease it for farming and place our own all of our restrictions that we want on it then it's it makes sense and you can probably cover the bond through that. So I like where you're going with it. All right. So I'll join your meeting um
for open space and I'm the first on the first and then we can go from there and see whether it be open space or agricultural commission or both that would might have an interest in pushing this forward. Okay level
anybody else have any other new business and nobody's on with us so no public input so I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjourn. Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor? I Thank you all.