Okay, good evening everyone. This is the community preservation committee regular meeting. It is Thursday, October 23rd. We are in person in the lower level of town hall and also recording via Zoom. This meeting is recorded and can be viewed at a later date on the town
YouTube channel. Do apologize, we're having technical difficulties. The audio recording is working, but the video is not. Um, so if we take any votes, we'll do it in a roll call fashion so we know who's doing it. Um, it is 5:11 p.m. and
we will start with me committee member introductions. I am Kevin Smith, chair and parks and recck representative >> Alicia Wilson, vice chair, member at large. >> Dave Eckerson, uh, member at large and financial officer. Uh,
>> Brian Sigroni, uh, member at large. Dan Higgins, planning board representative. >> Yale's Historical Commission. So this >> So you should be good then. >> Yeah. >> Great.
>> Kathy Perry, Dit >> Ryan always says that to me, do Dayton. I just I just type it in. It left. >> Oh, it left. >> I saw that. >> Should be a lot bigger. >> Yeah.
>> Artificial intelligence. Repeat. All right. So, first order of business we have is to uh approve the prior meeting minutes. >> Oh, yes. Thank you. >> Let's all rise 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. >> Yeah, this this technology
broke me off. Okay. Now, the our first order of business is to approve the pri approve the prior meeting minutes. Um, Elizabeth did send over our meeting minutes from September 18th. Um, did everybody get a
chance to review those? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Can I send her some corrections? >> Okay. um because it says Kevin Smith reviewed the status of school but it was really
historical society project and then um under the Mount Hope finishing company I just had her add the register application officially started >> you want to make a motion to approve with the
>> or withd So we have a motion by Pat, second by Dan, and then we'll do a roll call vote. >> Alicia Wilson, I >> Dave Ecker I. >> Fran Sroni, I. >> Dan Diggins, I >> Gail's I. Kevin Bry, I
>> Kevin Smith is an I. >> All right. So the next thing we have up is financial reports. Um, I think you guys all This is just the latest. I think it's the same thing that we did have. You want to pass that one off to Frank? >> Thank you.
>> Um I think overall, so I did I didn't get a chance to sit down with Serena Dave, but I did have just a brief brief conversation with her because I thought what I was seeing was correct. And really, [Music]
the one big one that we wanted to talk about last time was just where we were at with the library. Um, so it's the one, two, three, fourth one, fourth one down, fourth line down. And obviously we know that the original approval was 323,000.
Um, so far we've expensed $115,112.93. Um, with the reimbursement from the Mass Cultural Council, we'll actually we have a remaining balance of $27,887. So, >> and I know there's a couple of more expenses that will come out of that. So
yeah, it's not that's not a there was at this um report is about two weeks old and right about the time that this report was produced, there was one more one more group of invoices that I did sign off for with Mark. They were they were small. I don't have the exact
number um with me, but it was, you know, like $1,500 like there were a couple small expenses. Yeah. And there might be some small things. So I don't think and we don't need to move towards closing this out as of yet. We actually do with
a with this type of article. Um what we'll have to do is this will actually go back to annual town meeting anyway because we'll actually have to have the voting body decide what we'll make our recommendation but the voting body decide how much is returned to each
because we pulled from historic and from undesated. So, we'll have to present a warrant article on how to return those funds. Like, we can't make that decision solely on our own. So, we'll we'll have a proposal for a a separate warrant article just to address that. But, it's
good to see that, you know, we've done so well and we're getting such a large chunk of that back like we had hoped. So, >> why don't they just leave it up to us? >> Because at the end, because we're just a recommending, it's a a warrant article approved by the
Okay. Right. Okay. >> They have to say I mean it's >> something like that typically is not going to have a bunch of back and forth anyway, right? >> Like I know I I can't remember exactly which one we did it with, but we had that with the with the historical one
and we chose to completely reimburse the historical and then um put, you know, just the remainder back in undesated, you know, to >> which makes sense. Yeah. Right. >> Right. Because you don't want to the ones the designated funds are harder to pull from and have smaller amounts. So,
it's if you have the capability to reimburse those, that's usually the best move. But we'll we'll discuss that when it gets closer. It was just something that um I wanted to talk about so we knew where we were at and it's think it's as we as good as we hoped for for
the library project >> as far as we were concerned. >> So, in in effect, Kevin, so now that grant is is um assured at this point, there's >> it is assured. It has not been. So if you wanted to like be technical about it, right now the remaining balance is
actually 7,887. >> That's >> because it hasn't been like the actual money hasn't been trans wire transferred to the town yet, but Serena has had regular uh conversations. Um
and it it's coming. It just hasn't like the actual transaction hasn't happened but it is confirmed that we are we did receive that and it's just logistically receiving actual payment at this point but again we're not we're not really touch we're not playing with that money.
One thing that we do have to keep in mind though is when the if bills are coming in and I mean Serena is great at tracking that stuff and Mark has been great as well is we obviously are essentially close to the bottom of the barrel. So, you know, if a $10,000
invoice comes in, we would actually go in the negative. >> And Mark's been really good about knowing which bucket of money that the >> correct >> what's going to be paid out of what. Yes. So, >> yeah. So, it has been I've reviewed
every invoice with him. Um like I do have PDF copy. So, that is one thing kind of out. It kind of ties into financial reports is um I got to do some organization with getting that stuff into Dropbox so we can have it all in
one place um so we can all review it. That's been the tricky thing with that is he kept sending it to like my old personal email. So, I was like taking it. So, it's like I I have to go back through my little paper trail and uh put it all together in one folder and then
but then I'll make it available so we can all view it. >> I do want to ask you that it's a bit of an unusual article we're going to be presenting. I don't think we've done that in the time I've been on the committee. So, this the grant from the state is um earmarked strictly for
library construction. Right. So, there's not >> specifically for HBAC HBAC and associated >> Even better. Okay, just town finances being what they are, I just want to make sure there's no possibility that the town could, you know, vote down that art
and, you know, try to do something else with the money. >> Well, no, because at the end of the day, it's CPC funds. So, the recommendation is just going to be what percentages to return back to the original funds that the the money came from. So, yeah, they
couldn't steal that and make that free cash. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of where it go. >> It's not going and we I think we made that very well known when we discussed the eligibility and the um approval was that if the grant money comes in, it
cannot get slid to you know the general fund. It needs to come back like that was the agreement between ourselves and the approval and that happened in the town meeting approval. >> Yeah. there's no way that that can it's going to go back where where it belongs
without a recommendation from us. So, um I don't think there's really anything else happening across the sheet. Um there there's certainly um well Dave, do
you don't have anything else on >> No, I don't. This is very >> prelimate >> regular financial report. So, we'll kind of just segue into um old business CPC project updates. We kind of covered what's happening with the library as far as um expenses and where we're at with
the balance there. Um the Timothy Ryan's playground construction is underway. That just started last week. All the equipment is sitting there. Um and I think what kind of weather threw them off what they originally thought their schedule was going to be, but it's really only a few
day install. We need to order parks and wreck is going to order the playground mulch. So once they're done, we can spread the mulch, put down the mats, and that will be good with the exception of some signage. Um so I think that one will move pretty quickly and we'll get
that. We'll know where we're at as far as what we spent versus what was allocated for that. Um, couple of the things that I'm going to uh at least over the course of the winter months that I'm going to look at are the other outstanding art uh, you
know, previously approved articles that we have for parks and wreckers. Like what are we doing with this stuff? Is it stuff that we still need to address or is it things that are no longer feasible for one reason or another so that we can kind of clean up those balances and return them back to where they need to
be if it's appropriate. Um, same thing too. I'm going to follow I need to follow up with the trails committee and see what's going on with the Broad Coat Nature Trail because I it seems as though once um Jeff Kvalo
vacated the trails committee. It seems that I haven't heard much on the progress there. So, I don't know if that's still moving forward or if any progress has been made. So, I'll I'll make it a point to check in with them um on that to just to see where they're at
or if it's they're not going to in fact move forward. Um >> and now do you know who the chairman is? No, >> I believe it's um I believe Rachel Ki is >> my next door neighbor. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's either Rachel Ki or Bob Bagini.
I know. >> Okay. >> But I did visit with them. I think it was in the spring um kind of shortly after Jeff left and kind of touched base with them and they seemed
like they were going to uh progress with the project, but I haven't really had any correspondence from them since. So, I'll reach back out and and see. Uh Pat, do you have anything on yours? um just on the um Mount Hope
National Register, Stacy is working on it. So, a lot of some of it's um just like more research at this point. Um she's working on firming up the boundaries of the district and also looking at some of the properties that are right over the Taton North Don line that were actually Mount Hope
properties. >> Okay. >> And uh on the farm that was um also associated with them. So some of that is in Taton. Um >> a big part is in Taon, a small part in Don, but >> so um you know it's still like in the
research stage, you know, trying to figure out cuz then >> to firm up what properties will be included, what the boundaries will be for the district, you know, because we did that big survey on it, but it doesn't necessarily mean that all of that will be encompassed or there might
be others that we find. >> Okay. So, so she's working on it. It's coming along slow. Everything else, >> so maybe not the whole village. >> I don't know. I can't speak to that until she's done with her, you know, her
research piece of it. >> I watched party meeting. >> I have a Mount Hope news. >> Oh, do you? >> I have a really cool one from World War II. People that I knew that were like young men and wrote letters back and
stuff. kind of interesting. >> It is the Mount Hope news. It wasn't a newsletter about Mount Hope. It was more about the people that were employed. >> Yeah. >> So, it's really interesting reading, you know, they have figures that are related
to people indicted now. >> Nice. >> You know, so yeah, we had a little session at the commission meeting about that. >> I haven't found any at any yard sales. I always look. I always look. I look
online. I search. >> Yeah, eBay is a good place to find things. >> I know, but I don't find any on there. >> So, I think the only other thing under project updates, I think this was kind of finalized at the last meeting
one more time. The new new work at the Winsel Davis Museum is complete. That's finalized. you know, and I know that they have a small remaining balance that will get returned to us. So, we're good there. >> And the boat ramp's still stagnant.
>> Well, that's what the it park has. So, the playground fencing and lighting like there's work to be done there. It's just kind of organized and like being able to finish it with the balance that's left because like we had worked on the school with with the school but available equipment um for
them to actually cuz they need lifts and things like that. It just didn't work out at the time. So, I got to kind of coordinate with Tom Ferry to see if this lift's available. Um, I know we at the school have the time to do it. It's just kind of organizing it in collaboration with the highway department. The boat
ramp has done what the boat ramp does and it just sounds like it's going to happen and then it crashes and it sounds like it's going to happen and it crashes. Um, still on our radar. It's just I don't know if it's
feasible. Yeah. >> Um, North D and Playground, that's one that is that should be, you know, that's been a few years like it's that's good. I don't think there was anything lingering there that needs to be addressed that we need any of that remaining money for. And I think that
was all right. So, we'll segue into new business. Let me put this on and just review and discuss um the historical document presentation. I know Dan had reached out to me just asking about the p the prior um article presented from
when uh selectman Mark Pico was uh was the town clerk. He did some document preservation um for our vital records. Um, so there that actually was done, approved, and filed
just prior to most of us coming on to CPC. >> Mhm. >> And I am still digging to find like the physical because that was like the only submission was the paper submission and
I'm not 100% sure where some of those things landed. So, like I do have some folders of different CPC paperwork, but it seems to be mostly like uh old procedures and things of that nature and
not much pertaining to the that actual project. What I can do though, and I didn't think of this until right this minute, is um I can go into the CP3 database where we record the approved ones and see kind of what it looks like in there. I think like if um Shara is
was concerned with like how to write it, I don't think it's really gonna be >> No, she just wants something like can I just can I just use this edit it and resubmit? >> Yeah. >> With a new product. >> I mean it's pretty boilerplate like it's if it's you know further pres you know preservation of other vital records. I
think we can kind of fat file here. I might >> Yeah, you might have one an old application stuck in there. I talked to Sher today about it, you know, and it is vital. She has six more books that she wants done that are vital records um
using the NECCC, the New England Document Conservatory, whatever they are. And um I told her, I said, "You'll probably need an estimate of what that's going to cost you." >> Okay. Um so she's just looking to see what it looked like.
>> Yeah. >> Look at that. >> Do Yeah. Actually, it would be interesting to see because I remember that was that was 50,000, right? >> Yeah, I think so. >> The original, >> right? I have here one for 8,000 and one for 42,000. >> That comes to 50. Yeah.
>> November of uh November meeting in 2021. >> Yeah. Because that actually that happened the same time the North Playground did. I remember Mark and I sitting in the meetings together. >> Mhm. Um, I get does it note in there how many books were preserved? Because that would
be kind of just a good basis too to see what the cost was then versus what it is now. Even just for her two things land records. >> I I know they did the birth death.
>> He has an estimate in here. marriage records. >> Okay. >> Okay. Oh, yeah. There's a very detailed quote here from from the organization. Okay. >> So, who who who wants the president >> the current talent clerk?
>> Current talent clerk. Okay. So I I could, you know, this little scan maybe >> even that I mean I I feel if you have a minute next week during open average, you should probably zip some copies of it too. >> Okay. If you want to
>> Okay, do that. Yeah, that's going to be the biggest thing for her is just getting current >> quotes. See, you know, where it's at. But >> three quotes or I think that >> it depends on it depends on the amount. >> Yeah. >> And she should know the procurement thresholds,
>> right? I think it's it's over 10,000 will be. So yeah, it's going to be >> it's going to be so Yeah. And I think it turned out with Mark 2 that there was only like one that really does it in this area. So >> yes, which which is I don't want to say
the a >> Yeah, cuz I looked through my stuff and how come I can't find it? And then I realized it was before, >> right? It was just before >> I started I I knew about it through the commission. But I didn't have any of the CPC stuff
and I save everything. >> Yeah. >> Um, yeah. So, we'll get Dave, thank you for finding that. And yeah, if you can pass it along to Shar and then she can do her thing. >> And I told Shar I'd, you know, help her out. So,
>> good. Um, this just will, we got a couple minutes. Does anybody have any other projects in the pipeline that get up from any different sources? >> I I brought this up at the last meeting just as an idea, but since then Jonathan
and I have spoken and there's a meeting next week, the development committee. We're going to bring it up there and we are going to seriously look at what would be involved um in buying development rights for
agricultural land. um what would be the cost technically? How would you do it? What would be the criteria for who's eligible? How would you determine based upon who's eligible? You were to open it up to what whatever
ultra plots there are in town, all those sort of things. But Jonathan from Open Space has agreed to kind of jointly partner on us with that. >> So, it's just an idea at the moment. it could be, you know, another year or so before anything gets brought forward, but
we're working on that. >> I know the other thing that's come up, and I know Paul's not with us tonight, but we kind of we started to talk about it in length, too, was like the establishment of an affordable housing trust and our availability to fund like
we can't disperse direct funds for affordable housing unless it was a town-owned project. But if an affordable housing trust was established, we could disperse funds to them which then they could take applications. So, and it was just the thought was just to kind of loop you in, Kathy, because I think that
was prior to you coming on board as well, is if the if our community housing isn't if there aren't a ton of projects in the pipeline or things happening that are CPC eligible, >> we'd like to see some more CPC funding
go towards, you know, just affordable housing in general. And like kind of the sentiment was behind it was we have to grow on the front of affordable housing to some respect and we want to do it using our own narrative you know or and
help and we're helping to establish a narrative that meets what the state wants to see but also doing it on our you know on our on our own terms so to speak. Um so just to kind of help that out. I don't um I don't have anything else from for parks and wreck. We're
just going to wrap up our one little playground and double check our other ones. And >> I have a recommendation for parks and wreck. >> Okay. Shoot. >> Maybe >> the main street fixing up the main street playground and making that area since the library is there. Making that
area more familyfriendly and kind of center to draw families to. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I think >> that >> so >> yeah, >> this one, not to call it the guinea pig, but this one was kind of the guinea pig just based on um the condition that it
was in. Not that the not the main street or as we call it uh Lane Field um is in much better condition, but it didn't have like uh the one that we're doing now had, you know, structural damage to the old structure that was there. So, it's like that's why we kind of picked
to do that one first. But it does give us a good basis to build off of and know that all right this is what we can accomplish with this amount of money down there. So, I think I can't speak for all of the parks and rec commission, but I think uh you know the the
community playground is is starting to you know really come to the end of its life, but it's such a massive kind of playground in the grand scheme of things compared to the other ones that if that's not going to be feasible for another few years, it would be nice to
tackle and, you know, kind of just progressively fix things until we can get to that and really, you know, take on a big one. So, anybody else have anything else? No public. So, no public input. So,
entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Made a motion pass. Seconded. And we'll just roll call. >> Leicia Wilson I. >> Dave I. >> Fran Sedron I. >> Dan Higgins I.
>> Pat Gails I. Kevin Smith. Thank you all very much.