Northampton LAND FY20 Award Letter
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
Charles D. Baker
GOVERNOR
Karyn E. Polito
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Kathleen A. Theoharides
SECRETARY
Tel: (617) 626-1000
Fax: (617) 626-1181
October 7, 2019
Wayne Feiden
Director of Planning and Sustainability
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Re: Rocky Hill Greenway: Nashawannuck Riparian Restoration, Northampton LAND #24
Dear Mr. Feiden:
I am pleased to officially confirm that the Rocky Hill Greenway: Nashawannuck Riparian Restoration
has been selected by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to receive up to
$400,000 in state Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program assistance.
Project deadline is June 1, 2020
The project must be completed and all reimbursement requirements submitted to EEA by June 1, 2020. If
you anticipate any difficulties in meeting this deadline, please contact us immediately. Nathaniel Thomas
is the LAND grant manager and can be reached at (617) 626-1187 or nathaniel.thomas1@mass.gov. All
materials and correspondence should be directed to him unless otherwise noted.
Conditions of award
The City of Northampton’s reimbursement is contingent upon your satisfactory completion of the
following:
1. Adherence to all contract specifications
2. Installation of a LAND acknowledgement sign
3. Provision of adequate means of public access
4. Completion of a Baseline Documentation Report and Land Management Plan (template and
directions will be emailed)
5. Conveyance of approved Conservation Restrictions to an appropriate entity on the property as a
requirement of using Community Preservation Act funds toward this acquisition.
6. Completion of outstanding CRs on parcels acquired with the use of Community Preservation Act
funds. Documentation should include the grantee, date of conveyance, and registry book/page of
the CR document.
7. Completion of inspections of Land and Water Conservation Fund properties (list and inspection
reports provided)
Next steps
A certified copy of municipal vote authorizing the purchase should have been submitted to EEA by
December 31, 2019. If the vote language has not been reviewed and approved by EEA, please send it in
immediately.
Sign and return the following forms by December 31, 2019:
State Standard Contract. This document allows our fiscal department to establish an account
for your project.
LAND Project Agreement. Review the agreement to ensure that your project is correctly
described. If the document is correct, the Chief Executive Officer and a majority of your
Conservation Commission members must sign two copies. Return both to EEA.
Contractor Authorized Signatory Form (both sides). Have this document signed by the Chief
Executive Officer and notarized.
Legally and permanently protected conservation land
By accepting grant funding, your municipality agrees that the property will remain undeveloped and open
to the general public for appropriate passive recreation in perpetuity. It may not be converted to other uses
or developed. You must abide by Article 97 of the Articles of Amendment to the State Constitution, as
well as the terms of the LAND Project Agreement.
Grant requirements information meeting
A mandatory meeting to review program requirements will be held on:
Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 10:00 am
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
Richard Cronin Building
1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581
Please RSVP to Nathaniel at the contact information listed above. If you cannot attend, you must send
someone to represent your municipality. The meeting should last an hour.
Congratulations on your successful application to the LAND Grant Program, and best wishes for a speedy
completion of your project.
Sincerely,
Robert O’Connor
Director, Division of Conservation Services