Agenda and Minutes 2009-01-07
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
Agenda
DATE: Wednesday, January 7, 2009
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall)
Contact:
Fran Volkmann, Chair, Community Preservation Committee
Franv@comcast.net
Tom Parent, Vice Chair, Community Preservation Committee
ParentBridge@hotmail.com
Bruce Young, Community Preservation Planner
byoung@northamptonma.gov
(413) 587-1263
Agenda
Public Comment
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Acceptance of 12/17 minutes
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Chair's Report
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Items for Discussion
-2009 Funding Schedule
-VCDC Foreclosure Funding
-FCBA Agreement
-Community Preservation Plan Revisions
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Other Business
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/gsuniverse/httpRoot/comm/
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MINUTES
Community Preservation Committee
Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main St.
Members Present: Fran Volkmann, Tom Parent, Jack Hornor, George Kohout, Don Bianchi,
Lilly Lombard and Downey Meyer.
Staff Present: Bruce Young, Community Preservation Planner
John Frey, Community Preservation Planner
Fran Volkmann opened the public meeting at 7:03pm.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
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None.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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Fran Volkmann presented the minutes of December 17, 2008 meeting for discussion.
With no objection Fran Volkmann declared the minutes approved as read.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
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None.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
FUNDING ROUND 1, 2009
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Fran Volkmann presented the calendar for Round 1, 2009. The only items up for debate
are whether or not to cancel the January 21 and February 18 meetings.
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Jack Hornor stated he is concerned moving the applicant Q&A to February 4 is too little
time before applications are due.
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Lilly Lombard agreed one week is insufficient.
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Fran Volkmann stated her assumption is that questions would be just minor details,
nothing technical at that point.
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George Kohout agreed with Fran Volkmann. Staff is available for major technical
questions earlier. Fine with February 4 meeting.
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Don Bianchi suggested staff note when replying to pre-eligible applicants that assistance
is available through the Planning Department.
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Fran Volkmann queried the committee about changes. Straw poll shows 3-2 in favor of
moving Q&A to February 4.
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Lilly Lombard stated it is important for applicants to have access to
professional/technical advice.
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George Kohout stated past experience has shown Q&A is very dry, not technical. One
week timeline is not an asset or burden.
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Upon motion by Don Bianchi, seconded by Downey Meyer, the committee voted 4-2 to
have applicant Q&A at February 4, 2009 meeting. Jack Hornor and Lilly Lombard
against, while Fran Volkmann abstained.
FUNDING ROUND 2, 2009
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Fran Volkmann stated the pressing need to finish with enough time for City Council to
vote before December 31, 2009, without moving applications too early into summertime.
Possibly the CPC would not need both applicant presentation meeting dates, in which
case other meeting dates could move forward. Also, the CPC must discuss summer
meetings.
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Lilly Lombard motioned to accept schedule as written, Jack Hornor seconded. All in
favor.
VCDC FORECLOSURE RESCUE FUND
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Fran Volkmann summarized at the last meeting the CPC decided to seek the advice of the
City Solicitor, Janet Sheppard.
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Bruce Young stated Wayne Feiden offered to obtain a free verbal opinion. Jack Hornor
opted for a written opinion instead since the other opinions are in writing. Bruce Young
contacted Janet Sheppard for opinion regarding DOR and CPC decisions.
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Jack Hornor stated he thought the CPC needed to craft a specific letter with pointed
questions for Janet Sheppard to answer. Don Bianchi agreed to draft the letter.
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Don Bianchi asked Bruce Young to please ask Janet Sheppard to wait for his letter before
giving opinion.
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Fran Volkmann asked Tom Parent and Don Bianchi to meet with VCDC to keep them in
the loop.
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Jack Hornor requested they ask VCDC how many amended mortgages have worked out
successfully.
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Don Bianchi stated the definition of successful is unclear.
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Don Bianchi asked if VCDC would need to re-apply or if their previous application is
still pending.
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Fran Volkmann stated the previous application is still open. No need to re-apply.
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George Kohout asked if VCDC still wanted to proceed. Also, do they have new projects
in the works? He stated he voted for it but unsure if CPC should still go forward.
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Fran Volkmann stated the Mayor is concerned it is bailing out banks, not homeowners.
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Jack Hornor requested Don Bianchi ask not just for an up or down opinion, but also ask
whether there is not enough precedent to decide.
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Don Bianchi stated he would also ask if re-development fund payments would change
opinion.
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Downey Meyer queried if any other options would render this plan legal and acceptable.
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Don Bianchi stated he preferred the CPC not leave this opinion request too open ended.
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Lilly Lombard queried if there is precedent for this type of funding.
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Jack Hornor stated no, the Coalition thought there were others but found out none exist.
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Don Bianchi stated this is a relatively new issue. Not surprised precedent is lacking.
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Fran Volkmann stated the big question if whether individual housing support is
permitted, or only large stock housing support.
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Bruce Young stated there are two cases involving subsidized individual housing. One the
DOR was completely against. In the other conditioning made it acceptable.
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Fran Volkmann stated the decision for the CPC is to either challenge or not.
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Don Bianchi stated the decision involves three concerns, 1.) What is the right thing to do,
2.) Political acceptability and 3.) Legal challenge.
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Fran Volkmann stated Don Bianchi and Bruce Young would report back.
FCBA GRANT AGREEMENT
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Fran Volkmann stated Jack Hornor would see it through with the FCBA.
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Jack Hornor stated must work with Bruce Young to create a draft grant agreement. Then
he will present to CPC to approve. Finally, he would meet with the FCBA attorney to
discuss preservation guarantees in the grant agreement.
CPA PLAN REVISIONS
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Jack Hornor stated he would go over plan and make suggestions. Then Fran Volkmann,
Tom Parent and staff would review. Finally, to CPC for opinion and approval.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
CITY COUNCIL ROUND THREE VOTES
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Jack Hornor stated City Council was more engaged with this round than previous. He
answered questions for an hour. The council was enthusiastic about the Ruggles project
and fine with the other lesser projects. However, there were several SRO questions and
some opposition. Joanne Campbell of VCDC spoke eloquently and simplified the
justifications for the projects. Councilor Murphy opposed both SRO projects. Councilor
Reckman questioned the Maples project and voted against. Many councilors and Mayor
Higgins spoke in favor sighting the critical need for units. He felt it went well and the
projects should get the votes needed at the second vote. Joanne Campbell is to speak with
Councilor Reckman. Jack Hornor is not available for the next meeting on January 15,
2009. Joanne Campbell should be there though. Many applicants spoke during public
comment. And some citizens spoke against the SROs.
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Fran Volkmann welcomed all to attend the council vote on January 15, 2009.
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Jack Hornor stated discussion takes place during the finance meetings generally.
Councilor Murphy however moved whole package from finance to council without
discussion.
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DAR HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESTRICTION
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Fran Volkmann stated DAR does not have the funding needed, but Lilly Lombard would
meet with them about having the CPC fund an HPR.
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George Kohout asked if the additional money would come out of administrative
allocations.
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Fran Volkmann stated yes, it would.
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Jack Hornor stated the CPC would provide a model HPR, and therefore costs should be
minimal.
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Bruce Young stated DAR would still need their attorney to review it.
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Fran Volkmann stated that should not cost much.
RUGGLES PRESERVATION GUARANTEE
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Fran Volkmann stated Tom Parent would meet with the Ruggles people to discuss.
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George Kohout stated the CPC has learned a lot; need to meet with applicants sooner
regarding HPRs.
FINANCIAL REPORTING
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Fran Volkmann stated George Kohout would work with John Frey to decide on reporting
needs and create a schedule for such.
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Lilly Lombard stated as pool of funds shrinks it would be harder to balance categories.
She suggested discussing the possibility of making relative balance of funding areas. If
we don’t earmark ahead of time it may be hard to even out later.
AGENDA SETTING
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Fran Volkmann stated she went through the minutes and summarized flagged agenda
items. She the passed out sheets and asked for additional agenda items to be added.
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Don Bianchi suggested discussing report format for previous projects.
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Fran Volkmann stated that should be put in website and outreach items.
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Tom Parent stated the recreational request item would be very large when it comes. The
CPC must plan ahead.
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Downey Meyer commented on mayoral screening. He was not in favor of the VCDC
Foreclosure project being stopped by the recommendation committee before making the
Mayor formally decide.
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George Kohout asked if we could seek the Mayor’s input anywhere else.
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Fran Volkmann called it Mayoral Role in CPC and added it to the agenda items.
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George Kohout suggested including CPA plan revision. Also, signage needed to be
completed.
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George Kohout also asked about the model Preservation Guarantee documents.
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Jack Hornor stated the CPA plan would include that.
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Next, all CPC members prioritized the agenda items. Staff would collate and rank for
future use.
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CPC MEMBER APPOINTMENT TERMS
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Bruce Young noted that both John Andrulis’ and Craig Della Penna’s terms are expired.
Both commissions need to fill their CPC appointments.
Meeting adjourned at 8:28 pm.
Respectfully submitted on January 13, 2009,
John Frey, Community Preservation Planner
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