Agenda and Minutes 2009-06-17
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
Agenda
DATE: Wednesday, June 17, 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 5/6/2009 and 5/20/2009 Minutes
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Chair's Report
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Discussion of new Community Preservation Committee Website
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Discussion of an Act to Sustain Community Preservation in the Commonwealth
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of Massachusetts
Other Business
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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, June 17, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main St.
Members Present: Fran Volkmann, Tom Parent, David Drake, George Kohout, Downey
Meyer, Don Bianchi, and Jack Hornor.
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 May 6, 2009 minutes for discussion. After noting a couple
minor technical changes the minutes were approved as read.
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Fran Volkmann presented the May 20, 2009 minutes for discussion. With no changes the
minutes were approved as read.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS
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Fran Volkmann announced Wayne Feiden would be presenting a report about open space
acquisitions at the City Council meeting on June 18, 2009. All are welcome to attend and
comment.
UPPER RESERVOIR DAM PROJECT
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Fran Volkmann explained the Upper Reservoir Dam in Leeds is in poor repair. She stated
a group is perhaps interested in saving it as an historic site and she wondered if CPA
funds could be used for such repairs. At the same time the State is interested in actually
removing the dam. There is likely to be two competing sides to this issue.
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Bruce Young stated the City wants to remove for safety reasons. The costs to take down
the dam is ~$600,000, while repairing is ~$800,000 plus future management and
dredging costs. The State would likely classify it as dangerous.
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FCBA PROJECT APPLICATION
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Jack Hornor stated he sent a letter requesting FCBA to sign the contract if they are going
to accept the CPC funding recommendation. He met with Bill St. James, who is the
attorney for FCBA. There is a question regarding the recording fee for the contract. Jack
Hornor recommends paying out of administration funds.
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Tom Parent agreed, the CPC should cover the fee to just get this project completed. He
stated many FCBA members feel some members may not want funding because they
want to fight the CPA in the coming years.
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George Kohout cautioned the CPC to just be aware in future about paying miscellaneous
fees. There is no policy now.
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Bruce Young stated usually fees are part of the project budget.
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Jack Hornor stated the original grant agreement specifies the museum building and
artifacts. He agreed with Bruce Young that changing language to just preservation of
historic collection is best. Also, he combined all documents into one. The next step is for
FCBA to have a board meeting to discuss. He is quite certain they will accept it.
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George Kohout questioned if the drop-dead date is June 30, 2009.
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Jack Hornor stated that is correct, otherwise funds are released back into General Fund.
4. DISCUSSION OF NEW COMMUNITY PRESERVATION WEBSITE
NEW SITE
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Bruce Young noted it is difficult to use the current site and there are size limit issues.
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Fran Volkmann stated she would like a site similar to the new City Arts Council site.
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George Kohout stated we must think about regular maintenance requirements and costs.
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Fran Volkmann stated she wants the CPC to own its own site. The site should be linked
to the city site but separate.
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Jack Hornor queried what to call it. All agree with NorthamptonCPC.org, but also obtain
.com and .net.
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Fran Volkmann stated she likes listing projects by category, with a separate page for each
project including pictures.
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Jack Hornor stated his support of a page explaining the lifecycle of a project. We need to
re-enforce how long it takes to complete the funding process.
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Don Bianchi suggested including the Community Preservation Act info and committee
activities.
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Jack Hornor concerned about placing detailed budget information on the website.
Presenting that information on the site could simply create too many problems. All that
information can be obtained from staff.
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Downey Meyer stated however his support for a budget summary and statement
indicating full budget available on request.
PHOTOS
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George Kohout stated the Tisbury has a list of projects with clickable photos. At least one
image for each project. He encouraged the CPC to do the same.
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Downey Meyer stated we should also solicit comments from the grant recipients.
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Bruce Young suggested including links to their homepages.
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David Drake suggested including written descriptions of completed projects.
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Jack Hornor suggested including before and after pictures.
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John Frey suggested a clickable “push-pin” map showing the projects spread across the
city.
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Jack Hornor suggested including that map on the homepage.
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Don Bianchi suggested actively soliciting quotes. It would be good for organizing a
positive campaign for the renewal of the CPA
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Fran Volkmann suggested adding taxpayer information and an exemption form
application.
FAQ
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George Kohout suggested staff generate an evolving FAQ list.
LINKS
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Suggested links include the Community preservation Coalition, the State CPA
information, and links to other committee sites.
NEWS
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David Drake suggested including a one-way blog helping disseminate information.
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Bruce Young stated the need to a dedicated CPC writer. Creating interesting press
releases on a regular schedule would be helpful.
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Jack Hornor advocated against allowing public comments and discussion on the site.
Standards can be difficult to enforce. Maybe we could think about it after the site is
together.
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Downey Meyer stated a blog or news server allows people to see fresh content without
searching the entire site.
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George Kohout stated the site would likely need multiple phases to integrate fully.
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Jack Hornor suggested starting with an email list sign up function. One-way blog in
future makes sense. The CPC needs a means of communicating with friends and allies.
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George Kohout suggested a function similar to the OPD listserv. Perhaps solicit public
comment about our website from that listserv.
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Jack Hornor stated we could also use the OPD listserv to solicit the public to sign up for
our site.
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Bruce Young stated the Health Department has Facebook page. Perhaps we could do the
same.
RFP
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Fran Volkmann suggested assembling a working group to work with staff on a Request
for Proposals. Jack Hornor, George Kohout, Fran Volkmann and Lilly Lombard agreed to
help out.
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Jack Hornor suggested making sure value trumps the cost. That is most important.
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Fran Volkmann suggested this would be a good summer project. The goal is to finish the
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RFP before we receive applications in August. She set a meeting date for June 29, 4pm.
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5. DISCUSSION OF AN ACT TO SUSTAIN COMMUNITY PRESERVATION IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
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Bruce Young stated the Coalition is working on legislation to bring more State funding to
the CPA. There are about a dozen alternate plans floating throughout the legislature. The
Coalition is summarizing the best features. The goal is a trust fund match guarantee of
75%. Also, they are seeking to clarify the uses, especially for recreation, of money for
land not purchased by CPA. The Coalition would like the CPC to sign a letter of support.
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Downey Meyer stated it important to know where the 75% revenue source is from before
signing on.
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Don Bianchi stated the main concern is state dollars vs. local dollars. It is more important
for the CPC to raise the level of state money support regardless of the source.
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David Drake stated he doesn’t understand how this legislation is functional without a
funding source.
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Fran Volkmann stated she would like to weigh in on the positive side of supporting this
proposal. Money still gets apportioned at the state level and we want as much for
Northampton citizens as possible. The CPC should advocate for more state support. She
is ready to sign on.
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David Drake stated he sees no harm in supporting as well, even though it may not pass
without a funding source.
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Don Bianchi stated we must be able to support this legislation. It is straightforward to
sign on.
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Downey Meyer stated we must still understand the State legislature may not have our
interests in mind. Vagueness of other revenue source keeps him from signing on.
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Jack Hornor stated on one hand we must advocate for most money possible. But on the
other hand, more concerning to him is item 2 regarding supplanting the 2% option.
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Downey Meyer stated he also does not want to sign on if it is likely to fail.
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Fran Volkmann suggested tabling to next meeting to see where the legislation is going.
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George Kohout volunteered to talk to state representatives about the legislation.
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Upon motion by David Drake, seconded by Downey Meyer, all agreed to table until the
next meeting.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
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Jack Hornor requested staff to please email the coming schedule.
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Bruce Young stated applications are due August 10, 2009.
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Jack Hornor stated there is likely to be a proposal to fund a fountain study grant at
Hospital Hill.
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Fran Volkmann stated she sent a memo to the Northampton Housing Authority regarding
their vacant CPC seat. No response has been received.
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Jack Hornor stated he would talk to Jon Hite. He suggested it is possible to change the
charter locally to allow representation from the Housing Partnership instead.
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Bruce Young stated the charter change must happen at the state level. It is a six-month
process.
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Fran Volkmann suggested we investigate our options.
Upon motion by David Drake, seconded by George Kohout, all agreed to adjourn the meeting at
8:53pm.
Respectfully submitted on July 1, 2009,
John Frey, Community Preservation Planner
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