Agenda and Minutes 2013-02-06
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
DATE: Wednesday, February 6, 2013
TIME: 7:00pm
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall)
Contact:
Downey Meyer, Chair, Community Preservation Committee
downeymeyer@gmail.com
Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner
slavalley@northamptonma.gov
(413) 587-1263
Agenda
7:00 – Presentation: CPA Update. Stuart Saginor, Community Preservation Coalition
Executive Director
7:45 – Regular CPC Meeting
Minutes
January 2, 2013
January 16, 2013
Chair’s Report
Broad Brook Gap Project: Discuss ‘Stewardship’ Budget Item
DPW Water Protection: Request for Reprogramming
Distribute Round 1 2013 Applications
Review Acceptance of City Hall Project
Approve Community Preservation Coalition Membership Invoice
Review Schedule, set site visit date
Sign Previously Approved Contracts and MOU
Adjourn
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/
Next Meeting: March 6, 2013
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
F ebruary 6 , 201 3
Time: 7:0 0 pm
Place: Cit y Council Chambers, 212 Main Street
Memb ers Present: Downey Meyer, Brian Adams, Marlene Morin, Dave Rothstein , Debin
Bruce
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley
Downey ca lled th e meeting to order at 8 : 0 0 PM.
General Public Comment
None
Broad Brook Gap Project: Discuss ‘Stewardship’ Budget Item
Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development, provided additional information about the
stewardship required for conservation acq uisitions.
As required by the CPA, the Conservation Commission places a permanent conservation
restriction held by a third party on each acquisition funded through the CPA. The
Conservation Commission works with Kestrel Trust to place these restrictions, and CPA funds
are used to cover the cost of placement of the restriction, as allowed in the CPA law. In order
to accept holding CR’s, Kestrel Trust requires that the Commission guarantee that it be able
to perform its own ongoing stewardship, for boundary blazing, necessary enforcement and
other work. One hundred dollars per acre is set - aside so the Commission will be able to do
this. Wayne would like confirmation that contributing to the Commission’s required
stewardship fund is an allowable expense, as it was not specifically noted in the budget for
this project. It will be noted in applications going forward.
Debin asked whether these funds are a safeguard in case Kestrel ceases to exist. Wayne replied
that they are not; the CR would be transferred i n that case. Kestrel’s role in holding CR’s is to
keep landowners honest, but this does not absolve the Commission from its own stewardship
obligations. The Commission’s stewardship funds are maintained in a separate account.
Dave noted that ongoing stew ardship costs are standard for conservation acquisitions.
Brian asked if there are other groups that hold conservation restrictions for City - owned
properties. Wayne replied that Broad Brook Coalition holds three, but is in the process of
transferring them , and MassAudubon also holds restrictions.
Debin moved that CPA funds can be spent on conservation restriction stewardship, totaling $300
per acre for KestrelTrust, of which they will retain $100 an acre to support their conservation
restriction stewardshi ps and will transfer $200 an acre to Community Foundation of Western
Massachusetts Northampton Open Space Fund to supp ort the stewardship of the land .
Seconded by Brian, the motion carried unanimously.
Dave noted that highlighting stewardship as a hard co st is also a possibility.
Minutes - January 2, 2013
Dave moved to approve the minutes, including revisions submitted by Dave and Debin. Seconded
by Debin, the motion carried unanimously.
January 16, 2013
Postponed until next meeting.
Chair’s Report
D owney informed the Committee that he spoke with Mayor Narkewicz regarding a possible
change to the CPA Ordinance. Changes to the City Charter changed the Mayor’s role, but the
CPA Ordinance specifies that recommendations must be presented to the Mayor. D owney
and Sarah will work on changes to the Ordinance and Plan that reflect these amendments.
DPW Water Protection: Request for Reprogramming
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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February 6, 2013
Downey provided a recap of the project, a grant to install signs at Mill River crossings, and label
stormdrains w ith ‘no dumping, drains to river’ labels. Sarah stated that DPW staff would like to
expend all project funds on high - quality labels, and not install river crossing signs. Sign design
and coordination was more costly and time - consuming than initially plan ned.
Debin moved to approve the reprogramming request. Seconded by Brian, the motion carried
unanimously. Dave noted that the road signs are still important, and that DPW or a
neighborhood group should be encouraged to re - apply.
Distribute Round 1 2013 Applications
The Committee received applications.
Downey noted that an eligibility form for the proposed City Hall project was not received, but
Central Services indicated it was sent in interoffice mail before the due date. The Committee
agreed that the application should be accepted, as it was previously determined eligible, and the
application was received on time.
Approve Community Preservation Coalition Membership Invoice
Downey suggested that the invoice be approved since the legislation amendment was passed, but
that conditions could be attached in future years.
Brian moved to pay the $3,000 invoice. Seconded by Dave, the motion carried unanimously.
Review Schedule, site visit date
The Committee reviewed the schedule. Sarah will send a reminder email before questions to
applicants are due. A site visit date was postponed until more members are present.
The Committee discussed and approved the review schedule. A site visit date will be set when
applications are received. Sarah will place on the web and email to Committee members.
Adjourn
On a motion and second, with unanimous vote , the meetin g was adjourned at 9 : 04 PM
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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February 6, 2013