Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
Min-20160617161228
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Tmvia of Canton, Massachusetts COMMUN1 TY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE M'mites of June 1, 2015 The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm at the Canton Public Library. Committee members in attendance: Lisa Lopez, George Comeau, Jeremy Comeau, John McSweeney, Bob Panico, Deb Sundin (joined remotely @ 7:08 pm) Absent: Kathy Alfano, Larry Bogue, Bob Golledge Motion to approve minutes of March 30, 2015 by John McSweeney, seconded by Jeremy Comeau, approved 5-0-0. Deb Sundin joined by phone at 7:08 pm. Motion to permit D. Sundin to participate remotely by J. Comeau, seconded by J. McSweeney, approved 5-0-0. Town Meeting Post -Mortem The Committee reviewed things that were done well prior to Town Meeting and improvements that could be made going forward. • TM member requested a report of last year's activities with associated financial information. This information should be included in the annual report; distributed (in table form) at Town Meeting and put on the website. • Use Capital Planning Committee example by creating chart with projects under consideration this year and status of past projects. • Meetings and communication that occurred prior to Town Meeting (Public Information Night, project summaries on website, CCPC project mailing, etc.) were effective efforts to educate public prior to Town Meeting. • Important to include applicants in the effort to garner support at Town Meeting. • TM voters seemed to appreciate shorter presentations. • Housing projects continue to struggle for support. CCPC should look at different types of housing projects that could be funded through CPA and make a concerted effort to educate the voting public about CPA eligible community housing projects. • Website, mailings were effective, but only reached a fraction of voters. Need more compre- hensive outreach prior to Town Meeting (door to door campaign?). • Demonstrating ways in which proposed projects were prioritized in the CPC Plan and high- lighting the connection of several projects to the National Historic District was beneficial as was promoting all projects together. Page 1 of 3 CCPC Minutes of June 1, 2015
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• Warrant lacked specificity with respect to bonding for Plymouth Rubber. Will need to provide more concrete information about bonding plan if future projects seek funding through this mechanism. • Need to get out in front of questions/concerns from Finance Committee. Foster relationship with members. Invite liaison to CCPC meetings. • Public misconception that CCPC is promoting projects; need to clarify that the Committee doesn't rubber stamp all projects that are submitted. Website material should list recommended projects as well as those that were submitted but not recommended for TM consideration. • There needs to be an effort to solicit applications for future funding rounds. Include solicita- tion for applications in the Canton Citizen; signage and information at Town Hall and the Li- brary. • Concerns were expressed about the use of CPA funds to create promotional material. CPC needs to be judicious in the way funds are spent in advocating projects. Project Updates FY2015 Projects Canton Corner Cemetry - Historical Commission submitted change order for CPC approval. They have contracted with a vendor for $17,000 for cleaning/resetting gravestones. Tennis Courts - Work is expected to start after graduation and be complete by Labor Day. FY2016 Projects FPUU Steeple Restoration - First Parish Church is working towards permission from parish to accept a restriction. CCPC to meet with church members. Historic Preservation Restriction will be negotiated through Town Counsel and the FPUU attorney. Tilden House Restoration - Request for Proposals has been drafted. The Building Renovation Committee will be coordinating the bid. Historic Documents Master Plan - Library Director Mark Lague drafted RFP for consulting serv- ices. Martha Howard Petticoat Restoration - Historical Society has vendor in mind. They will likely send the petticoat out for restoration and submit bill upon completion. Veterans Housing Fire Alarms & Electrical Boxes - Design costs to date are about $11,000. Bids are in. The low bid was $61,000; the high was $260,000. Bids are being reviewed and contract will be awarded to qualified bidder. Open Space at Paul Revere Heritage Site - The Board of Selectmen has proposed the creation of a. Paul Revere Heritage Site Commission to make recommendations about the future use of the site as well as two sub -committees (Open Space & Building Use) to look specifically at (1) the landscaping of the parcel and (2) the reuse of the barn and Rolling Mill. Commission members Page 2 of 3 CCPC Minutes of June 1, 2015
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will represent various boards in Town. CCPC will need to identify a member to sit on this Commission whose work is expected to begin in earnest this summer. L. Lopez noted the impor- tance of retaining a landscape architect with experience in designing public open space. The Open Space Committee will be working with the Landscape Architect (to be hired by developer) and should be reminded that design elements beyond the developer's funding commitment could be future CPA projects. Several CCPC members expressed interest in sitting on the Commission and/or one of the subcommittees. Motion to authorize CCPC chair to make appointment to Paul Revere Heritage Site Com- mission after conferring with Executive Committee by J. Comeau, seconded by J. McSweeney, approved 6-0-0. Election of Officers The CCPC voted for officers for Fiscal Year 2016. Results follow: Chair - Lisa Lopez Vice -chair - George Comeau Secretary - Kathy Alfano Treasurer - Deb Sundin Planning for Annual Update to Community Preservation Plan After an aggressive campaign to solicit public input for the plan in 2013, a more limited effort was employed in 2014. Committee members agreed that the 2015 update to the CPC Plan should expand opportunities for the public to provide feedback. In addition to attending meet- ings of other Town boards and employing "word walls" in public venues, public input will be sought through social media and other community outreach approaches. In order to reach out to new project proponents, G. Comeau offered to provide an Application and Grant Writing work- shop for potential CPA applicants focusing on CPA eligibility, the elements that make a strong application and resources beyond CPA (e.g. MHC) that can be used to leverage CPA funds. On a related front, the CCPC discussed revising the long form application and will convene a sub- committee to review possible changes to this form. Motion to adjourn at 8:30 pm by Jeremy Comeau, seconded by John McSweeney, ap- proved 6-0-0. Respectfully submitted by Kristen Phelps Page 3 of 3 CCPC Minutes of June 1, 2015