CPC Meeting Minutes

 

Mr. Whalley officially opened the meeting at 6:30 PM.

 

Members introduced themselves and mentioned who appointed them to the Committee as follows:

John Whalley, Park & Recreation Committee; David Gunn , Historical Commission; Robert K Johnson, SelectBoard appointee; Karen Reed, Housing Authority; Patrick Roche, SelectBoard appointee; Marcus Phelps, Planning Board; Bob Horacek, SelectBoard appointee, Karen Demaio, SelectBoard appointee; and Ruth Preston, Administrative Assistant.

 

A MOTION was made by Mr. Gunn and seconded by Mrs. Reed to nominate Mr. Whalley as Chair. The motion passed unanimously.

A MOTION was made by Mr. Roche and seconded by Mr. Gunn to appoint Mr. Phelps as Vice Chair. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Whalley suggested the committee have an unpaid nonvoting consultant. He suggested Mr. Clark. A MOTION was made by Mr. Gunn and seconded by Mr. Roche to have Mr. Clark be a nonvoting, non paid consultant to the Community Preservation Committee.

Mr. Whalley said that Mr. Clark has a good relationship with the CPA representatives at the State level. He said that it is important to maintain those relationships. He said Mr. Clark has fourteen years of experience working with the CPC. Mr. Gunn said that in his experience working with Mr. Clark that he has more experience than anyone with the CPC. Mr. Whalley said that Mr. Clark was instrumental in getting the CPC program passed in Southwick. Mr. Horacek asked if there is a job description in place for a consultant. Mr. Whalley said there is not.

The motion passed unanimously.

 

The Committee reviewed a list of projects both completed and in progress to date (SEE ATTACHMENT A).  On the second page of the report the Town Accountant listed the funds being held for projects that are not completed. Mr. Clark said there are some Agricultural Preservation Restriction properties that are still in the process. Mr. Whalley gave an update on Whalley Park. He said all those who have bid on the park updates will be doing a walkthrough of the park. He will tell the contractors they do not have to provide the lights, just install them.  He said the lights can be turned on with a phone call. He said the bathrooms will be open until mid November so a heater will be added to protect the plumbing from freezing ( the freezer was not purchased with CPC funds). He said that $12,180.00 was collected over the weekend from parking fees for the Rugged Maniac event. Mrs. Reed said the housing projects are being completed. She reviewed the different projects. Mr. Clark reviewed the Board Walk project being completed at Rising Corners. Mr. Gunn reviewed the project taking place at the Old Cemetery where they are replacing the broken fence. He said they have removed sections of the old fence to remove trees.  He said they have changed the new fence to powder coated iron which is supposed to be aesthetically pleasing. Mr. Clark said the archiving of documents has not been completed at this point in time. Mr. Horacek asked about the revenue. Mrs. Preston said the revenue is indicated on the budget that is in each Member’s folder. She also said the income from the State has not arrived yet and is expected sometime in November. She explained the financial statement received from the Town Accountant. There was more discussion about income for Agricultural Preservation Restrictions. Mr. Whalley reviewed the total acreage protected (SEE ATTACHMENT B).

 

Mr. Phelps attended a SelectBoard workshop focused on Chapter 61 programs and how the Town handles the First Right of Refusal. He said there is currently no protocol on how the Town handles properties that become available when an owner decides to take the property out of a Chapter 61 program. He explained that under Chapter 61 landowners can put their land in one of three programs that allow them to get between a 75% and 90% reduction in their real estate taxes.  He said that 35% of the open space in Southwick is in these programs. It is a temporary protection and is not an in perpetuity protection. He said the challenge is to be able to act quickly to acquire a desired property when it becomes available. Mr. Clark said that when a property comes out of Chapter 61 the Town has First Right of Refusal, and it has to be done within 120 days. Mr. Whalley said if the property is taken out of Chapter 61 it does not have to give First Right of Refusal to the Town. He said if the owner sells it they are responsible for paying back the taxes that were exempted. Mr. Phelps said that the SelectBoard has sent out a memo requesting various Committees and Boards, including the CPC, to each identify four properties they would be interested in purchasing should they become available. Mr. Phelps and the Town Planner reviewed 10 possible properties for the Planning Board to consider in making their selection (SEE ATTACHMENT C). A discussion followed. Mr. Whalley said the CPC Committee’s job is to wait for property owners to approach the Committee to preserve their property. The Committee decided they were not interested in making a selection. Mr. Phelps said that the Town Master Plan, when it is updated, will have a section on Open Space.

 

The Franklin Land Trust, which is a not-for-profit organization and is responsible for managing donations to purchase the acreage on North Pond, sent a letter explaining the process that is in place (SEE ATTACHMENT D).  Mr. Clark said there is a grant application in for State funding, and over a million dollars will be provided by the MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife for a portion of the property that abuts land that they currently own and manage for bird habitat. He said there are other grants that will be applied for. Mr. Whalley said he recently took a boat trip to the property with the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Representative Boldyga and Senator Humason.  He said the headquarters for fund raising are located on College Highway in the old Bead Shop, and that donations are being accepted from the public for the project. Mr. Gunn staffs the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  He said the Westfield News will be recognizing the current matching sponsors. The owner of the property wants it to be preserved and has signed an agreement to hold it for the Town until next year. A discussion followed about the appraisal of the property.

ROUTINE BUSINESS:

 

A MOTION was made by Mr. Phelps and seconded by Mrs. Reed to accept the minutes of June 16, 2016. The motion passed with a majority, Mr. Horacek abstained.

 

The minutes of July 14, 2016 from the Lake Management Committee were read. The minutes stated that they are set to apply for a grant in 2017 for North Pond. They felt they had a good chance of getting the grant since the property sits over the aquifer. There was a discussion by the Lake Management Committee at their August 25, 2016 meeting about a lake dredging project and the possibility of applying for CPC funds.  Mr. Phelps said the canal on South Pond might be a good place to start. A discussion followed.

A MOTION was made by Mr. Gunn and seconded by Mr. Mrs. Reed to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 PM. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Horacek abstained since he was not on the committee at the time.

Respectfully submitted,

Ruth Preston

Administrative Assistant - CPC