Report of the Community Preservation Committee 2008

This is the sixth annual report of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC).
 

The Community Preservation Fund is designed to help Southwick citizens achieve their goals in shaping Southwick’s future. It allows Southwick citizens to preserve open space and acquire land for recreational uses (passive and active), to acquire and preserve historic resources and heritage landscapes, and to create, preserve, and support affordable housing. The Community Preservation Committee welcomes project proposals that will enhance the Town of Southwick.
 

As designated in the bylaw adopted in November 2002, the Southwick Community Preservation Committee is a nine-person board. The committee must include the following five designees: one member of the Conservation Commission; one member of the Historical Commission; one member of the Planning Board; one member of the Park & Recreation Board; and one member of the Housing Authority. The remaining four members are at-large and consist of interested Southwick citizens appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
 

The committee accepts applications throughout the year from individuals or groups interested in presenting their projects for consideration for the use of CPC funds. The committee relies on established criteria for balanced decision-making on the various projects that come before them for review. Project application packets are available through the CPC website that can be accessed through the Town of Southwick’s website.
 

The Community Preservation Committee is required to hold a minimum of one annual public informational hearing; this meeting was held on May 15, 2008. All residents of Southwick are invited to participate in helping to shape the future of our community. It is through input at these public hearings and the CPC meetings that the concerns and wishes of Southwick residents are brought to the attention of the Committee.
 

John Whalley III, a Selectmen’s appointee to the committee, serves as the committee chairman. Barbara MacEwan continues to represent the Historical Commission and serves as Vice-Chair of the CPC. Kelly Magni has remained as the representative of the Park and Recreation Department. Chris Pratt joined the CPC as the Conservation Commission representative. Sylvan Thibault is the Housing Authority representative. Bob Johnson is the Planning Board representative. Mark Rolland, Bettye Bradley and Dennis Clark are the final Selectmen’s Appointees to complete the nine person committee. Ruth Preston replaced Virginia Schwarzenbach as the part-time Secretary.
 

The Community Preservation Committee extends a warm and heartfelt thank you to Mark Rolland for his service, time and valuable contributions to the Committee.
 

Through the Community Preservation Committee, the town of Southwick received the state 100% matching funds under the Community Preservation Act on October 31st. The award for the town this year was $213,948.00.
 

The Community Preservation Committee meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Land Use Room on the second floor of the Town Hall.  
 

Respectfully submitted,