Latest news with #CommunityPreservationAct
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5 days ago
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Community Preservation Committee to hold informational meeting
SOUTHWICK — It often happens at Town Meeting and is often seen on various social media platforms that focus on town issues. Residents want to know: 'Why do we need a splash pad when we can't fix our roads?' For Community Preservation Committee Coordinator Sabrina Pooler the answer is simple. 'The funding for the splash pad comes from revenues generated by the town's participation in the state's Community Preservation Act. The projects are not directly funded by taxpayers,' she said. She did, however, recognize that it can be confusing. 'It's a surcharge that you'll see on your tax bill,' she said. In 2002, Town Meeting voted to participate in the program that had only been signed into law two years before, and it was one of the first. This is how the CPA program's surcharge works. For a property valued at $300,000, $100,000 is exempted. Multiply $200,000 by the current tax rate of $15.57 per every $1,000, and a property owner's tax annual tax bill would be $3,114. That $3,114 is multiplied by the 3% surcharge, which adds $92.82 annually, or $7.73 monthly to the tax bill. But that is only what local taxpayers contribute to the Community Preservation Act fund. The state matches the surplus funds generated by deed recording fees at various percentages. 'After residents adopted the surcharge, there were only a few towns and cities that were taking advantage of the program,' Pooler said. 'For a few years the state was matching 100% of the surcharges collected,' she said, adding that up until a few years ago the town was still getting an 80% match. As the program has been adopted by more municipalities that in turn lowered the state match, she said. Pooler said the state's match this year for the town was at nearly 39%, which amounted to $192,843 based on $487,819 collected in local surcharge fees. When the town adopted the surcharge, it also set it at the maximum allowed: 3%. That allows the town to qualify for three separate payments during the fiscal year. As an example of the difference, in Agawam, it had surcharge collections of $629,673, a quarter more than Southwick's, but the state only matched 18% of collections for a total of $113,000. That's because Agawam's surcharge is 1% of a resident's tax bill. While Town Meeting-approved projects have drained some of the CPA accounts, there is still $2.3 million in its general unrestricted fund, $76.000 in its Open Space account, $724,800 in its Affordable Housing account, and $307,200 in its Historic Preservation account. Projects must fit the criteria for protecting open space, the rehabilitation or new construction of affordable housing, and historic preservation. With those funds available, Pooler said the Community Preservation Committee is inviting residents to an informational meeting to have the program explained in greater detail. It will be held on Wednesday, June 18 at 6 p.m., at Town Hall. 'We really want to educate our residents about this program. And most of the time no one attends this once-a-year this meeting,' she said. She's also hoping that there might be some nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in town that would like to pursue a project that is accessible to all town residents. As an example, she said an organization like the Rotary Club of Southwick might want to build an amphitheater for its summer concert series. To do that, it would need to come up with estimates for every detail of the project from the cost of the property to buying an acoustic shell or bandshell. 'Technically, they're supposed to shovel ready,' Pooler said. But the only way to know if an organization like the Rotary Club or a PTO can propose a project is to submit an application with the details, or if possible, attending the meeting on June 18. Because it might take as long as a year for a project to be approved by the CPC and then Town Meeting. 'We had a Boy Scout come in a want to apply, but he needed the funds nearly right away. It just doesn't work that way,' she said. Since the program started in 2002, $18 million has been allocated for 43 projects, from preserving town documents to repairing the slate roof at the police station. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
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Harwich voted on single use plastics, including water bottles, and fertilizer. Results.
On the second night of town meeting, Harwich residents voted to hire a part-time tree warden. The new tree warden will regulate shade trees in public places and have the authority to remove dangerous and dying trees without a hearing, prune for safety and health, identify planting sites and place new trees, according to the warrant. Non-dangerous tree removal would require a public hearing. The position would be an annual appointment and the cost is estimated to be $25,000. "I would also like to see a tree warden involved in a climate resiliency plan because trees are great for aesthetics but they're also great for controlling the heat we see in the summers," said resident Ann Frechette. "They're also great for controlling greenhouse gases and I think we can think a lot more comprehensively about what a tree warden would do for this town." Harwich town meeting night one results: $9 million school repair approved, more Town meeting concluded on Tuesday when voters gathered at the Harwich community center on Oak Street to finish the warrant. Voters also decided to delete a ban of single use plastic food service containers, utensils, and all associated plastics from the general bylaws. The article was amended to no longer consider deleting a ban of single-use plastic water bottles. Residents did not pass an article asking the Select Board to petition state officials for special legislation to ban using fertilizer in Harwich except for commercial agricultural and residential use of organic fertilizers. Town meeting voters also passed all Community Preservation Act articles. This includes appropriating $500,000 from the Certified Community Housing Reserve to fund the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust and transferring $1.5 million from the Special Purpose Stabilization Fund for Affordable Housing to the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@ Follow her on X @zanerazz. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Harwich votes on plastic water bottle ban, fertilizer. Results.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
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Eastham town meeting debate highlights animus between part-timers and year-rounders
EASTHAM — An operating budget of $45.7 million, a capital budget of $2.4 million, and the acquisition of two condos along Route 6 opposite Salt Pond sailed through town meeting May 5. But disagreements over articles regarding a real estate tax transfer fee, zoning bylaws and spending community preservation act money on renovating an apartment above the Eastham Thrift Store brought voters to the microphone. Voters approved all of the town meeting articles, except for a citizen petition article. That measure, Article 9A, the most contentious on the warrant, was drafted by the Eastham Part-time Resident Taxpayers Association and called for an independent auditor to create a tax strategy before the Select Board makes any changes to the FY26 tax structure. In January, Select Board members indicated their support for instituting a residential tax exemption. The move would shift the tax burden from residents whose primary homes are in Eastham to non-resident taxpayers, with some exceptions. Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet have already instituted RTEs to help their year-round residents cope with rising property values and taxes. The Select Board will make a final decision on whether the town will implement the resident tax exemption for fiscal 2026 during a tax classification hearing in August. The comments made during discussion of the article highlighted the animus between full- and part-time residents. Only residents who are registered voters in Eastham may vote at town meetings, but their votes are binding for part-timers. The part-time residents group says full-time residents seeking financial relief aren't taking full advantage of help from the family support package, taxpayers' assistance fund, short-term rental tax, and use of Community Preservation Act money, according to wording in the petition. They should be embraced before any RTE is considered. Short-sighted planning and borrowing have produced skyrocketing debt and taxes, according to the petition, and "further tax breaks for local special interest groups' are not justified. There was consensus among voters that while the town has faced many financial challenges, it is well run and its boards and committees diligent and transparent in budgeting and planning. And the implication that year-round residents are a "special interest" group was demeaning to some speakers. One resident said she was having trouble paying for her only home while part-timers seemed to have trouble affording a second home. 'Oversight on the Select Board is an affront to how nice this town is run,' said Russ French, a longtime Finance Committee member. The town has a AA+ bond rating and its finances are audited annually by the state's Division of Local Services and an independent auditing firm, according to the warrant. The petition failed on a 304-54 vote. Article 5A, accepting a seasonal communities designation, passed 418 to 64 after spirited discussion about allowing tiny homes by right. Tiny homes would change the character of Eastham, one man complained. Select Board Chair Aimee Eckman said tiny homes wouldn't be allowed everywhere, and that a zoning task force will lay out provisions for where they can be located. Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape's residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@ . Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Eastham town meeting results: ADUs, tax exemption for full-timers
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
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City Council approves Community Preservation Committee grants
WESTFIELD — The City Council on May 15 unanimously approved all of the Community Preservation Committee grants before it on recommendations from the Finance committee, with some discussion on taking another look at the Community Preservation Act in Westfield. In discussing the recommendation from the Finance Committee to approve the Community Preservation grant of $500,000 for the rehabilitation and modernization of the existing skate park located in Amelia Park, Councilor Ralph Figy said the request came through the Community Development office. He said the skate park is on a piece of dedicated park land assigned to the Parks & Recreation Department. The city has been approved by the state for a federal Land & Water Conservation Grant for $800,000, which Figy said is not final yet but looking good and surviving through the process. He said a skate park advocacy group is trying to raise $25,000 for the park, which has been estimated to cost $1.6 million. 'If for some reason the grant from the feds doesn't come through, this money will not be spent but sent back to the undesignated account for CPA for further work on how to fund this project,' Figy said, adding that after approving the grants on the agenda and a pending grant for the Athenaeum, it will leave $1.4 million in CPA undesignated funds. Councilor Rick Sullivan, a member of the Finance Committee, said if the LWC grant doesn't come through the Community Preservation grant will revert back to CPA funds. Councilor Karen Fanion said as liaison to the CPC, she attended the meeting where the grant was awarded. She said it is an appropriate use for recreational funds, and the park will be for all wheel sports, including bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters and wheelchairs. 'It would be a really good use of appropriate funds for a community that often has children saying there's nothing to do here,' said Councilor Kristen Mello, adding that she would also like to have the city engineer's approval due to its location near the Little River. Also approved was $90,000 for the Amelia Park Memorial Garden, which is a part of the Amelia Park Arena. Sullivan said the request came through the Amelia Park Arena General Manager Billy Fellows for work that will be done in the center of Amelia Park for drainage, to pull up the sod and put in new piping. Sullivan noted that the Memorial Garden sits on city property, as does the Boys & Girls Club and Children's Museum. If it ceases to operate, it would revert back to the city. He said in the past, the Memorial Garden has been maintained by the arena through donations and operations, and has not required contributions from the city. There will be an access plan where gates would be open to the general public to go in and use and take a walk around, and the arena is looking to create recreational opportunities for more active public use. 'They used to do musical concerts there, but it's now unusable, all soggy in there, not safe underfoot,' Sullivan said. The council also approved $6,000 for a custom display case to display historical whips recently obtained through the Historical Commission and donated to the Westfield Athenaeum. Councilor and Finance Committee member Brent Bean said a local business will create the display case. 'The whips that they have can't be properly displayed — the idea is to make the public see and enjoy them,' said Mello. 'I want to thank the donors. They actually took the money out of their pockets to preserve these whips,' agreed Councilor James Adams. Last approved was $2,000 to complete a regional archeological study of the Hampden-Hampshire Canal for listing on the National Historic Registry. 'My fifth or sixth grade history project was on the Westfield Canal - so I'm very happy about this,' said Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane. 'I am going to vote for this, but the [Community Preservation funds] can't just be looked at as a maintenance account for these different projects. It's supposed to be for housing, historical, land preservation and recreation,' said Sullivan before the vote. He said designated funds are set aside for each category, and the undesignated funds get spent on these projects. 'Nothing has gone towards housing at all and very little for land preservation; mostly recreational and historical,' Sullivan added. 'I've always been an advocate for land, which is what it was for. Here's my worry a little bit — with our taxes going up, so do our CPA funds. I pay $1,000 a year for it — that's just me. I think we're using it for a lot of different things. With our taxes going up, so will CPA be going up,' said Adams. 'I've heard people aren't always on board. If it's owned by the city, I'm always for it. But if it's a private club; people have come to me to say why am I spending my taxes on a private club,' Adams added. 'People are coming to me to say many things we're spending on, but this particular vote is about $2,000 to finish up the canal thing. We make mistakes bigger than that,' said Mello. 'I approached the chair of the Finance Committee with the exact situation, and he was going to look into his committee discussing that,' said Councilor Cindy Harris. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
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Springfield committee recommends a $300,000 Community Preservation Act grant to Paramount Theater
SPRINGFIELD — Concerns a leaking roof would cause more deterioration to the historic Paramount Theater and Massasoit House convinced members of the Community Preservation Committee to act on a request to help fund repairs. Initially, the application for a $300,000 grant from the new owners of the theater generated a lukewarm interest from the committee, but presentations from applicants and discussions about the requests changed some members' minds, said Robert McCarroll, chairman of the committee. In its Tuesday meeting, the Community Preservation Committee voted to recommend funding for 13 applications totaling $2.5 million. Included on the list was the $300,000 recommendation for the Paramount and Massasoit House, parts of which date to 1843. 'The Paramount (application) was on the top of my list. I think we have to do triage on some of the historic buildings," McCarroll said. 'Clearly we don't want the building to become more deteriorated and water is not a good thing for historic buildings.' In its first round of recommendations, the committee approved funding to help replace multiple roofs, including for a church, for the same reason, he said. This is the eighth year of funding applications since the city voted to accept the Community Preservation Act and place a 1.5% surcharge on city taxes that is used for housing, open space, recreation and historic preservation. The committee, which receives applications and makes funding recommendations, received 35 requests that totaled $8 million. Since the tax generated about $3 million this year, it will have to say no to some of the asks, McCarroll said. The committee still has about $957,000 in remaining funds to recommend. It will continue to prioritize applications in upcoming meetings and hopes to bring all the recommendations to the City Council in June, McCarroll said. The City Council will have the final say in approving the applications. It has only rejected two in the eight years, however, and only because there were legal questions about both, McCarroll said. The Paramount has been closed for more than a decade. Just one storefront in the complex along Main Street is now occupied. The property was purchased nine months ago by Mohan Sachdev, owner of Sachdev Real Estate Development of Suffield, Connecticut, for $750,000 from the New England Farm Workers Council. Owners soon found the council never finished a project to repair the roof so water pours into the interior of the building every time it rains. The cost of the roof repairs alone is $1.2 million. Sachdev could not be reached for comment. 'I was super excited they did approve it. The Paramount is a very important building and one we want to see preserved,' said Erica Swallow, president of the Springfield Preservation Trust. The Springfield Preservation Trust placed the Paramount and Massasoit on its list of most endangered historic resources in August. The committee also approved the Springfield Preservation Trust's application for $300,000 to stabilize the historic building at 7-9 Stockbridge St., which is the second-oldest commercial building in the city. Initial estimates show the trust will need at least $1.2 million to renovate the long-vacant building on Stockbridge Street, but the trust has now commissioned a more in-depth financial study of the building. 'This is critical funding for us,' Swallow said, of the Community Preservation Act funding. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive.
