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Home My WebLink About2024-06-25 ad Hoc - Community Preservation Act Study Committee Minutes �iE(;EIVEG ` TU1NN CLERY � � Town of Reading F �. .�^ ; � ,A Ft � � ,. � r l Meeting Minutes �;j j`' �u1d JU!. i 7 R�li 7: !., 3 �-� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Commi[[ee Date: 2024-06-25 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Pinal Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Joe Carnahan, Vice Chair Sarah Brukilacchio, Carlo Bacci, Margaret Donnelly-Moran (remote), Sandy Matathia, Martha Moore (remote), Associate Member Katie Gallant Members - Not Present: Eric Gaffen Others Present: Town Manager Matt Kraunelis (remote), Tony D'Arezzo, Watatic 1926 (remote) Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde TopiCs Of Discussion: This meeting was held in-person in the Select Board Meeting Room of Town Hall and remotely via Zoom. Chair Joe Carnahan called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm. Roll call attendance: Margaret Donnelly-Moran (remo[e), Martha Moore (remote), Sandy Matathia, Sarah Brukilacchio, Carlo Bacci, ]oe Carnahan, and Katie Gallant. Liaison Reoorts: Martha Moore shared a list of Conservation projec[s that could have been paid for if Reading had CPA in the past, including the Maillet Sommes Morgan MVP project, purchase of Mattera Cabin, Purchase of Grove Street Lot 5, red pine cutting in the Town Porest, and the pavilion at Mattera Gardens; and things that could be paid for with CPA in the future, inclutling renovations to Mattera Cabin, invasive species control on Conservation land, planting trees in [he Town Forest, and purchasing other open space in town for Conservation land. She also consul[ed with all members of the Select 8oard and there were differing opinions as to whether this was a good time to bring CPA to a vote due to the other upmming Killam and Senior Cen[er Projects. There is not unanimous support from the Select Board for an immediate vote. Sarah Brukilacchio shared potential Historical projects that could be funded with CPA, including hiring a part-time archivist, hiring a consWtant to help research and add homes to the historical inventory, helping manage homes under historical preservation restrictions, repairing and improving municipal buildings in the historical inventory, historical cemetery res[orations, and historical marker restorations. vage I 1 Margaret Donnelly-Moran noted that it would be difficWt to name CPA eligible opportunities missed for Affordable Housing, as there has historically not been a lot of money for it. eut future initiatives include: funding a housing needs assessment or housing production plan, any feasibility study or site assessment for affordable housing, pre-development of new affordable housing developments, new affordable housing developments, allow the Housing AuThority to acquire and rehab existing condos or housing as affordable housing, providing emergency rental assistance, creating rental assistance voucher programs to chronically homeless individuals for up to three years, renovating existing affordable housing to protec[ real property, providing opportunities to firs[ time home buyers, funding a part-time position to support affordable housing initiatives, and providing assistance to Reading Housing Authority families with access to various trainings and services. ]oe Carnahan shared the list of past and potential future Recreation CPA eligible projects provided by Eric Gaffen which included: pickleball courts, Birch Meadow Master Plan, Barrows playground, and lighting to existing fields. Mr. Camahan also shared that he started researching the cost of the CPA to residents. He noted that the average house value in Reading is $854,000, according to the Mass Municipal databank, and the average tax bill is about $10,000. Factoring in the $100,000 exemption, that would mean approximatety $44 at 0.5%, or $88 a[ 1%, added to the average tax bill. He looks forward to asking Chase Mack about these topics, and contacting the Town Acmun[ant and Assessor about further data on house values. Discuss standina tooics: what ootential benefits would the CPA offer to the voters of Readina?/What criteria are we usina to decide what to recommend to the voters of Readina?/What surcharne rate and exemotions should Readina voters consider for the CPA?/How and when should the CPA be out to a vote?: The Committee engaged in a lengthy discussion on several topics including: surcharge rates, reporting to the Select Board on timing for a vote, the impact of the Study Committee's charge if they do not recommend going to a vote in November, match distributions and additional matching rounds for communities that adopt a 3% surcharge, getting Town Meeting approval at a Special Town Meeting, getting the question on the ballot via petition, and success rates of petitions. The Committee anticipates having answers aker their next meeting, following the discussion with Chase Mack of the Community Preservation Coalition. Preoare auestions for meetina with Communitv Preservation Coalition reoresentative on Julv 9. 2024: The Committee discussed questions, in addition to the questions already formed at the previous meeting, to ask Chase Mack of the Community Preservation Coalition when he joins at the next meeting: . Can CPA funds be used for a consultant? . What are the amounts of subsequent rounds of matching funds, and what would be the size of the matching funds for a town like Reading? • How early in the process should a ballot committee be engaged? • Did every community that passed CPA have a ballot committee? • Is Natick's camingling of the CPA ballot committee with the study mmmittee something that Reading should imitate? Or something that should be asked of Town Counsel? Discuss how the CPA Studv Committee will answer additional auestions that it must ton5ider Joe Carnahan volunteered [o contact Town staff for home value assessmen[ data. The Committee discussed involvement of a ballot committee and advocacy allowed by the 5[udy Committee. Town Manager Matt Kraunelis stated that he has a memo from Town Counsel that provides guidance on political activity, which he will share with the Committee. Page I � The Committee will continue discussions a[ its next meeting. Discuss future meetinas and aaendas: At the next meeting on July 9°^, Chase Mack from the Community Preservation Coalition will join, and answer questions raised by the Committee. The Committee will also plan the meeting schedule for August, discuss and vote on a recommendation whether to go to ballot in November, discuss how the Committee's charge could evolve if they do not remmmend going to voters this November, and getting in touch with representatives from Community Preservation Study Committees and campaigns in Winchester and Natick. Ms. Brukilacchio also noted that she will speak with Virginia Adams, who was a member of the first CPA 5[udy Committee in 2002, with whom she serves on the Historical Commission, and ask for her materials from the previous election. Discuss and aoorove meetina minutes from June 11, 2024: On a motion by Sandy Matathia, seconded by Carlo Bacci, the ad hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of ]une 11, 2024. Roll call vote: Martha Moore - Yes, Margaret Donnelly-Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Carlo eacci - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes. On a motion by Carlo Bacci, seconded by Sarah Brukilacchio, the ad hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0-0 to adjourn at 9:08 pm. Roll call vote: Martha Moore - Yes, Margaret Donnelly-Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes. vaqe � 3