HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-27 ad Hoc - Community Preservation Act Study Committee Minutes0gTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Committee
Date: 2024-08-27
Building:
Reading Town Hall
Address:
16 Lowell Street
Purpose:
General Business
Attendees:
Members - Present:
RECEIVED
By TownC * GPof 1:53 am. Sap 1., 2024
Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study
Time: 7:30 PM
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Chair Joe Carnahan, Vice Chair Sarah Brukilacchio, Margaret Donnelly -Moran
(remote), Sandy Matathia, Martha Moore; Advisory Member Katie Gallant
Members - Not Present:
Carlo Bacci, Eric Gaffen
Others Present:
Laura Stella (remote 7:40 pm)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in-person in the Select Board Meeting Room and remotely via Zoom.
Call to order and welcome
Chair Joe Carnahan called the meeting to order at 7:31 pm.
Roll call attendance: Margaret Donnelly -Moran, Sandy Matathia, Martha Moore, Sarah
Brukilacchio, Joe Carnahan, Katie Gallant.
Liaison reports
Joe Camahan stated that member Eric Gaffen, who could not be present this evening,
reported that he had not yet spoken with Ganesh, the CPA campaign organizer In Natick.
But Mr. Gaffen plans to speak with Ganesh later this week and will let the Committee know
if Ganesh can attend a meeting.
The Committee began to discuss a possible timeline, and reviewed the motion from the
previous meeting that supports adoption of CPA but determines that there is not enough
time for CPA to be considered for the November 2024 election, and states that the Study
Committee will present recommendations to the Select Board at a later time.
The timeline discussion segued into discussion about revising the Charge and clarifying
which election to proceed with recommending. It will be helpful to learn from other
communities in order to set a timeline. Knowing which target election will also help
determine a suggested sunset date for the Study Committee.
The Study Committee discussed whether to sunset upon recommendation to Town Meeting,
so that Study Committee members would be free to engage in a ballot committee without
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having to worry about Open Meeting Law, versus through the election to provide an
independent voice and source of information for third parties.
The Committee came to a consensus on the following revised charge:
The Community Preservation Act Ad Hoc Committee is comprised of 7 voting members, and
one non-voting member, to be appointed by the Select Board, and is charged with
facilitating communications with community leaders, Town Administration, Town Meeting
Members, the Select Board, local community groups, and the statewide Community
Preservation Coalition, to share information regarding the opportunities and challenges
when adopting the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The Committee will study the merits
of the CPA and the various methods for adoption and present its findings to the Select
Board in time to achieve a Town Meeting vote no later than the 1016 Annual Town
Meeting that accommodates the November 3, 2026 state election; said committee to
sunset on May 31, 2026, unless extended.
On a motion by Sandy Matathia, seconded by Sarah Brukilacchio, the ad hoc
Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 5-0-0 to request that the
Select Board amend the charge as presented.
Roll call vote: Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Martha
Moore - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
Mr. Carnahan will send the proposed amended charge to the Select Board and request to
make a brief presentation at one of their upcoming meetings. Members agreed that it
would be beneficial for the Study Committee to be posted and attend the Select Board
meeting when the proposed charge is discussed to show support of their decision.
Discuss future meetinas and aaendas
The next Study Committee meeting is scheduled for September 17th. Future agendas
include hearing from Natick and Winchester campaign representatives, preparing a
presentation to the Select Board, reviewing a list of past budgets and capital expenses that
would have benefitted from CPA funds, and discussing how to engage with and solicit
feedback from other stakeholders in town.
The Study Committee agreed to tentatively schedule a subsequent meeting for October
22"d.
Discuss and approve meeting minutes from July 30. 2024
On a motion by Martha Moore, seconded by Sandy Matathia, the Ad Hoc
Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 5-0-0 to approve the meeting
minutes of July 30, 2024.
Roll call vote: Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Martha
Moore - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
On a motion by Martha Moore, seconded by Margaret Donnelly -Moran, the Ad Hoc
Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 5-0-0 to adjourn at 8:52 pm.
Roll call vote: Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Martha
Moore - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
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