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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-17 ad Hoc - Community Preservation Act Study Committee Minutes�y r Town of Reading �a � i Meeting Minutes ' JP:IMOP Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Committee Date: 2024-09-17 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: RECEIVED sy Town QwR GP 0714— 002l, ag" 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 Brukllacchlo (remote), Margaret Donnelly -Moran (remote), Eric Gaffen, Sandy Matathia, Martha Moore Members - Not Present: Carlo Baca, Advisory Member Katie Gallant Others Present: 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. Welcome and Introduction Chair Joe Carnahan called the meeting to order and reviewed the evening's agenda. The Study Committee has been invited to present to the Select Board at their meeting on September 24. Discuss Select Board Presentation Mr. Carnahan shared the slides he drafted to be presented to the Select Board requesting to extend the Study Committee's charge. The Committee reviewed them and agreed with some minor edits. They also discussed additional talking points when presenting to the Select Board including clarifying that the Study Committee is not a ballot committee, explaining that there was insufficient time to formulate a proposal and obtain approval via petition or Town Meeting vote to submit for the November ballot, and noting that the Committee is not making recommendations on exemptions and surcharges at this time. (Final slides appended to these minutes] Approve Prior Meeting Minutes On a motion by Eric Gaffen, seconded by Martha Moore, the Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of August 27, 2024 as written. Roll call vote: Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Martha Moore - Yes, Eric Gaffen - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes. On a motion by Eric Gaffen, seconded by Sandy Matathia, the Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0-0 to adjourn at 7:50 pm. Page 1 1 Roll call vote: Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Martha Moore - Yes, Eric Gaffen - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes. Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee • Composed of representatives from Select Board, Finance Committee, Conservation Commission, Recreation Committee, Historical Commission, and Housing Authority, plus one resident appointed by Select Board • First met May 29, 2024 • Met every two weeks through July, then monthly • Questions the Committee is considering: o What potential benefits would the CPA offer to the voters of Reading? o What criteria are we using to decide what to recommend to the voters of Reading? o What surcharge rate and exemptions should Reading voters consider for CPA? o How and when should the CPA be put to a vote? Information gathered so far... • Collected examples of projects that could have been funded or that could yet be funded via the CPA • Computed estimates for revenue, state match, and taxpayer impact with different rates and exceptions • Consulted with the Community Preservation Coalition (communitypreservation.org) • Looked at peer communities that have considered CPA • Learned about the process for adoption: • Reaches the ballot either via Town Meeting or petition • Usually supported (and sometimes sifpposed) by a ballot question committee • Must be considered at a regularly scheduled state or town election • More likely to be approved at higher -turnout state elections but there is not enough time! • Would have required a sprint to get a ballot question drafted and onto the ballot by beginning of September • Committee has not had time to research these questions itself, let alone to draw conclusions or share recommendations with Select Board • Voted unanimously (7-0-0) on July 30: o "to strongly support adopting the CPA in Reading. Based on data received and discussion, the Study Committee has determined that there is not enough time for the CPA to be considered for the November 2024 election and should be considered for a future election." • "future election" is TBD o Recommendation from Community Preservation Coalition was November 2026 • Not yet had a chance to review records from the last CPA attempt (Sarah Brukilacchio) Requested changes 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 "ee 4wmerits of the CPA and the various methods for adoption and present its findings to the Select Board in time to achieve a townwWeTown Meeting vote no later than 41 - the Wevle"949 X2026 2424 eleatian Annual Town Meeting , that accommodates the November 3, 2026 state election tkli a_88 «8@l0W8 OF G 2024 eleaiia.- ;said committee to sunset on May Beeembef.31, 2026-202+, unless extended. Requested result 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 2026 Annual Town Meeting that accommodates the November 3, 2026 state election; said committee to sunset on May 31, 2026, unless extended.