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2025 MAY 60 AM 8: 8
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study
Committee
Date: 2025-03-24 Tlme: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Joe Carnahan, Vice Chair Sarah Brukilacchio (remote), Eric Gaffen
(remote), Sandy Matathia, Martha Moore; Advisory Member Katie Gallant
(7:34 pm)
Members - Not Present:
Carlo Bacci, Margaret Donnelly -Moran
Others Present:
Community Services Director Jenne Wood (remote), Assistant Town
Manager Jayne Wellman (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.
Call to Order and Welcome
Chair Joe Carnahan called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
Roll call attendance: Sarah Brukilacchio (remote), Eric Gaffen (remote), Sandy Matathia,
Martha Moore, Joe Carnahan.
Katie Gallant joined the meeting remotely at 7:34 pm.
Recreation Pillar Discussion
Recreation Committee Chair Eric Gaffen and Community Services Director Jenna Wood
reviewed CPA eligible Recreation projects that are currently funded through the revolving
fund including field and court maintenance, and capital projects. Ms. Wood explained that
Recreation has not been prioritized very heavily with capital funding, and that regular
maintenance has fallen behind, and several playgrounds and courts are in need of
replacement or repair. She noted projects such as the replacement of the Parker turf field,
and Birch Meadow would benefit from CPA funding. Though Mr. Carnahan later noted that
while CPA funds could be used for certain aspects of field restoration, such as site work,
they cannot be used to purchase the actual turf. Ms. Wood noted that the Recreation
Committee and Recreation staff are very much in favor of CPA. Recreation does receive
$100,000 for capital each year, but It does not go very far.
Martha Moore requested a list of past projects with their costs, as well as the future projects
and estimates, including pickleball, as it may help the argument for adopting CPA. Ms. Wood
also noted that a lot of the sports organizations independently raise funds and donate a lot
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of money for their own projects. Having CPA might also help defray how much those
organizations will need to raise.
The committee discussed the organization and presentation of information related to
recreation facilities and programs in town. Ms. Wood offered to share the field utilization
grid that shows detalled usage of all the fields by various organizations.
Discuss Tewksbury CPA adoption experience with Jayne Wellman
Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman provided an overview of the adoption of the CPA in
Tewksbury in 2006. She explained that the key to success was providing clear information
to voters through brochures, presentations to boards and committees, and outreach to
stakeholder groups. A small group of four people led the effort, conducting 6-8 months of
outreach before the town meeting vote. They carefully considered the surcharge rate and
exclusions, balancing the need for funding with the impact on taxpayers. The group also
emphasized the benefit of receiving a share of registry fees that the town was already
paying into. Ms. Wellman also noted that the CPA has funded numerous projects In
Tewksbury, including Town Hall renovation, trail building, and pond rehabilitation.
The Committee discussed the need to generate slides and posters for November Town
Meeting, and make CPA appealing to Town Meeting members. Past budgets and capital
plans will need to be reviewed for potential funding opportunities. Ms. Brukilacchio
volunteered to contact Mike Bettencourt from Winchester and Ganesh Ramachandran from
Natick for more information on composing the report, and an editable template.
Discuss Future Meetinas and Aaendas
Historical will present their past and potential CPA eligible projects at the next meeting in
May. Conservation will present their CPA eligible projects at the following meeting in June.
The Committee will also continue to discuss the recommended surcharge and exemptions.
The Committee will also review estimated tax impacts based on updated FY25 assessments.
Over the following summer meetings, the Committee will work on generating pictures and
slides to present as a poster session outside of November Town Meeting, and composing the
report.
Approve Prior Meeting Minutes: February 24, 2025
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 February 24, 2025.
Roll call vote: Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Eric Gaffen - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes,
Martha Moore - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
On a motion by Eric Gaffen, seconded by Martha Moore, the Ad Hoc Community
Preservation Act Study Committee voted 5-0-0 to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 pm.
Roll call vote: Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Eric Gaffen - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes,
Martha Moore - Yes, Joe Carnahan - Yes.
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