HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-19 ad Hoc - Community Preservation Act Study Committee Minutesox o Kt:
Meeting Minutes Rr CLERK
TORN MA
�r. R '
.,, (�q1A i pM It 34
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: I S
Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study
Committee
Date: 2025-05-19
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Time: 7:30 PM
Location:
Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Open Session
Version:
Final
Chair Joe Carnahan, Vice Chair Sarah Brukilacchio, Margaret Donnelly -
Moran, Sandy Matathla, Martha Moore
Members - Not Present:
Carlo Bacci, Eric Gaffen
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in -person in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room and remotely
via Zoom.
Call to Order and Welcome
Chair Joe Carnahan called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
Historical Pillar Discussion
Sarah Brukilacchio presented an overview of the Historical Commission's work and potential
uses for CPA funds in Reading. She highlighted town -owned historic buildings that could
benefit from preservation efforts, including Town Hall, Joshua Eaton School, Parker Middle
School, Library, Senior Center, and Laurel Hill Cemetery. She highlighted preservation
needs, and how CPA funds could support archival work, historical markers, a website for
public access to the archives, educational outreach, adaptive reuse of historical buildings,
and restoration of historic properties. She also mentioned the possibility of acquiring new
historical properties and noted past projects that could have been funded by CPA, such as
the Parker Middle School roof replacement, Joshua Eaton clock repairs, Library slate roof,
handicapped accessibility for the Senior Center, and Cemetery wall repairs. Funds could also
be used to preserve private, non-profit historic properties such as the Parker Tavern, Old
South Church, and the Hose House.
Joe Carnahan reviewed projects from the Town's Capital Plan from the past ten years,
totaling over $10 million in taxpayer -funded, CPA -eligible capital projects, and noted
significant delays In implementation for Recreation projects. He noted that many
recreational facilities, such as tennis courts and baseball backstops, have been repeatedly
postponed, with about $1 million worth of projects being overdue. He also noted that the
Gage I 1
current capital plan Includes over $4 million in potential CPA -funded projects, and
highlighted the need for better prioritization and execution of recreational improvements.
The Committee also discussed the Grove Street lot acquisition, and Malllet Sommes Morgan
conservation project. The Town had the opportunity to purchase five lots adjacent to the
Town Forest and Meadow Brook Golf Club, but due to the high cost, opted to purchase just
one of the five lots, which now serves as parking for and an entrance to Town Forest. Had
CPA funds been available, the Town might have been able to purchase the five lots. The
completed Maillet Sommes Morgan project, which was largely funded by grants, with $1
million paid by the Town, has greatly Improved the appeal and accessibility of the area. CPA
funds could be used to improve other areas in town in a similar fashion.
The recent debt exclusion votes for the Killam School and Reading Center for Active Living
(ReCAL)/Senior Center both passed. The average impact on annual tax bills is around
$1,000. The pickleball article also narrowly passed at Town Meeting, only because explicit
allowances were included to recuperate the expense of constructing them. One Town
Meeting member suggested holding off on approving pickleball until CPA could be adopted,
and CPA funds could be used to build the courts.
The Committee discussed the composition or their report, which will be presented to the
Select Board, then to Town Meeting in November, and decided to use templates from other
communities as a starting point and adapt them for Reading. They plan to compile content,
Including text and pictures, for each pillar of the CPA.
They also considered participating In upcoming town events, such as the Fall Street Fair, to
provide information about CPA, and agreed to add "outreach events" as an agenda item for
future meetings to better plan their public engagement efforts. Margaret Donnelly -Moran
volunteered to create a one -page brochure or flyer of general information on "What is
CPA?", that can be posted online and shared at outreach events. She also volunteered to
manage the software for the report.
Discuss Future Meetings and Agendas
At the next meeting on June 9'h, the Committee will hear a presentation from Martha Moore
on the Open Space/Conservation pillar, discuss outreach events and opportunities, discuss
the composition of the report to the Select Board and Town Meeting, and continue to
discuss Recreation donations and expenses. The Committee also scheduled meetings for
July 7", and August 18'h.
Approve Prior Meeting Minutes: March 24, 2025
On a motion by Martha Moore, seconded by Sandy Matathia, the Ad Hoc
Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 5-0 to approve the meeting
minutes of March 24, 2025.
On a motion by Sandy Matathia, seconded by Martha Moore, the Ad Hoc
Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 5-0 to adjourn at 9:03 pm.
Page 19