HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-09 ad Hoc- Community Preservation Act Study Committee Minutesal
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - committee - Commission - Council:
Committee
Date: 2025-06-09
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
RECEIVED
By AC at 7:35 am, Jul 08, 2025
Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Chair Joe Carnahan, Vice Chair Sarah Brukilacchio (remote), Carlo Bacci
(remote), Margaret Donnelly -Moran, Eric Gaffen, Sandy Matathla, Martha
Moore
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held in -person in the Town Hall Conference Room 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 Brukilacchlo (remote), Carlo Bacci (remote), Martha Moore, Eric
Gaffen, Sandy Matathla, Joe Carnahan. Margaret Donnelly Moran arrived at 7:32 pm.
Conservation/Open Space Pillar Discussion
Martha Moore shared the presentation that she gave to stakeholder committees: Town
Forest Committee, Reading Open Land Trust (ROLT), and Conservation Commission, in
which she outlined the CPA's four pillars, funding sources, timeline for a Town Meeting vote
in spring 2026, and ballot vote in November 2026. She reviewed missed opportunities that
could have qualified, completed projects that could have quallfied, and future projects on
the wish lists of the committees that could qualify for CPA funds.
Ms. Moore noted that at the start of her presentation to each stakeholder committee, they
were resistant to the Idea that CPA could pass. But by the end of her presentation, she felt
that she got buy -in from each group, and they seemed compelled by the argument that
Reading has missed out on as much as $2 million in matching funds from the state.
The Committee reviewed a spreadsheet of donations that the Recreation Division has
received for various projects since 2018. Some other projects, for example the replacement
of a backstop at Barrows, are completed specifically as gifts outside of the Capital Plan and
budget.
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The Committee discussed possible outreach initiatives. While it is too late for the Committee
to host a table at Friends and Family Day this Saturday, Ms. Moore will be at the
Conservation Commission table, and Ms. Brukilacchio will be at the Historical table, and both
plan to speak with attendees about the benefits of CPA. The Committee will plan ahead for
the Fall Street Faire, and start discussing public forums and other educational opportunities
for the community. Ms. Donnelly -Moran shared a draft brochure with CPA information, and
will work on drafting a one -page informational flyer about CPA to distribute to the
community.
The Committee informally discussed a suggested surcharge amount, with most members
favoring 1%, Margaret Donnelly -Moran favoring 1.5%, and Sarah Brukilacchio favoring
1.25%. The consensus was that 1% might have a better chance of passing, given the recent
debt exclusions for the Killam School and ReCAL Senior Center and the potential for an
override in the next few years.
Discuss Future Meetings and Agendas
At the next meeting, the Committee will discuss the creation of a Community Preservation
Committee should the CPA be approved, discuss the outline of the report, discuss the
outreach plan and schedule, and work on a presentation for the upcoming Financial Forums.
Approve Prior Meetina Minutes: May 19, 2025
On a motion by Eric Gaffen, seconded by Sandy Matathia, the Ad Hoc Community
Preservation Act Study Committee voted 7-0 to approve the meeting minutes of
May 19, 2025.
Roll call vote: Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Martha Moore - Yes,
Eric Gaffen - Yes, Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Joe
Carnahan - Yes.
On a motion by Eric Gaffen, seconded by Sandy Matathia, the Ad Hoc Community
Preservation Act Study Committee voted 7-0 to adjourn at 9:15 pm.
Roll call vote: Sarah Brukilacchio - Yes, Carlo Bacci - Yes, Martha Moore - Yes, Eric
Gaffen - Yes, Margaret Donnelly -Moran - Yes, Sandy Matathia - Yes, Joe Carnahan
- Yes.
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