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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-07 ad Hoc-Community Preservatin Act Study Committee Minutes Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Page | 1 2016-09-22 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee Date: 2025-07-07 Time: 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, Carlo Bacci (remote 8:07 pm) Margaret Donnelly-Moran, Sandy Matathia, Martha Moore (remote 7:37 pm); Advisory Member Kathryn Gallant Members - Not Present: 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 7:33 pm. Roll call attendance: Katie Gallant (remote), Sandy Matathia, Margaret Donnelly -Moran, Sarah Brukilacchio, Joe Carnahan. Martha Moore joined the meeting remotely at 7:37 pm. Discuss Outreach Plan and Schedule/ Discuss Presentation for Financial Forums/ Discuss the composition process and contents of a report on the merits of the CPA and methods of adoption, including recommended surcharges and exemptions The Committee discussed upcoming outreach opportunities in the community including hosting an informational table at the Fall Street Faire in the fall, presenting a report to Town Meeting in November, and presenting to Town boards and committees. The Committee considered inviting themselves to meetings of relevant boards and committees to educate them about their proposal and solicit feedback, including Affordable Housing Trust Committee, Board of Cemetery Trustees, Board of Library Trustees, Bylaw Committee, Celebration Committee, Climate Advisory Committee, Commissioners of Trust Funds, Community Planning and Development Committee, Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, Finance Committee, Historic District Commission, Historical Commission, Housing Authority, Killam School Building Committee, Permanent Building Committee, Recreation Committee, School Committee, Town Forest Committee, and Trails Committee. The hope is that feedback from boards and committees will help shape the Committee’s surcharge recommendation. Sarah Brukilacchio volunteered to contact board and committee Chairs to ask for time on their upcoming agendas. Page | 2 Carlo Bacci joined the meeting remotely at 8:07 pm. The Committee also considered engaging with community organizations such as Parent Teacher Organizations, sports organizations, and Town Republican and Democratic Committees, but felt engagement with those groups would be more appropriate for a future ballot committee. The Committee discussed content for the presentation and outline for the Community Preservation Act report to the Select Board and Town Meeting including the proposed recommended surcharge and exemptions. They discussed the importance of both the surcharge percentage and reimbursement/match rate, and shared concerns that the match rate has been declining due to lower real estate transfer fees and more communities joining the CPA program. They also discussed the CPA Coalition’s efforts for a bill for the next legislative session to potentially allocate other funds toward CPA. The proposed timeline for delivering the report will begin with engagement with the community and boards and committees early in the fall, and an initial report to Subsequent Town Meeting in November. In December, the Committee will vote on their recommendations following Town Meeting and deliver their report to the Select Board in early January 2026, in time to be included on the Annual Town Meeting warrant in April. Lastly, the Committee reviewed and revised their one-page flyer outlining the benefits of CPA for use at engagement events. Discuss the Creation of a Community Preservation Committee The Committee briefly discussed forming a Community Preservation Committee, which will be needed if adoption of the CPA passes, but agreed that instituting a bylaw before adopting the CPA was presumptuous, and should CPA pass at the ballot in November 2026, there will be plenty of time to establish a bylaw at Annual Town Meeting in April 2027, prior to the start of revenue being collected in July of 2027. Discuss Future Meetings and Agendas The next meeting is scheduled for August 18th, 2025. In addition to the standing agenda items, the Committee will review draft presentation slides, review the list of boards and committees to meet with and divide up who will present to each of them. In the meantime, Sarah Brukilacchio volunteered to sign the Committee up for a table the Fall Street Faire. Approve Prior Meeting Minutes: June 9, 2025 Joe Carnahan shared minor corrections to the draft meeting minutes of June 9, 2025. On a motion by Martha Moore, seconded by Sandy Matathia, the Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0-0 to accept the meeting minutes of June 9, 2025 as amended. Roll call vote: Martha Moore – Yes, Carlo Bacci – Yes, Sandy Matathia – Yes, Margaret Donnelly-Moran – Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio – Yes, Joe Carnahan – Yes. On a motion by Sandy Matathia, seconded by Martha Moore, the Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee voted 6-0-0 to adjourn at 9:32 pm. Roll call vote: Martha Moore – Yes, Carlo Bacci – Yes, Sandy Matathia – Yes, Margaret Donnelly-Moran – Yes, Sarah Brukilacchio – Yes, Joe Carnahan – Yes.