Agenda and Minutes 2011-11-02
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
TIME: 7:00pm
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall)
Contact:
Katharine Baker, Chair, Community Preservation Committee
bakerkg@comcast.net
Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner
slavalley@northamptonma.gov
(413) 587-1263
Agenda
7:00 - Public Comment
7:05 - Chair’s Report
7:10 - Minutes
October 19, 2011
o
7:15 – Continue Funding Recommendations for 2011 Round 2 CPA Applications
Conservation Fund
o
Mineral Hills Bookends
o
CT River Greenway
o
Beaver Brook Bridge
o
Academy of Music Renovations
o
Florence Fields
o
Project Updates
Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published
9:30 - Adjourn
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
November 2, 2011
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street
Members Present: Katharine Baker, Brian Adams, David Drake, Jim Durfer, Bill Breitbart,
Joe DeFazio, Downey Meyer, Fran Volkmann (7:10)
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley, John Frey
Katharine called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Public Comment
Ann-Marie Moggio, Recreation Department, showed the Committee example photos of pavilions,
restrooms and concession stands to follow-up on questions raised at the previous meeting.
The Committee discussed the possibility of budget changes to reflect the different models shown.
Chair’s Report
Katharine stated that a CPA forum will be held November 3 at the Florence Civic Center. She will
provide a background on the CPA and legislative update.
Minutes – October 19, 2011
Katharine suggested that the minutes be changed to note that the gaming bill has not yet passed
the senate, and that the leasing of Florence Fields be clarified to read sold the rights to use the
fields.
David moved to approve the minutes with these changes, seconded by Jim. The motion carried
unanimously.
Continue Funding Recommendations for 2011 Round 2 CPA Applications
The Committee discussed the Round 2 applications.
David spoke in favor of the Academy of Music.
Downey noted that the roof portion of the project and the interior restoration needed to repair
earlier damage are clearly eligible under the CPA, but other work could be considered
maintenance. David suggested that damage resulting from age should also be considered
restoration.
Fran stated that the building suffered from lack of a secure envelope from many years. The
project includes significant fundraising and leveraging from grants.
Bill added that ‘restoration’ seems to include the restoration of the building generally, and that it
is difficult to break that down by individual task.
Jim stated that the project seems to him to be maintenance, with the exception of the roof, and
that the interior of the building is not accessible to much of the community.
The Committee agreed that a general preliminary consensus of funding priority would be most
useful for this meeting, and that final detailed discussions, including the possibility of
bonding, will take place later. Hopefully by the next meeting, announcements about the
PARC and LAND grants will be made. The Committee agreed that final decisions about all
projects should be held off until the next meeting.
There was consensus that the Academy be funded at the full amount requested, with the
requirement that the Mass Cultural Facilities grant also be received.
Fran suggested partial funding for the Beaver Brook Bridge. Downey noted that by the time
damage is visible, it is often too late for repairs. It is the City’s responsibility to repair, or later
remove or replace.
David stated that he feels the repairs are pressing, and noted that opportunities for matching
funds are very limited.
There was consensus that the bridge project be funded at the amount requested.
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November 2, 2011
The Committee discussed the Bookends project.
Fran suggested that the project will be lost if does not receive CPA funds.
Bill noted that the southern bookend does not seem as compelling. Downey stated that the north
parcel is very important, but that the southern parcel will also provide opportunity for road
discontinuance and wetland restoration.
Brian suggested that it seems like it is the only project that cannot wait for a future round.
There was consensus that the Bookends receive funding, and the Committee agreed that a partial
award could be discussed.
The Committee discussed the Greenway application.
Brian noted that in the previous round, the CPC felt the path did not create new connections, and
that does not seem to have changed.
Joe suggested that is a more long-term project than the others being considered this round.
The Committee discussed MassDOT design stages.
Downey noted that it would not make sense to fund the project partially due to the way it is
phased.
Katharine relayed that the Planning Board feels it is a very important project, and strongly
support the path.
The Committee discussed the Conservation Fund.
Downey noted that the Fund has allowed the Commission to pursue many projects, and he would
not like to see it completely empty.
There was consensus that the Fund could be considered for partial funding.
The Committee discussed the possibility of bonding.
Staff provided an overview of funds available, and potential bonding scenarios.
Joe asked how the decision to bond was made for Bean/Allard and Forbes.
David stated that some communities bond extensively, and do not conduct annual funding
rounds. In Northampton, projects have needed to provide overwhelming benefits for bonding
commitments to be made. Florence Fields would be a good candidate because it is a very
popular project and would provide benefits to the community.
The Committee discussed possible partial funding for Florence Fields, noting that public support
for pavilions and playgrounds was not expressed.
Downey noted that good things were heard about ‘complete’ fields with other amenities in other
communities. The Fields would serve a different demographic than other applications that
are proposing high amounts of leveraging.
Bill added that youth sports contain hidden leveraging in time and investments in equipment and
fees.
Katharine suggested that fundraising could also target the community at large.
Jim stated that the same group of parent volunteers takes on the majority of the work related to
coaching and fundraising, and that the demographic does not have the same capacity as an
Academy of Music or similar applicant.
Brian suggested that other funding opportunities exist for some portions of the project.
Jim suggested that the Fields and its amenities are a package, and cannot be separated.
The Committee looked at different bonding scenarios for different funding levels of Florence
Fields.
Staff will provide bonding capacity information, and preliminary draft recommendations prior to
the next meeting.
Project Updates
None
Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published
None
Adjourn
On a motion and second, with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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November 2, 2011