Agenda and Minutes 2012-01-18
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 2012
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
January 4, 2011
7:15 – Q&A for Applicants
7:30 –Round 1 2012 Eligibility Forms
Discussion of Eligibility - Preserving Affordable Housing Legal Defense Project
7:50 – Review and Approve Changes to By-Laws and Rules of Procedure
8:00 – Continue discussion of Assessment Steps for Funding Allocation
8:10 – Contracts – Round 2 2011 Projects
8:40 – Community Preservation Coalition Dues
8:45 - Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published
8:50 – Adjourn
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/
Next Meeting: February 15, 2012
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
January 18, 2012
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street
Members Present: Katharine Baker, Jim Durfer, Brian Adams, David Drake, Joe DeFazio,
Marlene Morin, Dave Rothstein
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley
Katharine called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Chair’s Report
Katharine informed the Committee that the Florence Fields PARC grant was successful, so the
amount of CPA bonding for the project will be reduced.
Katharine stated that Agawam also just approved a recreational project similar to Florence Fields.
Minutes – January 4, 2012
David moved to approve the minutes with clarifications, seconded by Brian. The motion carried
unanimously.
Q&A for Applicants
No discussion
Round 1 2012 Eligibility Forms
Discussion of Eligibility - Preserving Affordable Housing Legal Defense Project
o
Faye Recklin, Community Legal Aid, discussed the Eviction Defense eligibility form and proposed
project, which Katharine and staff referred to the full Committee for discussion.
Community Legal Aid used to be known as Western Mass Legal Services, and then merged with
Legal Assistance of Central Mass. The organization provides legal assistance to those in need.
CPA funds are being requested to help those with subsidies stay in their homes when facing
eviction, through support of an eviction defense program. This will assist both tenants
renting market rate units with vouchers, and those in restricted affordable units. The CPA
funded portion will focus on those with subsidies within Northampton.
Faye noted that the CPC Plan references tenancy preservation as a potential activity, as well as
funding to nonprofits to support affordable housing programs.
Katharine stated that staff asked the Community Preservation Coalition about the project, and
they indicated that the CPC should consider whether the project will be support or
preservation. It could be considered preservation if units will be lost if tenants are evicted,
but support would include support for units, not for individuals.
Faye stated that if a tenant with a mobile voucher is evicted, the unit could be lost, but tenants in
public housing would not take the unit’s affordability with them.
The Committee discussed eligibility of the project. Sarah noted that eligibility is determined early
in the application process so that questions do not come up during the application review or
once under review by City Council.
Marlene stated that it seems eligible, and also like a good project she hoped the City could be
willing to fund.
Dave stated that while preservation of existing units seems eligible, but working directly with
applicants may not be.
The Committee discussed the similarities and differences between this application and past
supplications for staff support that were found to be ineligible.
Jim moved to determine eligibility of the project at the meeting, seconded by Joe. Brian stated
that he would need more information about the project to make a decision. Jim withdrew his
motion.
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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January 18, 2012
Brian moved to submit the eligibility form to the City Solicitor for an opinion, seconded by Jim.
The motion carried unanimously.
The Committee reviewed the other e-forms submitted, which were all determined by Sarah and
Katharine to be eligible.
Review and Approve Changes to By-Laws and Rules of Procedure
The Committee agreed to table discussion of the bylaws and rules of procedure. An opinion from
the solicitor regarding ‘majority’ as applied to the CPC and defined in the enabling legislation
will be obtained by staff, to ensure that a conflicting definition is not unintentionally created
in the bylaws.
Continue discussion of Assessment Steps for Funding Allocation
The Committee agreed on the funding allocation steps, which will be used by the CPC during
decisionmaking for funding amounts, to create a more standard process. The Committee also
agreed that conditions for projects should be thought about by individual members during the
entire application review, to have ready for discussion when council resolutions are
developed.
Contracts – Round 2 2011 Projects
The Committee agreed that ‘grantor’ and ‘grantee’ are more appropriate terms for CPA contracts
than vendor and owner.
Jim moved to approve the Florence Fields MOA as prepared by staff, seconded by Joe. The
motion carried unanimously.
Marlene asked about prior discussions for Mineral Hills about some of the land being sold for
development. Sarah stated that was an option if the LAND grant was not received, but is not
needed as full funding was awarded.
Jim moved to approve the Mineral Hills MOU as prepared by staff, seconded by David. The
motion carried unanimously.
David moved to approve the Academy of Music contract as prepared by staff, seconded by Brian.
The motion carried unanimously.
Community Preservation Coalition Dues
Brian moved to pay the Coalition dues out of administrative funds, seconded by Joe. The motion
carried unanimously.
Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published
None
Adjourn
On a motion and second, with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55PM
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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January 18, 2012