Agenda and Minutes 2013-06-19
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Community Preservation Committee
DATE: Wednesday, June 19 , 20 1 3
TIME: 7:0 0pm
PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall)
Contact :
Downey Meyer , Chair, Community Preservation Committee
downeymeyer@gmail.com
Sarah LaValley , Community Preservation Planner
slavalley@northamptonma.gov
( 413) 587 - 1263
Agenda (Amended)
General Public Comment
Minutes
April 3, 2013
May 1, 2013
Chair’s Report
Request for Expedited Review, CT River Greenway
Administrative Fund Spending Request
Set Round 2 Application Round and Summer Schedule s
Discu ss ‘Small Projects’ Procedures
Review and Approve Christopher Heights MOU
Sign Previously Approved Contracts and MOU
Adjourn
For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website:
http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/
Community Preservation Committee Minutes
June 19 , 201 3
Time: 7:0 0 pm
Place: Cit y Council Chambers, 212 Main Street
Memb ers Present: Downey Meyer, Bill Breitbart , David Drake , Marlene Morin, Dave
Rothstein
Staff Present: Sarah LaValley
Downey ca lled t h e meeting to order at 7 : 37 PM.
General Public Comment
Nora Blake, President of Northampton Youth and Community Rowing, expressed the group’s
support for additional funds for the Connecticut River Greenway. This will allow essential
project elements to b e completed, as bids received were hig her than expected. The groups
committed fundraising for this portion of the project is already complete and the amount
raised provided to the City.
Request for Expedited Review, CT River Greenway
Wayne Feiden, Direc tor of Planning and Sustainability, stated that the City closed on the
property, and that Lane will be providing utility connections when the site is developed. The
constructi on contract is signed, but the b ad news is that bids came in much higher than
an ticipated, and some items had to be cut from the budget. Some of these were wish - list add -
ons that were included of bids returned low. Others were essential items that would make the
project work better and save money later. A construction schedule hasn ’t yet been provided,
but its anticipated that it will be a 90 - day process. City Council approval will be needed this
summer to be able to include these additional items in the work.
Bill asked about removal of some of the wetlands mitigation. Wayne stat ed that all wetlands
mitigation will be required before a certificate of compliance can be issued, but can be phased
if necessary since not all site work is being done now.
Downey asked if there is any assurance that the contractor will be able to add the items to the
contract at the costs shown. Wayne replied that the estimates were provided as add - ons to
the RFP and were also included in the contractor’s bid.
Downey asked about the change in the parking lot that may not meet zoning requirements.
Wayne r eplied that in order to be determined a parking lot, it would need to be paved, but
may not need to be if it were only an overflow lot. Wetlands review would not be required
since this is outside the jurisdictional area.
David asked about any planned chan ges in accessibility. Wayne replied that none are planned,
but the pavement will be thinner and could break up sooner . Access to the dock itself will be
accessible, but the grade will fluctuate with changes in water levels. Programs are not yet
known.
D ave expressed concern about items being removed, since the project was already approved by
the CPC and approved by Council. Wayne stated that the many of the items dropped were
add - alternatives, but none were discussed specifically by the CPC. However, r emoval of some
items from the project scope will necessitate additional work later.
Dave asked for a breakdown of cost and priority of the items removed. Wayne will add these to
the application if expedited review is approved.
Bill noted that the timing o f construction is a negative impact of not reviewing under the
expedited timeframe. David added that expedited review is required to be successful at this
phase of the project.
Marlene asked if project amendments have ever been discussed as expedited revi ews. Sarah
noted that any additional funding allocation would require approval by City Council. Wayne
added that the construction contract has been approved at $696,000; a contract cannot be
executed without available funds.
David moved to approve expedi ted review of the project. Seconded by Dave, the motion carried
unanimously.
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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June 19, 2013
The Committee agreed that July 10 will be the next meeting date, to allow for a possible late file
for the July 11 City Council meeting and a second reading in August.
The Comm ittee requested that the application include:
A list of items that will not be able to be completed if additional funds are not awarded, including
a cost for each item, and projected cost if each is completed at a later phase of the project
An explanation of the reductions necessary to achieve the reduced scope (ie, what are the
differences between the planned walkway and what would be constructed with less funds)
The portions of the wetlands mitigation that are proposed to be removed from this phase
Projec ted differences in future repair and maintenance costs between full and reduced scopes.
Chair’s Report
Downey noted that there is a perception that CPA funded the planned boathouse, but that is not
correct, and suggested that he prepare a letter to the ed itor . The Comm i ttee supported the
idea, and agreed it should be sent following the override vote.
Administrative Fund Spending Request
Sarah asked that the CPC consider approval of spending on administrative funds on a new staff
laptop, as her current l aptop is five years old and no longer is reliable for all uses and has had
several parts replaced and upgraded. The existing laptop will be provided to preservation planner
John Frey for use.
Marlene suggested that there are other areas that the Committee could better spend
administrative funds on, including hiring a consultant for the CPC plan. Downey noted that very
few administrative funds are spent each year. Dave stated that reliable computers are important
for CPC business. Marlene moved to approv e administrative fund expenditure of up to $1,200 for
a staff laptop. Seconded by Dave, the motion carried unanimously.
Review and Approve Christopher Heights MOU
Dave moved to table discussion until the next meeting. Seconded by Bill, the motion carrie d
unanimously.
Minutes April 3, 2013 , May 1, 2013
Bill moved to approve both sets of minutes with revisions proposed by Dave. Seconded by Dave,
the motion carried unanimously.
Adjourn
On a motion and second, with unanimous vote , the meetin g was adjourn ed at 8 : 37 PM
Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes
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June 19, 2013