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02-04-16 CPC MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION: Community Preservation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: February 4, 2016 LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, Third Floor City Hall Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Wendy Pearl — Chairperson, Marilyn McCrory — Vice Chair, Heather Richter, James Matz, Jon Paddol MEMBERS ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: The meeting started at 7:02pm. Public Hearing Henry Pizzo, Robert Buchsbaum, Darrien Crimmin (resigning), Thomas Bussone Environmental Planner Amy Maxner, General Audience Aileen O'Rourke Committee members introduced themselves then everyone in the audience introduced themselves. Present were: Councilor David Lang, Councilor Estelle Rand, Emily Flaherty, Christie Edwards, Purchasing Agent David Gelineau, Lance Daly, Habitat for Humanity's Don Preston, Jim Latter, City Clerk Wesley Slate, and Suzie LaMont. Pearl begins with providing a snap shot of CPC funding to date. Since 2012, there have been 2 grant rounds completed, 29 applications submitted, over $2.5M requested, 25 projects funded, over $1.6M CPA funding disbursed /committed, and $220,000 set aside for the open space category. Pearl provides a brief primer on how CPA works: every year the Committee makes decisions on funding CPA projects based upon the CPA Act, the Department of Revenue criteria, and local criteria. Within the Act, the Committee is required to set aside 10% in open space, preservation, and community housing. There is now a decent reserve in the open space category for projects that are time sensitive. Pearl highlights several successful Historic Preservation programs funded by the CPC including: Lynch park carriage house preservation assessment, GAR Hall preservation, and the conservation of city records which have all received funding. City Clerk Slate reports that the Smithsonian museum is using some of Beverly's historic documents to showcase early democracy because the documents were so well preserved thanks to the funding they received from the CPC. Under the Community Housing category, Pearl highlights the Harborlight House which provides housing for the disabled and elderly and how Harborlight was able to leverage the funds they received from the CPC in order to obtain a substantial State grant. CPC also funded the City wide housing plan to understand the housing needs and how CPA funds can help achieve the goals that will be identified in the plan. Paddol goes over the significance recreation has had on his life and childhood and then summarizes some key Recreation projects: Dane Street Beach play structure and ADA accessible chairs, Lynch park bathrooms and play structure. McCrory highlights the acquisition of the Camp Paradise site for day camps and the Greens Hill trail improvement as examples of Open space projects funded by the CPC. Pearl notes that every year the CPC must hold a public hearing in order to discuss CPA needs, possibilities, and resources for Beverly. Basically what are the opportunities for utilizing CPA funding? She notes this is where the Committee asks the public for their ideas and the Committee is generating its own ideas as well by creating a CPA Plan. McCrory goes over the process of drafting a CPA plan. It will build on existing plans including the master plan, the housing plan currently being written as well as a recreation and historic preservation section informed by the Recreation Department and the HDC. This plan will be utilized to identify potential projects and prioritize the projects and will allow for public input as well. Paddol emphasizes the monthly CPC meetings are open to the public. The committee would love to see projects from every neighborhood in Beverly. The presentation has concluded and the meeting is opened up to the public for input: Pearl goes over the DOR eligibility table and the two -step application process. Lance Daly has a question on the pre - application process and how specific it needs to be. He will be applying for the Powder House. A feasibility study has been donated but some details especially cost will not be known by the pre - application deadline. Pearl answers that the pre - application is just a determination of eligibility. In his pre - application he can estimate the costs and state that the numbers will be more refined when the feasibility study is completed. McCrory states he should focus his application as to why this project is eligible for funding according to the eligibility table. Pearl asks if the feasibility study will be in accordance with the Secretary of Interior standards for historic buildings. He replies yes. Maxner notes that when he submits the full application it will require a letter from a City entity (since it is a city -owned building) who will manage the grant. Matz asks what MOU stands for: Memorandum of Understanding. This is the legal agreement that is undertaken with the City. Lang asks if there is a signed agreement for the Ryal Side Obear park pavilion improvements project that was approved for funding. Maxner answers the MOU is currently with Bruce Doig. Lang mentions that the Ryal Side Civic Association plans to submit an application for erosion control measures at Obear park. Lang also notes that many people have commented that it will be a great addition to have working bathrooms at the park. Community Preservation Committee February 4, 2016 Meeting Minutes Page 213 Suzie LaMont would like to see the Ventron property acquired for open space. There was a fire at the property a week ago but the plans to build condos are still moving forward. The developer is putting in a walkway around the perimeter per the Chapter 91 requirements. LaMont would like to apply for some exterior work for GAR Hall for Round 3. It is still pending the feasibility study. Pearl recommends focusing on the exterior envelope and historic features for historic preservation, maybe an emergency stabilization project that could be considered out of cycle or set aside a pot of money ahead of time. The city could fund maintenance projects like fixing the roof. With some city departments located there, it could mean more investment from the City to keep it maintained. An estimate of costs is all that is needed at the pre - application level. Matz asks about the Hale house and Hastings house. Maxner answers that drainage, mitigation and masonry repairs have been done in the first round. The second round will focus on the exterior including clapboard replacement and windows. Hastings house came in with an architectural study in the first round, Maxner will check in with them, it's been at a standstill. Rand would like to see central cemeteries restored. The engineering department may be submitting a pre - application for this. The HDC is making a recommendation to preserve all cemeteries in the CPA plan. Flaherty asks about the Gruppe Mural. The HMA is looking at relocating it from the McDonalds Building. Pearl states that if it is not already on the state registry or national registry of historic places, it would have to go to the BHDC to make a determination of historic significance. For property, it would need to be at least 50 years old to be considered historically significant. LaMont spoke to the artist recently it was painted in the 60's. There is a discussion of where it could be relocated. LaMont thinks it might work in the GAR hall as there is a large empty wall. HMA could put in an application to relocate the Gruppe mural. Preston asks about utilizing CPA funds to access money from the Community housing trust for Habitat for Humanity. They are currently looking at bank -owned properties. CPC could vote to move housing reserve funds to the Community Housing trust to be used immediately. Pearl thinks that Habitat could apply directly for grants from the CPC without having a specific project in mind. Preston will look into this. CPA funds can also be used to fund projects in other towns. Pearl goes over important deadlines for Round 3 2016. She notes the CPC's FYI budget about $800K available minus the 10% set aside in each category. Adjournment Matz makes a motion to adjourn the CPC meeting. McCrory seconds. Motion carries unanimously (5 -0). The February 4, 2016 CPC meeting is adjourned at 8:24pm. Community Preservation Committee February 4, 2016 Meeting Minutes Page 313