10-20-16 CPC MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
COMMITTEE /COMMISSION: Community Preservation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE: October 20, 2016
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wendy Pearl — Chair, Marilyn McCrory — Vice - Chair,
Thomas Bussone 11, Jon Paddol, James Matz, Nancy
Marino, and Heather Richter
MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Buchsbaum and Christy Edwards
OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner — Environmental Planner; Kristin Carlson,
Harborlight Community Partners
RECORDER: Travis Lovett
Pearl calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Harborlight House Project - Update
Kristin Carlson, Senior Project Manager from Harborlight Community Partners, gives CPC
members an update on Harborlight House construction at 1 Monument Square. The total project
cost was $8.13 million to create 30 housing units for seniors who are 62 years old or older. 25
units are designated for seniors who earn less than $21,000 per year (30% of the median income
for Beverly residents). The other 5 units are designated for seniors who earn up to $34,000 per
year. She notes that seniors have three meals per day, transportation, activities, and cleaning
services available. Maxner asked if there were vacant units when the project shrank from 35
units down to 30 units. Carlson said they wanted to minimize disruption and that they let several
units go vacant in order to make renovations. The interior remodeling was done in six phases in
order to minimize disruptions. Marino asked how many units are completely handicapped
accessible. Carlson said she would have to check and get back to the committee, but she said
there would be a new patio and a ramp for accessibility. They also solved some drainage issues
in the basement.
Carlson thanked Committee members for investing $20,000 of CPA money in the project and she
welcomed the community and Committee members to attend the ribbon cutting on December 1s
(in the late afternoon on site).
Pearl asked about the project costs and Carlson said the hard costs of the project were about $3.2
million in construction. Carlson will check on the affordability restriction term, but believes it is
at least 30 years.
Election of Officers
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Pearl said that officers for the CPC needed to be elected annually and notes that the Ordinance
restricts Chair serving for more than 2 years in a row unless otherwise waived by the Committee.
Several members said the Chair /Vice -Chair partnership is working really well and wanted Pearl
and McCrory to continue serving in their current role if they are willing. Pearl and McCrory state
they are happy to continue unless others would like to serve. Bussone moves to waive the 2 -year
restriction. Seconded by Paddol. The motion carries 7 -0. Richter moves to reelect Pear as Chair
and McCrory as Vice Chair. Bussone seconds the motion and the motion carries 6 -0 (with Pearl
and McCrory abstaining on their respective elections). Pearl asks the committee to re -vote on
the Chair and Vice -Chair roles during the July meeting, to be aligned with the beginning of the
fiscal year.
CPA Plan Updates
Pearl notes the purpose of creating the CPA plan is to make activities transparent to the
community and map out priorities to guide decision making. She notes the Plan still has some
gaps, with Recreation section needs to include a mission, vision, and long -term planning goals
and revisions to the Housing section. Marino said she needs to understand what is needed from
the Recreation Commission. Members discuss other sections of the plan as examples for what
the Recreation section should include. Marino notes the November Recreation Commission
meeting is scheduled for November 3 d and she will work to put something together for the next
CPC meeting. Marino said there are many needs from the recreation department. She wants to
be more proactive with community groups, to engage some of the groups in the neighborhoods
and partner with them.
Bussone said the community housing plan, if appropriate, should also include information about
public housing and the Housing Authority's needs and goals. He believes about 12 to 13 percent
of the housing in Beverly comes under the Authority's umbrella. Members discuss this and agree
that the Authority should provide input to the plan, with Bussone agreeing to work with the
Authority to develop something to bring back to the CPC.
McCrory said the plan should also include an update about the tax rate. Pearl said the plan didn't
acknowledge funded projects to date and suggests adding a table with categories that break down
public investment and private investment in projects.
General discussion ensues regarding public understanding of CPA and what projects have been
funded and how much money is spent and in reserve. Richter said the project champions should
take on promotional responsibilities. McCrory said there can be a regular schedule of public
announcements. Pearl said the CPC web site is really buried in the City's web site. Pearl said
there is a Facebook page and a web site that can be converted to a coalition of aggregate sites.
Pearl asked if city commissions can have a Facebook page. Maxner said the City has a social
media policy and she will forward it, as coordination with the IT and Mayor's office will be
necessary. Discussion ensues as to existing informational materials, including Pearl's
PowerPoint presentations to the Council which all can be added to website/Facebook.
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In response to Marino's questions as to open space vs. recreation funding, general discussion
ensues as to required set asides, general reserve accounts and the definitions of the two
categories per the Statute.
City Council Vote on 3 "d Round Recommendations
Maxner states the City Council approved all of the recommendations within the same evening of
opening its hearing on the appropriations. Richter notes she and Buchsbaum attended and the
only questions from the Council where why no open space or housing projects were in this
round. Richter notes that she and Buchsbaum explained the nature of application process, with
Aaron Clausen providing some background on the complexity and lengthy timeline of housing
projects. She notes that Lance Daily provided a presentation for the Powderhouse.
Draft 4 t " Round CPA Application Timeline
Pearl turns attention to the draft 4 Round Application Schedule as provided by McCrory. She
notes it proposes a public hearing in November and application deadlines for Round 4 CPA
applications in January 2017. General discussion ensues as to timelines for pre - application, full
application and CPC deliberation considering that City Councils takes most of July and all of
August off Members discuss time allowed for applicants to prepare applications, with Bussone
noting that most potential applicants know whether they plan to apply or not and probably won't
need copious amounts of time to prepare proposals.
Members review the annual public hearing timeline and agree to shoot for early December.
Maxner will check on meeting space availability for a public hearing on December 8 with a
preference for the library (Sohier Room or Barnett Gallery).
Other Business
Maxner explains that Allison Crosbie submitted a request for an extension to the MOU for the
HDC's citywide historic resource study. In her letter, Crosbie said an extension has become
necessary due to the delay of surveys of four city properties and asks for an additional 2 months.
McCrory moves to approve an extension, Bussone seconds the motion. The motion is approved
7 -0.
Matz motions to approve the September meeting minutes, Bussone seconds the motion. The
motion is approved 7 -0.
Upcoming CPC Meeting Schedule
The next Community Preservation Committee meeting is scheduled for November 17 at 7:00pm
in the 3 d floor conference room of Beverly City Hall.
Adjournment
Bussone motions to adjourn the meeting. Matz seconds the motion. The motion carries 7 -0.
The meeting is adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
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