05-18-17 CPC MinutesCITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
COMMITTEE /COMMIS SION
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
Community Preservation Committee
May 18, 2017
Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wendy Pearl — Chair, Marilyn McCrory — Vice - Chair,
Robert Buchsbaum, Nancy Marino, James Matz, Heather
Richter
MEMBERS ABSENT: Thomas Bussone 11, Christy Edwards, and Jon Paddol
OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Maxner — Environmental Planner, Don Preston —
Habitat for Humanity; Aaron Clausen — City Planner; Wes
Slate — City Clerk; Suzanne LaMont — Ward 2 Civic Assoc.
Pearl calls the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Aaron Clausen provides updates on Affordable Housing Trust, noting that the Ordinance was
recently passed by City Council. He explains the newly established Beverly Affordable Housing
Trust board has five members, who include Mayor Michael Cahill, Planning Director Aaron
Clausen, Finance Director Bryant Ayles, Susan Gabriel of Bootstraps, and Richard Dinkin
community at large, and had their first meeting two weeks ago. He notes that many communities
use housing trusts to create ordinances and regulations, hold funding to be allocated for housing
production or preservation, or to produce housing plans. Currently Beverly's Trust contains
approximately $700,000 to $750,000, with Elliott Landing having generated approximately
$550,000, about $150,000 came from the Essex Crossing development (Kelleher pond), with
additional funds coming from Essex Crossing shortly.
Clausen notes that the Trust needs to establish rules and regulations with minimum criteria and
Habitat for Humanity could act on a project or property acquisition with the Trust funding.
Clausen goes on to explain that 2 main programs would be operated out of the Trust: 1.
Grants /Loans or 2. Housing rehab program for loans, for which City Council approval would not
be necessary. In response to Buchsbaum and Marino, Clausen explains, that by statute, the Trust
must utilize CPA funds in the same way /same uses the CPC would and the Trust can provide an
annual report on funds and expenditures to the CPC. Pearl notes that it might be useful for the
CPC to provide feedback on the draft guidelines from a CPA perspective. Clausen agrees.
Discussion ensues as to permanent vs. term restrictions, for which Clausen will get additional
information. McCrory notes that creation of community housing with CPA $$ would require
permanent restriction, with Clausen agreeing to determine if the restriction runs with the land or
the structure.
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May 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes
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Matz arrives at 7:25pm.
Pearl notes that the current Habitat application may be caught in between the CPA process and
the Trust process. Preston explains Habitat's area median income (AMI) projects and
recommends that any CPA money be restricted for projects that are at 60% AMI or lower.
Pearl asks how the Trust would be looking at housing organizations vs developers. Clausen lists
the general criteria for which it would make choices, with Pearl noting that perhaps smaller
projects may need CPA money as they may not be competitive for # of units, funds leveraged etc.
Pearl notes that there are still logistics to work out and suggests that this be tabled until the Trust
gets up and running. Members agree. Clausen will forward the draft guidelines once available
for CPA input, noting that the next meeting is May 30
GAR Hall — Ward 2 Civic Association
Pearl is concerned about the total cost of the project without any matching City Funds. LaMont
said she took several grant possibilities to the Grants Director, but the project was determined
ineligible for one reason or another. Clausen said the City is deeply supportive of the project,
which will have three phases of preservation proposed and funding from the City or other grant
sources will be in the mix later on. Clausen said the challenge for GAR Hall is the ability to
generate revenue.
Discussion ensues as to possible sources of City money to match this project as members do not
see much attention paid to this building. Clausen explains the significant interior investment
made for creation of City offices, noting that this has been on the City's radar and efforts and
funds have been channeled into improving the function of the building.
Discussion ensues as to the proposed budget and if bid document preparation and construction
management is included. LaMont and Clausen agree to gather additional information and costs
in this regard for the next CPC meeting.
City Clerk Archival Project
Pearl said the CPC had questions about the funding request because it was unclear whether or not
this is a multiphase project and whether or not all of the records are at least 100 years old. Slate
said there are thousands of documents and that he would ensure that all CPA funds are used to
restore documents that are at least 100 years old. Slate said the vendor, Kofile, has a physical
limitation for how much materials they have at one time. Slate said he had about $10,000 funded
by the Council to take a second batch of documents and the document inventory was completed
by the Beverly Archives Project though MHC funding. Slate said the vendor would do an
assessment of the materials in most need of preservation. There's a selection process depending
on the funding that is available.
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May 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes
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McCrory said there's no guarantee moving forward that the CPC will fund this request and asked
for a specific list of documents and an update to the budget.
Minutes Approval
McCrory motions to approve meeting minutes from April 27, 2017 as amended. Matz seconds
the motion. The motion carries 6 -0.
Adjournment
Matz makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. Buchsbaum seconds the motion. The motion
carries 6 -0. The meeting adjourns at 9:07 pm.
The next CPC meeting will be held at Beverly City Hall on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 7:00pm.
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May 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes
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