Yarmouth CPC approves $368,755 transfer for Chase Brook Park, subject to town council sign‑off

The Town of Yarmouth Community Preservation Committee voted Feb. 12 to approve transferring $368,755 from Article 22 of the 2018 annual Town Meeting to fund site improvements at Chase Brook Park, contingent on town council approval.

The vote matters because the money is leftover from a 2018 appropriation and committee members said reallocating it would let the town use the funds across three park parcels for construction and site work rather than letting the remainder sit unused. The committee placed a written condition on the approval: the transfer must be confirmed by town council before funds move.

Committee members spent the bulk of the discussion on two practical questions: whether the conservation‑oriented language in the original 2018 warrant article needs correction for a recreational park, and which town entity will contract for and carry out long‑term maintenance. Several members said town counsel should confirm whether the current warrant language allows using the remaining funds across multiple parcels and for recreation purposes.

Jeff Colby of the Department of Public Works told the committee, “maintenance of town, parcels, and parks falls under DPW,” and said he was not sure which party signs maintenance agreements. Christine Mizegliiano, the committee’s Open Space representative, urged caution and said, “I think this should be deferred then until we hear from town council,” citing confusion over the phrasing that authorizes the Conservation Commission to “assume the care, custody, and control, and management of the property.”

Members discussed the history of the appropriation during the meeting. Committee minutes and discussion recorded at the meeting state that $975,000 was appropriated in 2018 for the acquisition of the parcel (sometimes referred to in discussion as the “275” site); participants said the purchase price was $950,000 and that the town received a separate $400,000 state acquisition grant. Committee members said roughly $368,755 remains from the original Article 22 appropriation and would be targeted for site improvements (sidewalks, access, and related work) across the three parcels if town council concurs.

After discussion, a motion to approve the transfer ‘‘to the CPA Recreation Project B, for Chase Brook Park to transfer $368,755 from Article 22 of the 2018 annual Town Meeting, based upon approval from town council’’ was moved and seconded and carried by voice/roll call vote. The committee’s approval is explicitly contingent on town council concurrence; staff said they would obtain written confirmation from town counsel and forward it to the committee before funds are released.

Votes at a glance - Transfer for Chase Brook Park (CPA Recreation Project B): transfer $368,755 from Article 22 (2018) to site improvements at Chase Brook Park — Approved by the committee, contingent on town council approval. - Memorial plank purchase: committee approved purchasing a commemorative boardwalk plank in memory of Gary for $350 from the committee’s administrative funds — Approved.

Next steps: staff will request written confirmation from town counsel that the proposed reallocation is permitted under the original Article 22 language and will circulate that confirmation to committee members. If town council concurs in writing, the committee’s approval will allow staff to allocate the $368,755 to site improvements at the Chase Brook Park parcels.