Select Board schedules review of town participation in CPA; CPC readies packet of benefits and asks it be included in the board packet
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Summary
A Select Board member placed the town's Community Preservation Act participation on the board's August agenda. The CPC prepared slides showing costs and projects and asked the Select Board to include the packet in its meeting materials so the board's review is informed by the committee's data.
A member of the Select Board placed the town's participation in the Community Preservation Act on the board's August agenda for review, prompting the Community Preservation Committee to assemble an information packet that outlines what CPC funds pay for and the average cost to taxpayers.
Chair Lisa read an email from Selectman Hamilton saying, “The select board has put the CPC on its goals agenda. It has taken no position with respect to the status of the CPA,” and that the board will review participation “in light of the declining reimbursement rates, overall tax burden, administrative costs, and spending priorities.” Lisa asked the committee to put key slides and photos summarizing CPC projects and the average household cost into the Select Board packet for the August discussion.
Committee members broadly supported providing the materials. Several members said materials should emphasize the small average cost per household (slide figures used in the committee forum show roughly $118 per household annually for participation) and the leverage CPC provides by matching local dollars with state distribution and enabling projects that otherwise would not be funded through the operating budget.
The committee agreed to send the packet and request that it be placed in the Select Board meeting materials. Lisa offered to attend the Select Board discussion and said she would coordinate with Vice Chair Kristen about being present; other members said they would follow the meeting as audience members and be prepared to offer clarifying facts if needed. The CPC did a straw poll at the meeting and indicated it wants to continue the town's participation in the CPA; members will prepare materials for town meeting if the Select Board brings a warrant article changing participation to town meeting.
The CPC also approved its annual Community Preservation Coalition membership dues at the meeting.