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Commission hears updates on state survey work, CLG status and potential CPC projects
Summary
Staff reported progress on Powell surveys funded by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, a planned RFQ for fiscal 2023 survey work, and potential uses of Community Preservation Committee funds for town historic resources; the commission agreed to keep CPC items and surveys on the agenda.
Town staff updated the commission on multiple preservation planning items: Powell (consultant) is revising fiscal 2022 survey batches after receiving commission and Massachusetts Historical Commission comments; an RFQ for fiscal 2023 survey work is in procurement and staff expects to post it next month.
Staff said the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) could be a possible funding source for protecting town‑owned historic objects and that the commission could propose projects (for example, meridian stone protection or other small town‑owned resource repairs) for the September application cycle. Staff also noted that the registrar of deeds has independent funding for digitizing deeds and that coordination would be explored rather than duplicating funding.
On Certified Local Government (CLG) matters, the commission has a memorandum of understanding awaiting town council review; staff and commission leadership planned to raise the item with the HDC chair and town manager as part of follow‑up. Staff reported that the state CLG contact had left MHC for private consulting; the new point of contact at the state was not yet identified.
The commission discussed ongoing projects including survey mapping in Brant Point and Fish Lots, and a Community Wind Fund grant tied to recording town‑owned resources. Staff said Powell will tie academic summer work into the reconnaissance survey for an extensive area that could include several hundred properties. The commission agreed to keep the CPC, survey RFQ and CLG MOU as recurring agenda items.
Staff also reported involvement in a NOAA/COASTAL grant advisory group looking at shipwrecks and coastal cultural resources mapping; that project will produce GIS overlays that other communities could use for resiliency and cultural resource planning.
No formal votes were taken on funding at this meeting; staff will return with timelines, RFQ posting dates and procurement steps.
