At a recent meeting of the Town of Hubbardston Community Preservation Committee, members reviewed coordination for the library rehabilitation project, confirmed previously approved set‑asides for playground debt and a trail accessibility contribution, and voted to continue a contract stipend for the committee’s clerk.

The committee discussed how invoices for the library rehab should be processed once work begins. A member said library trustees will bring contractor invoices to the town for approval and payment and that the committee will track spending against the sums set aside by town meeting. The committee referenced a total CPC allocation for the library project of $40,710 and said the trustees expect to begin work as early in July as possible after storage items are removed from the library.

Why it matters: CPC dollars are allocated from town meeting votes and typically require coordination between appointed boards (for example, the Board of Library Trustees) and town finance staff to ensure invoices and payments match the approved project scope and funding buckets.

Committee members also reviewed playgound debt set‑asides that were discussed at town meeting and noted those debts are scheduled to retire in fiscal year 2026. Members said the town meeting numbers — including larger CPA set‑asides discussed at the town meeting — matched their records "as best I can tell," and that no further action by the CPC was necessary at the meeting.

The committee confirmed a previously discussed CPC contribution of $10,000 toward an accessible trail project (referred in the meeting as the trail near Mount Jefferson/Naughty Rock area). Members noted the trail work is a multi‑invoice project and described the usual practice: submit each completed contractor invoice for payment rather than advance payments, with the CPC or town accounting tracking the aggregate to avoid exceeding the allocated amount.

On the historic meeting house (formerly a church) the committee discussed next steps for historic preservation funding. A member said state guidance allows a town to form a group to plan restoration and to hire consultants to develop a prioritized scope; the group or an oversight board — not the CPC itself — would typically apply for CPA funds for preservation work. Committee members emphasized that historic preservation is the likely CPA‑eligible use for the meeting house and that other funding or matching sources would be needed.

The committee voted to continue a stipend for a contract clerk who has been preparing minutes and postings. A motion "to continue" the clerk stipend was moved and seconded and carried on a roll call vote; members named during the roll call included Susan Worth, Daniella Raquelian and Margarita Region (each answered "Yes" during the roll call). The committee asked that the stipend and clerk activity be itemized for transparency going forward.

Parks and calendar items: Parks Commissioner Jessica Hall (parks commissioner) told the committee that the parks department will host a "Hubbardston Summer Social" on Aug. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m., with live music (the Green Sisters), a bounce house, food trucks and local vendors. Hall said the committee should avoid scheduling hearings on that date.

Formal actions taken at the meeting included approval of the meeting minutes and the roll‑call approval to continue the clerk stipend. Both measures were approved by vote during the meeting.

Looking ahead, committee members said they will follow up with town accounting about itemized stipend records, coordinate with library trustees on invoice submission, and expect a steering group or oversight board to form to plan the meeting house rehabilitation and to pursue CPA or matching funds where appropriate.

Ending: The committee adjourned after confirming those follow‑ups and scheduling a poll about dates for the committee’s annual meeting later this summer.