Trustees weigh CPC grant potential for outdoor story walk, historical projects and other community ideas

Summary

The trustees discussed Community Preservation Committee (CPC) funding categories and brainstormed possible applications—including a weatherproof story-walk box, commissioning local historical research, and historic plaques or short videos—while noting homeowner permissions and workload concerns; deadlines cited as Jan. 15 and July 15.

Trustees reviewed CPC (and related CIPC) timelines and explored possible grant ideas the library could pursue. Discussion covered CPC categories (historical, recreation/outdoor, housing and unallocated funds) and potential projects that fit recreation or historical aims.

Ideas raised included a permanent, weather-resistant story walk with reusable boxes to hold books along a route; commissioning a local historian or volunteer to write a short history of the town bell and publishing it through the library; placing interpretive plaques at historic houses with owner permission; and short promotional/history videos produced from compiled research. Trustees noted that some CPC funding categories require projects be outdoors and that other pots of money have different eligibility rules.

Trustees expressed concern about the timeline and staff capacity to prepare a January application and emphasized collaboration with town historical groups, the historical society and other partners before submitting. The trustees agreed to bring draft CPC proposals to the January meeting for review and possible submission by the application deadline.