Templeton CPC approves $32,000 for updated Open Space and Recreation Plan; committee to seek state grant

The Town of Templeton Community Preservation Committee voted March 12 to appropriate $32,000 from its Community Preservation Act (CPA) open-space reserve to prepare an updated Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Carrie Novak, who identified herself as a Templeton resident and former chair of the Open Space Committee, told the CPC that the town's prior plan (submitted in 2017) had contingent approval and expired in 2024. Novak said a full plan was estimated at $40,000 by regional planners and that the committee is seeking a state grant that can fund up to $25,000. "The request that we are putting forward is $32,000," Novak said, adding that any grant funds awarded would reduce the town's CPA expenditure accordingly.

The request follows notification that the Massachusetts Department of Revenue is projecting a 15.5% base match for the November 2026 first-round CPA trust fund distribution, information staff provided to the committee before the vote. Jessica provided that administrative update to the CPC during the meeting.

Committee members noted the town currently holds sufficient funds in the open-space account to cover the appropriation; members referenced an approximate balance of $120,000 in that account. The draft warrant article presented at the meeting would "appropriate the sum of $32,000 . . . from the CPA open space reserve account" to support the Open Space and Recreation Plan. The article language included a provision that any grant funds received would reduce the CPC's expenditure dollar-for-dollar.

Members discussed consultant options and timeline: the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) was cited as a likely consultant and was estimated in committee discussion to cost about $40,000 for a full plan. Novak said the state grant application window closes April 30, and she will work with town staff to ensure the application is submitted using a business applicant account as required by state systems.

A motion to approve the funding request was made and seconded. After a roll-call vote in which participating members (Louise, George, Dennis, Mike and Joanne) voted in favor, the appropriation passed. The committee recorded a recusal earlier in the roll-call process; the vote on the appropriation was otherwise unanimous among voting members present.

The committee plans to report the grant-application status at Town Meeting; members noted that state grant awards will not be known before Town Meeting. If the state grants funds are awarded, the CPC's net expenditure would be reduced by the award amount. The item will appear on the Town Meeting warrant as written in the committee packet.

The meeting also covered routine business: the committee approved February minutes, reviewed CPA account balances across housing, historic resources and open-space buckets, received updates about a senior center community garden expansion and the library project timetable, and heard that the Conservation Commission is preparing an application to the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance Dam Busters Technical Assistance Program for early-phase dam removal support. The CPC set its next meeting for April 9 at 7 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved its February 12 meeting minutes and approved the $32,000 appropriation from the CPA open-space reserve to fund an updated Open Space and Recreation Plan; the committee also authorized staff to pursue the related state grant application.

Next steps: staff and the presenter will finalize the grant application before the April 30 state deadline and will present progress and any award results at the upcoming Town Meeting.