Above: The CPC is encouraging applications to request CPA funding through the next Annual Town Meeting. (cropped from Town tweet)
If there’s a project you’re hoping voters will approve using Community Preservation Act funds to support next year, the deadline to get the ball rolling is the end of next month.
CPA funds can be used to support projects for historic preservation, outdoor recreation, open space, and community housing:
The Community Preservation Committee shall make recommendations to the Town Meeting for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; for the acquisition, rehabilitation, restoration and preservations of historic resources; for the acquisition, creation and preservation of land for recreational use; for the creation, preservation support of community housing; and for the rehabilitation or restoration of such open space, land for recreational use and community housing that is acquired or created as provided in this section. With respect to community housing, the Community Preservation Committee shall recommend, wherever possible, the reuse of existing buildings, or construction of new buildings on previously developed sites.
[Note: Yesterday, I wrote about a Select Board goal related to the annual CPA surcharge on tax bills. Today, a member clarified they are just “considering” pursuing the increase. You can read the updated post here.]
Before submitting an application, applicants are asked to watch the annual, public forum put on by the Community Preservation Committee — the committee that oversees the CPA funds. Last month, they held the required forum over zoom to allow people to weigh in on how funds should be used or ask questions about the process.*
Potential applicants for most projects, should skip straight to this portion of the YouTube video. But those interested pursuing a Community Housing project will also want to watch the presentation near the beginning of the meeting by Shelly Goehring of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
To allow the group time to vet projects and work through logistical, financial and legal details before bringing proposals to voters, CPC typically requests applications several months before Annual Town Meeting. This year, the deadline is Thursday, August 31st. For the official announcement and application link, click here.
*The CPC meeting was listed on the Town website as cancelled due to lack of quorum. Interestingly, the forum was held and video posted, it was just not considered a CPC meeting (even though the video on the Town’s remote meeting website lists it that way). Due to the lack of quorum, Chair Ben Smith explained to participants that while their guest presenter would be able to answer public questions, the committee members wouldn’t. (At the time, the committee was short on members after an unexpected resignation. One more member was appointed at the July 11th Select Board meeting, allowing them to hold a meeting that night.)
Updated (7/26/23 11:32 am): Based on a comment provided by Select Board member Kathy Cook, I revised my reference to yesterday’s story about the CPA surcharge, which I have also updated.
