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The Wednesday, September 3 meeting of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) had a relatively brief agenda, focused primarily on reviewing their Community Preservation Plan. That conversation led to several exchanges that will give applicants a sense of what to expect in future CPC application cycles.
1 – More Robust Applications
The committee discussed requiring project applications to have clearly-designated project owners (either departments or individuals) and more specific project timelines and milestones.
2 – Potential Sunset Clauses
The committee has previously discussed this topic, but the idea is to have a cutoff date when the funding expires and must be returned. Certain projects, like the SMILE playground at Haskell Field, or phase two of the Feeley Field renovations were delayed for multiple years. In the case of the SMILE playground, a multi-year delay during years of high inflation and cost escalation meant the town could only complete a portion of the project with the original funding, and the department is now evaluating ways to fund and complete the remainder of the project. Feeley Field may be on the same trajectory, as it has been delayed pending completion of the Fields Needs Assessment. The committee seemed to broadly agree that some sort of sunset clause for each project would be fair and appropriate, with members noting that other communities use sunset clauses. Here’s an example from Harvard.
3 – Stronger Enforcement on Reporting and Close-Outs
While the Planning Department generally receives the required reports from projects that get approved by Town Meeting to proceed, some take some chasing down. A few have slipped through without reporting or closing out the funding and returning it to the CPA fund. One example cited was a cemetery preservation project that has been stalled for approximately two decades, but has not closed out and returned the CPA funding.
The committee also discussed not overreaching into project management of the approved projects. Chair Sherri Cline pointed out that the statute very clearly specifies the duties of the committee, which largely focus on studying the town’s needs, reviewing applications and making recommendations to Town Meeting. Town Meeting has the final vote on any CPC-recommended projects.
While members proposed the above adjustments to either their policies or procedures, certain decisions may require further deliberation, policy development, or formal votes. Formalities aside, applicants can expect more rigorous vetting from the CPC, particularly with regard to project timelines.
The committee will meet again on September 17, at which time they will discuss many of these items, best practices from around Massachusetts, and more, with a representative from the Community Preservation Coalition.