Royalston Open Space Committee

Minutes

Back to List of Minutes

Meeting Date: January 24, 2008
Members Present: Aaron Ellison, Jack Morse, Kim MacPhee, Patti Carrier,
Christine Beckert Long
Chair: Aaron Ellison
Clerk: Christine Beckert Long
Others present: 14 members of the public

The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. at Whitney Hall.

Community Preservation Act: The committee hosted a public meeting about the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and distributed an informational flyer. Aaron gave a brief overview of what the CPA is and how it works and then elicited comments and questions from attendees. Below is a summary.

Suggestions for use of CPA Fund (in chronological order, not prioritized):
* To remove diseased trees along scenic roads and replace with native trees
* To create a South Royalston riverside park
* To develop signage for historical sites
* To rehab the Raymond School for town use
* To expand and link a multiuse trail system
* To repair the cupola on the Historical Society building
* To preserve historic records at the Historical Society and in town hall
* To rehab a dwelling seized for taxes and deed-restrict it as affordable
* To meet a need identified in the town's master plan, capital plan, etc.
* To handle a future problem like the replacement of the heating system at town hall
* To recreate a covered bridge

Questions to be answered:
* Step by step, how is the CPA implemented on tax bills?
* What program does the town currently use to calculate tax bills?
* Is it compatible with available CPA implementation programs?
* Can the 5% administrative portion of the CPA be used to pay for the set-up
(which occurs before any funds are received)?
* Can petition articles force CPA Fund spending?
* Can the CPA Committee be established as an elected body?
* When is the CPA Committee established - at a town meeting following ballot acceptance?
*Can the CPA Fund be used to the research necessary to create a historic district?

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Back to List of Minutes