CPC Minutes

Community Preservation Committee

Minutes of Thursday, September 7, 2022

Virtual Meeting

Attending: Gary Sorkin, Chair; Michael Fisher, Rhonda Fowler, Jim McAuliffe, Elaine McIlroy, David Mead-Fox, Janis Plaue, Geraldine Ramer,

Regrets: Fred Streams

Also Attending: Selectboard Liaison Barbara Carboni

Chair Gary Sorkin called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. 

Jan Plaue moved to approve the minutes of August 24, 2022.  Michael Fisher seconded.  Jan Plaue made two amendments to the minutes.  The motion to move the amended minutes carried 8-0.

Finances

Gary Sorkin screen shared a chart of current totals of all CPA funds, according to the Town Accountant.  He said there were questions on the historical fund balance that need to be resolved, but the figures in use for Article 7 are true.  Getting all the CPA funds reconciled is a work in progress.  The Town Accountant will continue to examine the CPA accounts when Special Town Meeting is over.  The CPA money is still a work in progress.

Special Town Meeting

Chair Sorkin explained the changes in Warrant Article #7.  Town Counsel and Bond Counsel agreed upon the more conservative appraisal of the 3-acre lot to be deed restricted for affordable housing.  The CPA total grant figure will be $645,000.  The source of the funds for the outright grant has changed in part from $144,617 to come from the Undesignated Fund Balance to $144,617 from the Budgeted Reserve.  The contribution of $41,417 from the Community Preservation Housing Reserve remains the same. 

The revised Warrant Article 7 for Maurice’s Campground now reads:

Article No. 7 - COMMUNITY PRESERVATION – MAURICE’s CAMPGROUND HOUSING RESTRICTION (2/3 Vote required)

Motion:       I move that the Town vote, pursuant to G.L. Chapter 44B,  to appropriate the sum of $1,050,000 $645,000, to be applied towards the purchase of the site at 80 State Highway known as  Maurice’s Campground identified as Assessors’ Parcel 47-23-0, and being the property described in deeds recorded with the Barnstable Registry of Deeds in Book 2543, Page 214 and the Barnstable Registry District of the Land Court as Certificate of Title 71210, shown as Land Court Plan 23487A, for the purpose of creating, and thereby supporting, the development of Community Housing on at least a 3-acre portion of said site, and to meet this appropriation, the sum of  $41,417 be transferred from the Community Preservation community housing reserve, the sum of $144,617 be transferred  from the Community Preservation Undesignated fund  budgeted reserve and the balance be borrowed from Community Preservation Fund future receipts pursuant to G.L. Chapter 44B, Section 11, and further, that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectboard, be authorized to borrow the balance  in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 7 and Chapter 44B, Section 11 and any other enabling authority, and issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor; provided that the portion of said parcel shall be subject to an affordable housing deed restriction limiting housing on said portion of the parcel to households earning up to 100% of the area median income, adjusted for household size; and provided further, that any amount appropriated hereunder shall reduce the amount to be borrowed under Article 6 of this Special Town Meeting.

Janis Plaue moved to recommend Article 7 to support CPA funding for the deed restriction on 3-acres of land at Maurice’s Campground.  David Mead-Fox seconded.

CPC members discussed the wording, “at least a 3-acre site,” when the CPA grant is specific to 3 acres.  Gary Sorkin said that the intent of the Town is to develop more of the campground for community housing, so the language was broader.  The motion, as it is written, is the legally binding vote.  Inclusion of another phrase indicating, “no contribution more than $125,000 in subsequent years” of debt sevice was now seen as a non-issue since the annual debt is expected to start somewhere in the range of $30,000.

A roll call vote was taken: 

Rhonda Fowler – Aye; Janis Plaue – Aye; James McAuliffe – Aye; Michael Fisher – Aye; Geraldine Ramer – Aye; Elaine McIlroy – Aye; Gary Sorkin – Aye; and David Mead-Fox – Aye.

The motion carried 8-0.

Membership Terms

Fred Streams’ term as Representative from Open Space has been continued until June 30, 2023, and Rhonda Fowler’s term as Recreation Committee Representative was extended until June 30, 2025. Both have been sworn in by the Town Clerk.

Selectboard Code of Conduct for Board/Committee Members

CPC Coordinator Mary Rogers had sent all CPC members the Town of Wellfleet’s Code of Conduct Policy, approved by the Selectboard on August 16, 2022.  She said that At-Large members Janis Plaue and Geraldine Ramer would only receive the one copy.  Representatives from other committees should sign their acknowledgement and return it to the Town Clerk.  The coordinator recommended that they notify her when they have submitted their paperwork. Vice-chair Plaue commented on the sad times that prompted the Selectboard to create codes of decent conduct.

Anticipated Applications for October

Elaine McIlroy said that the Housing Authority plans to apply for $100,000 for the down payment and assistance program again.  If the cottage colony article passes, this would be especially helpful.  Jim McAuliffe said the Historical Commission would be meeting and discussing possibilities for an application.  Mary Rogers said she had heard from the Recreation Department about submitting a request for a replacement awning for the bandstand at the end of the Marina parking lot.  She said that Pennrose LCC would be resubmitting their application for Cape Cod 5 Housing in Orleans.

Project Concerns/Updates

Gary Sorkin announced that the WES playground was complete, and he recommended that everyone go see it when they are at Special Town Meeting on Saturday, September 10^th.

Next Meeting 

The next meeting is scheduled for October 26, 2022.  The new grant applications will be reviewed

Adjournment

Jan Plaue moved to adjourn.  David Mead-Fox seconded, and the motion carried 8-0.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Rogers,

CPC Coordinator