Transcript Tisbury Community Preservation Committee

Tisbury Community
Preservation Committee
Bob Wheeler, Chairman (Affordable Housing Committee)
Paul Munafo, Co-chairman (At large)
Bob Aldrin (Planning Board)
Kevin Bagely (Conservation Commission)
Trip Barnes (At large)
Marcia Cini (At large)
Judy Federowicz (Historical District Committee)
Dave Ferraguzzi (DPW Parks and Recreation)
Ellen O’Brien (At large)
About Us:
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The Community Preservation Act, which was
signed by Governor Cellucci and Lieutenant Governor
Swift on September 14, 2000. Robert Durand,
Secretary of Environmental Affairs, originally
sponsored the legislation when he was a State
Senator. Mr. Durand championed the law's
enactment. The Community Preservation Act provides
new funding sources which can be used to address
three core community concerns:
Acquisition and preservation of open space
Creation and support of community housing
Acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and
landscapes
Why?
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Over the years, the residents of Tisbury have
many times expressed a desire to preserve the
small-town character of their community. From
continuing efforts at drafting a master by the
Tisbury Planning Board, the goals of preserving
open space, protecting the town’s historical
heritage, and providing recreational areas, while
at the same time retaining the small town
atmosphere of Tisbury, have been repeatedly
affirmed. However, meeting the more pressing
needs of our schools, roads, and public safety
have always made it difficult for the town to
fund such long-term programs.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Tisbury
has adopted the Community Preservation Act.
The act makes it possible for many communities
across the state such as Tisbury to fund longrange proposals aimed at preserving the unique
character of their towns. The revenues
generated by the property tax surcharge, as
well as the matching funds from the state, will
make it possible for the town to look to the
future and to plan accordingly.
What?
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The CPC is in all respects identical
to other appointed town boards,
chartered to hold public meetings,
take minutes and hold public
hearings to establish regulations or
policies.
The committee is responsible for
ensuring that the financial
requirements of the CPA are
maintained. A minimum of 10% of
the annual revenues of the fund
must be spent or set aside for each
of the three core community
concerns. The remaining money can
be allocated for any combination of
the allowed uses or held in an
undesignated account. This gives
each community the opportunity to
determine its priorities, plan for its
future, and have the funds to make
those plans happen.
How?
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The CPC is permitted to
appropriate up to 5% of the funds
for administration and operational
costs, so that the town doesn't have
to bear the cost of administering the
Act. These funds can be used to
hire an administrator, purchase
office supplies and cover the cost of
professional services that may be
needed to properly plan a
project. Any administrative monies
that are not used during that year
are returned to the CPA account.
The committee holds bimonthly
meetings and is actively seeking
suggestions from the residents of
Tisbury for projects which will best
meet the ideals and goals of
the Community Preservation Act.
Who?
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The Community Preservation
Act is a tool for Tisbury to
preserve open space, historic
sites, and affordable housing.
The enabling legislation allows
everyone to exercise control
over local planning decisions.
All decisions are local.
A committee of local people
draw up plans for use of the
funds.
These plans are subject to
local comment and approval.
All projects are required to
be approved at Town Meeting.
You!
Open Space
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Open Space
CPA funds may be
expended for “…the
acquisition, creation,
and preservation of
open space… and for
the rehabilitation or
restoration of such open
space… that is acquired
under the CPA.”
Affordable Housing
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Community Housing
CPA funds may be expended for
“…the creation, preservation,
and support of community
housing and for the
rehabilitation or restoration of
such… community housing that
is acquired or created” under
the Act.
Community housing is defined
to include housing for persons
or families earning up to 100%
of the median income for Dukes
County (which figure is
calculated by the US
Department of Housing and
Urban Development).
Historic Resources
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Historic Preservation
CPA funds may be expended
“…for the acquisition,
preservation, rehabilitation and
restoration of historic
resources…” A historic resource
is defined to include a building,
structure, vessel, or other real
property that is either listed or
eligible for listing on the State
Register of Historic Places; or
determined by the local Historic
Commission to be significant in
the history, archeology,
architecture, or culture including
cultural landscapes) of the
Town.
Recreation
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CPA funds may be expended
on “…the acquisition,
creation, and preservation of
land for recreational use…
and for rehabilitation or
restoration of… land for
recreational use… that is
acquired or created” under
the CPA. Recreational use is
defined as active or passive.
The Act prohibits use of
funds to acquire, create or
preserve land for a stadium,
gymnasium, or similar
structure.
Considerations
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Tisbury CPC Funding Considerations
The project is expected to meet all the legal criteria of the Community Preservation Act.
The project must be well documented and provide sufficient information to be feasible.
The projects should consider the following criteria, however meeting all of the criteria does
not guarantee CPC support for the project.
___ 1)
Does the project have other sources of funding and what percentage of the
total cost is represented by other
funding?
___ 2)
Does the project require urgent attention?
___ 3)
Does the project serve a currently underserved population?
___ 4)
Does the project preserve a threatened resource?
___ 5)
Is the project consistent with existing Tisbury Planning Documents such as the
Master Plan?
___ 6)
Does the project fit within the current or already proposed zoning regulations?
___ 7)
Does the project have a means of support for maintenance and upkeep?
___ 8)
Does the project involve currently owned municipal assets?
___ 9)
Does the project have two other sources of funding?
___ 10)
Does the project have more that two other sources of funding?
Considerations
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11)
Does the project involve two core concerns of the CPA?
12)
Does the project involve all three-core concerns of the CPA?
13)
Does the project have community support?
14)
Does the project have sufficient supporting documentation?
15)
Does the project have support from another Board or Committee?
16)
Does the project provide a positive impact to the community?
17)
Does the project have the support of the majority of immediate
abutters?
___ 18)
Does the project reclaim abandoned or previously developed
lands?
___ 19)
Does the project NOT require special permitting?
(zoning and special permits should be granted or pending prior to approval)
FAQ - 1
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At town meeting, do the Community Preservation Act Proposals require a simple majority or a 2/3 vote to
pass?
CPA proposals need only a simple majority to pass at town meeting.
Is the Community Preservation Committee voted in or appointed?
The CPC must include representatives from the Planning Board, the Historical Commission, the
Conservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Housing Authority. Four additional
members from the community at large may also serve. These members would be appointed by the
Selectmen.
Who chairs the Committee, is that person voted in, appointed, or paid?
The Chair of the Committee would be voted on by the Committee. There is no compensation for this post.
This Committee would be like most of our town committees.
Who chooses the percentage of the surcharge?
The people of Tisbury chose a 3% surcharge.
Will CPA funds hinder getting other grants from the State?
NO! The Community Preservation Act would actually help us to secure other grants from the state.
Do the voters have a say in determining how CPA funds are spent?
Yes! The Committee only has the power to recommend projects. No project can be approved for CPA funds
spend without a town meeting vote.
Is the $100,000.00 exemption common in CPA communities?
Yes, almost all communities that have passed CPA have allowed the exemption of the first $100,000.00 of
your home's assessed value. This reduces the burden on all the tax payers, while still collecting substantial
funds from the state.
What is the history of the communities that already have CPA?
They all love it! CPA has allowed communities to fund projects that would not normally be funded in their
budgets - teacher housing in Nantucket, farm protection in Stow, open space protection in many
communities.
FAQ - 2
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What if the State match disappears?
Tisbury can withdraw from the program completely after 5 years. If the state match drops below a level
that we feel is satisfactory, the town can vote to reduce the surcharge to as little as ½%. This would
reduce the financial burden on all townspeople. That amount is approximately $6.00 per year for the
average homeowner.
Will the CPA money be set aside in a special account?
Yes, the funds are put into 4 separate accounts. One each for the mandatory 10% allocation for Historic
Preservation, Open Space, and Housing. The fourth account would hold the remaining 70% of the funds.
This money can be used in any of these three areas and also Recreation.
Do the schools get funds?
No, not directly. The Community Preservation Act is to fund Historic Preservation, Open Space, Recreation
and Housing. However, here are some examples of how Tisbury COULD have used CPA in the past. You
can see that if the town had been able to use this program, money could have been freed from our budget
process to fund not only the schools, but the fire department, EMTs, or any other town department.
What are some examples of uses for these funds?
Catherine Cornell Theatre Repairs
Water Works Building
Affordable Housing
What if the CPA disappoints us?
The State has committed to match all Community Preservation Act Funds raised at a 100% level. As more
and more communities adopt CPA, there is the possibility that the money raised through the Registry of
Deeds surcharge would begin to diminish. Alternative methods of funding are currently being explored by
the State Legislature. As more communities adopt CPA it gains greater political clout to help maintain the
100% state match.
However, if the rate of state match does drop Tisbury has options: Tisbury may vote to withdraw from the
program after 5 years if we choose. If the program becomes undesirable Tisbury can immediately reduce
the amount put into CPA each year to as little as 1/2% - that means only $6.00 to the average homeowner.
And now for your questions
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Ask and the
members of the
committee
Not necessarily me
Will attempt to
answer
them……………….