CPC Minutes
Truro Community Preservation Committee
Minutes of Meeting of December 1, 2017
Truro Town Hall
Present: Co-Chair Deborah McCutcheon, Co-Chair Mary Rose; Maureen Cronin, Peter Herridge, Richard Larkin, Robert Lowe, Rex McKinsey, Jane Petterson, Bonnie Sollog
Co-Chair Deborah McCutcheon called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.
Minutes
Robert Lowe moved to approve the minutes of November 17, 2017. Richard Larkin seconded, and the motion carried 7-0-2.
Richard Larkin moved to approved the order of the agenda. Robert Lowe seconded, and the motion carried 9-0.
Discussion with FY19 Grant Applicants
Highland House Museum Phase 3
Historical Society President Susan Howe & Director Jim Summers had submitted a request for the Highland House Museum Historic Preservation Phase 3 for $272,755. They distributed a report on progress on the museum. They expect Phase 2 to be completed in April,2018. So far, the Historical Society has replaced windows, made structural repairs and foundation, and worked on the construction documents for Phase 3. There will also be a Phase 4, Jim Summers said. The Phase 3 request is to restore the addition on the east end of the building and to prepare for Phase 4.
Deborah McCutcheon asked about money remaining in the grants for Phase 2 and Phase 3 and how much they expected to use. She reminded all the applicants that money was limited for this round of CPA money. Susan Howe said they will be reapplying to the Mass Cultural Council for grant money this year with a hope for funding for Phase 4. Jim Summers explained that the application number was $20,000 over construction figures to cover architect’s expenses.
Mr. Summers and Ms. Howe promised to look at their request figure to see if it could be revised.
Richard Larkin said, as a member of the Historical Society Board, he will be recusing himself from the vote on the request.
Edgewood Farm Historic Restoration Phase 3
Castle Hill Artistic Executive Director Cherie Mittenthal and Managing Director Kathy Pauley explained the request of $215,309 for the third phase of Castle Hill’s Truro Center for the Arts’ historic restoration of the Manuel Corey house, barn and studio. They gave an update on preservation of the three buildings so far. The biggest expense for the next phase is window replacement. There will also be walkways, safe lighting and chimney point work and capping. The preservation has been done with historical accuracy, Ms. Mittenthal said. There is a handicap accessible grant to the barn, but it doesn’t continue to the other buildings.
Deborah McCutcheon asked them to look at their budget to see what is most important for Phase 3 and what might be put into another cycle. Cherie Mittenthal had distributed a list of Castle Hill activities and events open to the public. They also offer scholarships to local children and adults. There is now a Community Garden at Edgewood Farm. There is a residency program now in effect.
Rex McKinsey, who had the assignment to review the request in detail, reported favorably on the restoration and the resource for the community. Castle Hill is awaiting finalization of the Preservation Restriction with the Mass Historical Commission. Cherie Mittenthal invited everyone to a December 15 party honoring Town Manager Rae Ann Palmer and Tarantals.
Great Hollow Beach Extension
Robert Lowe disclosed that he is about to become a member of the TCT. He anticipates that he will be voting on the project.
Truro Conservation Trust President Fred Gaechter, Clerk Meg Royka and DPW Director Jarrod Cabral had asked the Town to co-sponsor this Open Space-Recreation application for $250,000 which would increase the beach at Great Hollow by 267 feet to the north and conserve the upland area. Picnic benches are to be installed in the upland area as passive recreation.
He said this was the first joint project that TCT has had with the Town since the Poor’s Hill project. He said they never know what will be offered in state grants. He said they would not be able to move a purchase to another year, but they would look at the figures.
Mary Rose asked about handicap accessibility on the lower level. Jarrod Cabral said there are no plans for additional parking, and any work would have to go through the conservation area. Fred Gaechter said they will consider this. The parking is underutilized at the present time, so there is no plan to expand the parking area. He said extra parking spaces would stop them from getting a state grant. Mr. Gaechter said they have approximately $100,000 mostly in pledges from last year’s effort. He said their fundraising effort would intensify in the summer months. The Conservation Trust has been collecting donations for the project.
Fred Gaechter discussed the limited state funding that is available. Nick Norman asked about the source of Open Space funds. Richard Wood asked if any data had been collected on usage and parking available at Great Hollow. Jarrod Cabral said he had asked the past and present Beach Directors, who said it typically did not fill up. They can provide exact figures. Fred Gaechter said many walkers use the beach. He also discussed controversies that arise over private property rights at bay beaches.
Payomet Circus Aerial Rigging
Maureen Cronin disclosed that she is a member of the Payomet Board.
Payomet Theater Artistic Director Kevin Rice had submitted an application for $20,000 under Recreation for aerial circus rigging for the Circus Camp at Payomet. He distributed further information on the Circus. Deborah McCutcheon said she and Mr. Rice will discuss if the project is a legal one after the meeting, but he could proceed with his presentation on the circus arts explanation and request. He said they are seeking to install a new rigging as an anchor to their program. The total cost of the rigging is $25,000. Mr. Rice indicated a figure under $20,000 would be helpful. He said they do presentations at the elementary school. Rex McKinsey spoke favorably about circus programs offered by Payomet.
He said they have approximately 2 ½ acres of space at Highland Center, the old Air Force Base. Peter Herridge asked about liability issues. Mr. Rice said they are heavily insured. He said Payomet is a non-profit organization with a lease of the Federal land.
He was asked about any possible cut he could make in the request. He explained Payomet’s overall program.
Condominium Development Study
Highland Affordable Housing President Kathleen Henry had withdrawn the application earlier this week.
Campbell – Purcell Property, Eastham
Pennrose Properties CEO Charlie Adams presented Power Point slides for the plan for 65 rental units to be built on the Campbell-Purcell, Town-owned property off Bracket Rd. in Eastham. His firm had applied for $200,000 from Truro for a regional contribution for the Affordable, Workforce, and handicapped accessible units. There are 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedrom units planned for the 18 buildings. There are no market value units planned for the development for at least thirty years. The buildings are to be clustered around two greens. There is a pocket park on Brackett Rd by the entrance to the area. The RTA will consider moving the bus stop to the entrance park. There is also a community center included in the plan. Walking paths connect the two clusters and lead to Mercantile Main. There will also be a community garden. The Town of Eastham owns the land and Pennrose Properties will have a 99-year lease.
Eastham’s CPC has provided $300,000 and the Town of Eastham has contributed $400,000. They had suggested reaching out to the other towns. For the Affordable units there is a lottery, with a later wait list. There is no lottery for the workforce units. Eastham has 70% local preference for the lottery. HUD has asked if Eastham moved to 65%, they could offer 10% of Cape applicants. The 10% might be of interest to Truro residents. Mr. Adams said they have done a market study of the Cape.
Deborah McCutcheon asked about any reduction in his request. Mr. Adams said it could be dropped to $100,000. They asked about Section 8 subsidies, that have 15- and 20-year contract. There would be 5 units of these. He said the Local Comprehensive Plan states that the Town would support regional community housing. He and members of the CPC discussed getting credit for Affordable Housing and costs of units.
Carl Brotman, Chair of the Truro Affordable Housing Committee, discussed cross funding for regional efforts. He said that the Cloverleaf property will have Affordable Housing coming back to CPC for the next round of grants. Maureen Cronin said that she had learned at the recent CDP Housing Institute that there could be a waiver from the state that would allow more Truro residents to be included in the lottery. She wanted to know how this might be implemented. Mr. Adams said it is a Fair Housing issue; the local preference is always given to the town the project is in.
Existing Project Concerns
Jim Summers asked about use of remaining money from a 2010 application for project protecting Historical Society archives.
Deborah McCutcheon moved to release the remaining funds from the Fiscal Year 2011 grant to the Historical Society to use it for the protection of additional artifacts held by the Historical Society. Mary Rose seconded and the motion carried 9-0.
Jim Summers will submit a written request for use of remaining money in a grant for restoration of the Cobb Library.
Maureen Cronin will send the update of Habitat construction at Route 6, and Mary Rogers will forward the information to the rest of the committee.
Agenda for Next Meeting
At the December 8, 2018 meeting, the Committee will discuss financial options and make plans for the public hearing to be held in January 9 at Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Truro Public Library. The vote will be held at a meeting on January 12, 2018 at 4:15 at Town Hall.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Mary Rogers, CPC Administrative Consultant
Public Records Material of 12/1/17
- Progress report on Highland House Museum
- Castle Hill’s list of community outreach
- Payomet Circus materials
The Community Preservation Committee approved these minutes at the meeting held December 8,m 2017.