CPC Minutes
Truro Community Preservation Committee
Minutes of Virtual Meeting
December 3, 2021
Present: Co-chair Mary Rose, Co-chair Jim Summers; Bonnie Brown-Bonse, Anne Greenbaum, Susan Howe, Diane Messinger, Jane Petterson
Co-chair Mary Rose called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
Minutes of 11/12/2021
Jim Summers moved to approve the amended minutes of November 12, 2021. Anne Greenbaum seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
CPA Finances
Town Accountant Trudi Brazil was not able to attend the meeting, so Mary Rogers presented the Projected Revenues for Fiscal Year 2023 and explained the amounts in the Fund Balance, Budgeted Reserve and Open Space Reserve. She presented a list of unexpended project funds that should be returned or repurposed appropriately for new projects. Using all those resources, the total amount of money that is available in FY23 is $1,637,613.26. CPC plans to contact the grantees with unexpended funds from past projects to verify completion or limits of the agreement.
New Applications
There are four Community Housing applications under consideration.
Orleans Cape Cod Five Housing
Rio Sacchetti, Pennrose LCC, Inc. Developer, discussed the Orleans Cape Cod Five Housing request for $100,000. He explained the regional approach, which Pennrose had used for the Village at Nauset Green in Eastham with contributions from other Lower Cape towns. He said the 40B project at 19 West Rd. in Orleans will consist of 52 Affordable and 10 Workforce units. Six units are fully accessible and two units will be planned for visually or hearing impaired. There will also be “visitable” units allowing visitors access into the units and bathrooms. Because much of the space is rehabilitation of the Cape Cod Five offices, not all units will be fully accessible. However, the new construction will have accessibility and visitability. Depending upon the timing of anticipated state funding, construction will start in late 2022 or early 2023.
Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Housing Authority Chair Kevin Grunwald discussed the request of $300,000 for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. There is around $800,000 in the Trust Fund now, mostly from Community Preservation funding but also an allocation from the Town. He said that money in the Trust Fund is not tied to a particular project, but they are always looking for suitable property to purchase. Last year, $50,000 was used for emergency rental assistance related to COVID-19 hardships. That funding will continue as regular emergency assistance. Eventually, the Trust Fund could be used for the Walsh property plan. The Cloverleaf property is receiving Housing Choice funding from the state, but there may be more infrastructure costs such as IA septic systems that the Trust Fund could cover.
Housing Consultant/Technical Assistance
Kevin Grunwald explained the importance of the Housing Consultant/Technical Assistance request. The Housing Authority relies on consultant Leedara Zola for her expertise in RFP’s, planning and housing assessments at a level of knowledge above that of the all-volunteer board. She has been available to help whenever they ask her, and the Housing Authority wishes to continue to the arrangement.
CDP Lower Cape Housing Institute
Community Development Partnership (CDP) Representative Ann Robinson said they were requesting $15,000 to continue the Lower Cape Housing Institute program for another two years. The Institute is meant to educate municipal officials and staff on issues related to affordable housing, The pandemic required the format change to all remote workshops and peer group meetings. Since its inception in 2017, thirty-five people from Truro have attended sessions, and a total of 230 from Lower Cape towns have participated, Ms. Robinson reported. She said anyone can take part, but the program is designed for people making decisions in towns. CPC members suggested more outreach for awareness of the CDP’s offerings. Members of the Walsh Property Planning Committee would benefit. A program on Affordable Accessory Dwelling Units (AADU’s) is something that would be educational and informative for the lay person. Ms. Robinson said to use her e-mail address, found on the grant application, to contact her about receiving the monthly CDP newsletter and other mailings. That link and information on the Housing Institute would be useful in the new Truro E-Newsletter and in the Truro Talks newsletter.
High Head Trails
Truro Conservation Trust President Fred Gaechter further explained the TCT’s application for $78,000 towards the development of trails at the High Head Conservation land, already owned by the Town and state. The two-year project will open up the property to the public and connect one and a half miles of trails from the beach parking area at Rte. 6A to the parking area at Rte. 6. The plan includes installation of educational and instructional signs. Six benches will be placed for scenic vistas. The delineated trails are designed to protect the area while letting people get to places of interest, such as the berry patch. Mr. Gaechter said that studies show that trails with signage keep people and their dogs on the paths. He said bicycles, particularly motorized ones, and ATV’s will not be allowed on the trails. Posts at the trailheads will be installed to restrict ATV access.
Historic Preservation Projects
There are three projects in the category of Historic Preservation.
Historical Commission Study of Memorials
Chuck Steinman, Chair of the Truro Historical Commission, presented the request for $37,500 for a study of memorials for the Payomet People, the original inhabitants of Truro. He identified three sites under consideration for a memorial: Pamet Park, a location near the Highland House Museum, and Corn Hill. A second planning step involves budgeting for a Wampanoag representative to work on policy and as an historian for the Historical Commission’s team which will study other memorials and select criteria for design, based on interviews that include community members as well as designers. The third step is the actual design and funding for the memorial.
Historical Society Funds for Acquisitions of Wampanoag and other Art
Susan Howe and Jim Summers said the Historical Society application focuses on acquisition of Wampanoag art and a wet8 for the Highland House Museum’s permanent collection, Truro artwork, and restoration of an 18th or 19th century loom. The borrowed items for a very popular display on the early Wampanoags have to be returned, so the Historical Society seeks to acquire its own collection. Now that the museum has a climate-controlled space for paintings, they would like to purchase important works that may come up for auction. Restoration of the loom would allow the Society to offer weaving demonstrations. Anne Greenbaum said that the application must state “acquire,” not “create.”
Town Records
Town Clerk Kaci Fullerton explained that the request for $106,000 was for the first phase of a 3-phase project. The Town has received a Community IT grant for $80,000 towards the process. The CPC grant request is meant for digitalizing the Town’s permanent records, prioritizing by the oldest and those in the worst condition. Digitalization will protect the documents and provide access for public records requests.
Mobi Mats & Fencing
Susan Howe said that the Outdoor Recreation request of $40,540 for Mobi Mats and Fencing for three beaches did not need to be amended, as previously discussed, because shipping costs had been included in the cost estimate.
Mini grants
There were four applications for the newly introduced mini grants.
Paddlecraft racks
Ann Courtney, representative from the Beach Advisory Committee, went over the complete version of the paddlecraft rack request of $6,940. She said that the questions posed by CPC had been answered when she and project monitor Anne Greenbaum realized that a page had been missing from the CPC application. The rack locations are Corn Hill, Great Hollow, Cold Storage, and potentially other beaches. Recreation & Beach Director Damion Clements and DPW Director Jarrod Cabral have helped plan for 15 racks to be constructed with materials to withstand water and salt. Each rack will accommodate eight kayaks. The DPW will build, maintain and store the racks at the DPW facility. The Corn Hill racks might be stored at the back end of Corn Hill Beach. There will be signs for rack use and additional, student-made signs about keeping off the dunes. The racks themselves and additional roping will protect the coastal dunes from erosion and grass destruction from watercraft left there.
Edible Forest
Librarian Tricia Ford said that the Edible Forest application for $15,800 was an effort to tie together the teaching garden in back of the Library, the mud kitchen and the path between Sally’s Way and the Library. She and Assistant Librarian Maggie Hanelt have worked on the plan to expand and connect the three areas with the addition of native edible plants, signage and some protected areas for small classes. Diane Messinger suggested the inclusion of edible weeds like dandelions, lamb’s quarters, purslane and wild onions in their selections. Susan Howe said she and Tricia Ford had walked the area and discussed the challenges of accessibility. Tricia Ford said that the downstairs area of the building is fully accessible through use of the elevator inside the building, but they are working on solutions to making the lower entrance accessible from the Sally’s Way side of the building. Right now, anyone who needs access to the outside door of the lower level must call ahead to make arrangements.
Cold Storage Beach Historic Display
Laura English and Ellen English, two of the ten citizens comprising the Pond Village Preservation Committee, were in attendance to discuss their application for historic displays on location at Cold Storage Beach to commemorate the trap fishing industry, the icehouse and the once-vibrant community of Pond Village. The graphic designer’s estimate had increased to $1,000, so the grant request is now $4,632. Chuck Steinman said that the Historic Commission includes tours of Pond Village and has much information they are willing to share for the historical installations. Susan Howe said that the Historical Society has agreed to be the fiscal agent for the citizen’s group.
Payomet Application
The Co-chairs will talk to Kevin Rice from the Payomet Center for the Performing Arts about options for his grant application.
CPC Plan
One section of the 2021 CPC Plan still needs clarification, but the entire plan has been compiled. The Plan subcommittee will seek an explanation of page 29 from Trudi Brazil.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on January 7, 2022, at 4 p.m. Planning for the public hearing and the complete version of the CPC Plan will be on the agenda. Because of the large amount of available money, Anne Greenbaum asked if CPC could offer another round for mini grants. This will also be discussed at the meeting.
Adjournment
Susan Howe moved to adjourn. Anne Greenbaum seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Rogers
Administrative Consultant
The Community Preservation Committee approved these minutes at the meeting held 1/7/2022.
Public Records Material for the meeting of 12/3/2021
- Projected Revenue worksheet for FY2023 CPA funds
- Unexpended funds from previous projects
- Money to Affordable Housing Trust in past 5 years
- FY2023 Applications are on file in the permanent CPC records.