TO: Lincoln CPC
FROM: Susie Collins
RE: Minutes of the February, 8, 2005 Lincoln CPC
Attending
John Koenig, Chair, Mary Cancian, Rayna Caplan, Ken Hurd, Peter von Mertens (as a conservation representative) and Susie Collins and Barbara Myles by invitation.
Library Report
Barbara Myles the director of the Library presented new estimates on roof repairs. James McKenna & Sons came in at $461,750 if you include design fees and contingency. The engineering and architectural services for the HVAC unit in the vault comes in at around $24,000. The library would like to ask for both those to be covered by their CPC request. Barbara indicated that they are now ready to go to bid with these estimates.
Administrative Business
a. Old Minutes
The committee reviewed 4 sets of minutes (3/2/04, 11/16/04, 12/6/04, and 1/18/05) and approved them as amended.
b. Board Vacancies
John reports Jim Fleming and John Valpey have submitted their names and will be meeting with the selectmen Feb. 28. This is also the day the CPC will be meeting with the Selectmen.
c. Public Hearing Date
The new date for our public meeting will be March 8, 2005. The date has been submitted to the newspaper.
d. Town Meeting Presentation
John will be out of town for Town Meeting. Mary Cancian graciously agreed to make our presentation at Town Meeting. (Here, here)
Other proposal Updates
a. Brown’s Woods
The committee discussed some questions regarding this proposal. Is the money to go to a brochure or will go towards an effort to create a historical district that would preserve housing in the neighborhood? Would this effort result in a community “standard” which would be an enforceable requirement? We will try to get some of these questions answered after the Brown’s Woods Association meets with the historic commission.
b. Codman Farm Barn
This proposal has been withdrawn by the selectmen who will try to get it repaired with other funding sources.
c. Conservation
Their request still stands at $500,000. Fundraising is going very well. Peter reports that community members have been very supportive of preserving these beautiful properties that are so vital to our open space goals. He explains that the CPC funds are essential to the effort because people are more willing to add their support when they see a bigger chunk of the money has already been raised.
d. Housing
We have some new numbers from BJ Scheff. Total improvements on Sunnyside lots come to $236,259. Plus they would like to ask for funds to be in place to buy down a condo at Minuteman Park to add to our affordable housing stock. So John put their total request at $434,000.
e. Browning Field
Peter reports that conservation had some questions for the group on the riding ring before they sign off on the project. Their questions pertain to parking and materials to be used in the ring and maintenance of the ring. Conservation needs to be sure that the nesting area in the field will not be disturbed. In general conservation is in favor of this project but they need to hear from the group,
Borrowing Funds
To recap our pending proposals:
Housing: $434,000
Conservation $500,000
Library roof $461,750
Library vault $ 18,150
Browning Field $ 16,665
Brown’s Wood $ 10,000
$1,440,565
We have $1,271,081 available to fund projects. One idea to cover the shortfall would be to bond. Bonding the library and conservation projects makes some sense because they are both long –range projects that will benefit townspeople for years to come. Tim Higgins feels bonding is a good option right now because rates are good. Tim feels the town could bond for at least one million because the costs are the same for that amount as for a lesser amount. Of course the town could bond for a lesser amount as well.
Next Meeting:
March 8, 2005, our Public Hearing.
After that meeting the committee will arrange a time to prepare for our Town Meeting Presentation.
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