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Minutes
Lincoln Community Preservation Committee
Dec 9, 2008
Present: Susie Collins, Craig Donaldson, Pam Gallup, John Koenig, Colin Smith, Bill Stason, John Valpey, Peter von Mertens, Bryce Wolf
Absent: None
The Committee approved the minutes from its October 28, 2008 meeting.
The Committee first heard from Jeanne Bracken and Susan Brooks with respect to 2010-06 - preservation of the Eleazer Brooks Scrapbook, and was treated with a view of the actual scrapbook, which was certainly impressive. The funding request has been increased to $5,925, which does not include scanning scrapbook. The Committee asked Ms. Bracken if it was possible to get a price on scanning the scrapbook so that the copies could be made available to the public and she agreed to contact the restorers to get a price in time for our next meeting.
The Committee then heard from Peter Sugar and Barbara Myles with respect to 2010-01 - Library Fire Suppression System. The Committee noted what appeared to be a conflict with respect to Option 1, providing $25,000 for Attic Insulation, which would protect a fire sprinkler system from freezing, and $44,450 for a dry sprinkler system in the attic.
The Committee then heard from Sarah Andrysiak with respect to 2010-04 - Codman Farms 18th century barn restoration. The pool of applicants for the NTHP grant has been reduced to 50, and will be further reduced to 20 in mid-December. The $100,000 grant, if awarded, would be used for foundation work, and the CPA funds would be used for restoration work above the foundation. Even though the two projects are separate, the NTHP requires that the entire project be funded. If the NTHP grant does not go through, CCF would use the CPA funds for work on other barns. CCF has had three facilities studies, all of which listed this foundation work as highest priority. The Historic Commission would not write a letter supporting this project as it viewed the project as in competition
for CPA funds with grant requests from the Commission.
The Committee then heard from Pam Gallup with respect to 2010-07 - Housing Policy and Procedure Manual. The amount needed to fund this project has been reduced to $4,000, based on a quote from a consultant at $90/hour. The Housing Commission has asked other towns for copies of their manuals, but has been turned down. The Committee discussed whether this project was eligible for CPA funding. Town counsel had advised Tim Higgins that it was not eligible. The CPA Coalition believes it is eligible, based on a DOR ruling with respect to a Housing Authority.
The Committee then heard from Gary Taylor with respect to the Affordable Housing Trust. Gary provided a report on CPC Grant Expenditures, which will be added to request 2010-10.
At Minuteman Commons, 6 units are dedicated to affordable housing, and the Town holds options for 2 additional units. Five of the 6 affordable units have been sold, with the 6th unit not moving primarily because it is a walk-up unit. The AHT would like to allocate up to $300,000 of its remaining CPA funding for the buy down of those two units. In the typical buy-down situation, the Town purchases a unit at market price and than sells it at an affordable price, thereby recovering all of its cost except for the amount needed to buy-down the unit to the affordability level. In the proposed situation, Minuteman Commons will market the units directly at a price which includes a premium over the affordability level, and the Town will fund only the premium amount. The Town hopes to
negotiate a premium of $125,000 per unit.
Gary then discussed 2010-09 – Lincoln Woods Report. The AHT is now requesting that the $25,000 funding be authorized out of current CPA funds in the AHT, rather than through proposal 2010-09. The housing project is running short of funds that have historically been used to subsidize the affordable units. This raises the possibility of a wholesale change in the financial structure of Lincoln Woods, which could lead to a loss of the 125 affordable units at Lincoln Woods. The funds requested would finance completion of phase two of a report to analyze whether it would make sense for the Town to purchase Lincoln Woods from the owners. Phase one of the report was funded by a $20,000 grant from the Codman Trust. The question was raised whether this plan would have the effect of denying
the coop owners the ability to profit from further appreciation in their units if the Town buys them out. The response was that this report is intended only to analyze possible methods of saving the affordable units at Lincoln Woods, any of which would have to be put to a vote of the Lincoln Woods homeowners.
Gary then discussed 2010-10, the AHT’s request for an additional $500,000 grant from the CPC. Housing projects which might come up in 2009 include the Ridge Road apartments, housing at Minuteman High School, 2 units at Ryan Estates, and the Arshad/Kennedy properties on Winter Street.
The Committee unanimously approved the use of up to $300,000 of CPA funds currently in the AHT to buy-down two affordable units at Minuteman Commons.
The Committee unanimously approved the use of up to $25,000 of CPA funds currently in the AHT to conduct phase two of the Lincoln Woods report.
The Committee then heard from Gary Taylor and Tim Higgins regarding 2010-14 – Town Hall renovation. Tim provided the Committee a presentation regarding the history of the Town Hall project, which will be added to the funding request. The Committee expressed concern that the project of this magnitude should be given exposure to the town before any funding is authorized, and that a public hearing on the project would be advisable. The Committee also requested clarification on whether the amount requested is $1,190,000 or $1,300,000. Colin Smith noted that the state bidding guidelines provide for Architect/Engineering costs significantly less than what has been proposed. He said he would send a copy of the guidelines to Tim Higgins. Bill Stason raised the question of whether
tradeoffs between renovation of Town Offices and a new building option had been discussed. Apparently, they had not.
The Committee then heard from Gary Taylor and Tim Higgins regarding 2010-11– Bemis Hall roof replacement. Colin Smith noted that the First Parish has used fiberglass shingles on the Stone Church, across the street from Bemis Hall, which have a projected life of 50 years, and cost significantly less than slate shingles. With regard to slate, it was noted that the library’s experience bidding for its slate roof might be helpful.
The Committee then heard from Peter von Mertens with respect to 2010-02 - repair of culverts connecting the two ponds at Pierce Park. The amount requested has been reduced to $50,000, with an additional $5,000 planned to be contributed by the Pierce House Committee.
The Committee reviewed the status of funding proposals to date:
2010-01 Library - Fire Suppression System - |
$607,067 |
2010-02 Pierce House - Pierce Pond |
$50,000 |
2010-03 Cemetery Commission - WITHDRAWN |
$0 |
2010-04 Codman Farm - Barn Restoration - |
$25,000 |
2010-05 Historical Commission - Survey |
$11,250 |
2010-06 Library - Eleazer Brooks Scrapbook - |
$5,925 |
2010-07 Housing - Policy & Procedure Manual - |
$4,000 |
2010-08 Housing - Minuteman Tech Consultant - |
$15,000 |
2010-09 Housing - Lincoln Woods - WITHDRAWN |
$0 |
2010-10 Housing - Affordable House Trust - |
$500,000 |
2010-11 Bemis Hall Roof (slate) |
$221,000 |
2010-12 Pierce House Basement Walls |
$30,000 |
2010-13 Conservation - Invasives Mngmnt |
$32,000 |
2010-14 Town Hall Restoration |
$1,190,000 |
TOTAL |
$2,691,242.00 |
Submitted By: John L. Koenig
Approved: 1/13/2009
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