The residents of Wellesley enacted the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in November 2002 and the CPC held its first meeting in December. The committee consists of nine members. One appointed by and from each of the following Boards: the Housing Authority, Recreation Commission, Natural Resources Commission, Historical Commission and Planning Board, and four members appointed by the Moderator. The CPC is required to study the “needs, possibilities and resources” for community preservation in Wellesley. It is also responsible for making recommendations
to Town Meeting for the use of Community Preservation funds.
Community Preservation funds originate from two sources: a one percent surcharge on the local property tax bills and from State matching funds. For the two years ending June 30, 2004, the Town raised $1,071,000 through the surcharge and there have been two 100 percent matches from State funds bringing the total CPA funds to $2,142,000. It is anticipated that the FY 2005 surcharge will provide $590,748 and, unless the State Legislature amends the CPA, we can anticipate another 100 percent match from the State in October 2005.
The CPA requires that at least 10 percent (a total of not less than 30%) of each year’s total funding be spent or reserved for each of the CPA’s three main purposes: open space, historic resources, and community housing (currently, that is about $100,000 for each of these purposes). CPA funds that are not expended in one year may be “banked” or carried over to subsequent years. However, once CPA funds are banked for a specific purpose, they must ultimately be used for the purpose for which they were banked. At the Town’s discretion, the remaining 70 percent of CPA funds in each fiscal year are available to be appropriated or banked for one or more of four purposes: the three listed above, as well as for recreational uses. In addition, subject to certain restrictions, five percent of the CPA funds
raised annually may be used for administrative activities related to the work of the CPC.
The CPC, with the help of many Town boards, prepared the “Town of Wellesley Community Preservation Plan” . The Plan gives a summary of the Town’s community preservation goals, as well as setting out the resources, needs and possibilities for open space, historical resources, housing and recreation within the Town. Overarching and area specific preservation goals, which the CPC used in its project review and decision making process, are also set forth. The decision guidelines of the CPC are as follows:
· Preservation of a resource or opportunity that would otherwise be lost.
· Involvement of two or more of the purposes designed for funding under the CPA.
· Preference for large projects that would have a significant long-term benefit to the community.
· Involvement of multiple sources of funding, including leveraging other public and/or private funds.
· Creation of incentives for other public and/or private projects and/or collaborations to occur.
· Demonstration that the proposal is feasible and the most reasonable plan to implement the project.
· Provision for cost/funding that is compatible with the Town’s financial plan.
· Consistency with Town-wide planning efforts/reports that have received broad-based scrutiny and input.
· Consideration of recent Town Meeting actions, supported by other Town boards and/or by the community.
· Provision for a dedicated source of funding (other than CPA) for on-going maintenance.
· Compliance with the current or proposed Wellesley zoning by-laws and/or the laws of the Commonwealth.
In addition to the review of grant applications, the CPC has taken on the responsibility of following up on the implementation of previously approved projects and monitoring their progress.
This year the CPC received four proposals, totaling $410,500 for its consideration. The CPC, after meeting with selected proponents and Boards and holding a Public Hearing, recommended to Annual Town meeting funding of the four projects totaling $410,500, plus $50,000 for administration expenses.
The CPC recommendations to the 2006 Annual Town Meeting can be found by selecting the Recommendation Box on the table above.
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