Community Preservation Committee meeting notes: 24.03.21
A Quincy Votes! member attended this meeting. While care has been taken in their creation, these notes are not official meeting minutes and may contain errors or omissions.
On March 21, I attended a meeting of the Community Preservation Committee. There are eight members on the Committee. They meet on the second Thursday of every month.
The Community Preservation Committee is charged with awarding funds that come from both a surcharge on Quincy property taxes and matching funds from the state’s Community Preservation Trust Fund.
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a state law passed in 2000 that allows Massachusetts communities to conduct a referendum to add a small surcharge on local property taxes. The statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund makes a percentage match of those funds. The percentage is dependent on the number of cities and towns that participate. The more cities and towns that participate, the lower the percentage of matching funds. Quincy voters adopted the CPA in 2006.
The CPA specifies that a committee be formed to disburse the funds, but only for limited purposes, such as building and rehabilitating parks, playgrounds, and recreational fields, protecting and acquiring open space, supporting local affordable housing development, and preserving historic buildings and resources. The CPA requires that at least 10% of the funds be spent or reserved for future use on each of the three community preservation purposes: (1) open space (including recreational use), (2) historic resources, and (3) community housing.
The Community Preservation Committee reviews proposals submitted to it and makes recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.
On March 21, five applicants made presentations to the Committee:
An application by the Quincy City Clerk for historic preservation of city records. The Clerk described the variety of historical records that are in need of preservations. This was a second request to supplement the cost of the ongoing project. $50,000 was requested and it was expected that would cover work for the next few years. She was asked if she could work with $25,000 and come back for more. The Committee noted that there were limited funds to work with.
An application by the City Public Buildings Department for a wheelchair ramp to the Adams crypt. The amount sought was $75,000 from the Historic Preservation fund. The amount was approved.
An application for $313,266 from the Historic Preservation fund by the Fort Square Presbyterian Church for historic restoration projects. The amounts for each project were apparently listed in the application. The Committee noted that the funds could only be used for historic façade projects that essentially restore the building to its original condition. Some of the projects did not qualify. It was unclear how much would be considered by the Committee.
An application by the National Society of Colonial Dames of Massachusetts for restoration of the wrought iron fence at the Quincy Homestead. $17,550 from the Historic Preservation fund was requested and approved.
An application by Quincy Adams Building Corporation (Leo Martin) for $500,000 from the Historic Preservation fund for renovation of the Adams Building, which is privately owned by Mr. Martin. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is opposite the United First Parish Church. An architect was present, and plans were presented. The entire project is estimated to cost $1.5 million dollars. There were concerns regarding materials that would be used, whether funds could be awarded for a commercial project as well as others. Mr. Martin offered to present to the committee samples of materials which would be used. The matter was continued.
It was unclear if there was an opportunity for public comment. Kerin O’Toole, the Director of Community Preservation, can be reached at kotoole@quincyma.gov for any questions.
