Community Preservation Committee

Community Preservation Committee Monday, May 9, 2022 5:00 PM Remote Virtual Meeting via Zoom Present: Dr. Peter Kurzberg, Chair Ron Frazier Approved: October 3, 2022 Darryl Mikami Marta Googins Mark Preziosi, Vice Chair Diane Francis Also Present: Melissa SantucciRozzi, Planning and Community Development Director Elizabeth Manning, Community Preservation Manager Dr. Peter Kurzberg calls the meeting to order at 5:00 PM via Zoom and requests that Ms, Manning take attendance for the May 9, 2022 meeting via roll call: Dr. Kurzberg – present; Mark Preziosi – here,– Marta Googins - here, Diane Francis – here, Ronald Frazier – here, Darryl Mikami – here. Six Members are in attendance; Member Maria Bonfiglioli is absent. NEW BUSINESS – New application: Dr. Kurzberg states that there is a new application in front of the Committee. Smelt Brook Restoration Request for Additional Funds Ms. Manning introduces Brion Keefe, the new Supervisor for the Pond Meadow Park, Frank Collins, Pond Meadow Commissioner and Mike Ricciardi, prior Pond Meadow Commissioner. Brion Keefe states that the project is intended to restore fish passage that was restricted during a flood mitigation project constructed in the 1960’s. It is primarily for rainbow smelt but will also help other species be able to access the stream. A herring run could possibly get all the way into Pond Meadow in the future. The overall goal is to address the declining fish population. The Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) has put together a tentatively selected plan. Pond Meadow needs additional funds to complete the study phase and then will move onto the design and build phases. Dr. Kurzberg asks why the additional funds are needed and what is the length of the ladder that is going to be used? Project ManagerJordan Macy from the ACOE responds that the Federal Cost Sharing agreement was an estimate calculated several years ago. Planning issues, including geotechnical survey, have come up that were not anticipated. The Federal government will provide half of the additional cost ($30,000) and the Towns of Braintree and Weymouth will each contribute $15,000 providing an additional $60,000. This will produce a detailed project report that will be available for public review and comment. At that point the project can move onto the actual design and construction of the fish ladder itself. The fish ladder will run along the stilling basin (approximately 40 feet in length) along Brookside Road and will comprise half the width of the current basin. It will not impede the flood control structures that are in place today. 1|Page Dr. Kurzberg asks for other comments from members? Hearing none, Michael Cavanaugh from Sustainable Braintree is recognized. He has written a letter of support and wants to be sure it is on record. He notes that he has been supporting this project for some time and notes that the wildlife in the area need to be protected. Restoration of natural bodies of water is a great opportunity to learn and interact with the natural environment. He is glad to hear the support for the project. Dr. Kurzberg asks for a MOTION to recommend allocating $15,000 for the Smelt Brook Restoration Additional Funds Request. Member Preziosi MOTIONS In accordance with the provisions of MGL Ch. 44B the Community Preservation Committee recommends the appropriation of $15,000.00 from the Unreserved Fund for the Smelt Brook Restoration Project Request for Additional Funds; said funding to be supervised and expended under the direction of the Community Preservation Committee/Director of Planning and Community Development seconded by Daryll Mikami; voted by roll call (6:0:0 votes: Dr. Kurzberg: AYE; Member Frazier: YES; Member Mikami: YES; Member Preziosi: YES; Member Francis: YES; Member Googins: YES). Member Maria Bonfiglioli is absent. Mike Ricciardi asks if there is a deadline for letters of support. Director SantucciRozzi notes that the application will go to the Ways and Means Committee and the full Council, so having these will be helpful for those meetings. Potential New Projects: Dr. Kurzberg asks Ms. Manning if she has anything to offer under potential new projects. None of the following potential new projects have changed - Town Hall message board, Independence Manor, Golf Course, Daughraty Gym Windows, Newspaper Digitizing – staff have not heard back from these potential applicants and/or no movement since last update. Ms. Manning did some preliminary research on the Fire Station and there were several projects listed on the Community Preservation Coalition website. More to come once plans are firmer for the scope of the project. Dr. Kurzberg asks if there is any update on what Mayor Kokoros might be looking for from the CPC? Director SantucciRozzi responds that she does not have anything beyond a query of what is possible for CPC funding. She too is waiting on more information on the scope of the project. Old Business-Project Updates: Ms. Manning notes that Nathan Buliga Park funding was approved on April 5, 2022. She has reached out to Recreation Department staff to see about next steps. They have had preliminary discussions about the bidding process and now Ms. Manning is waiting on scope and budget. Liberty Grove monumentation will get underway during the Summer, hopefully. Armstrong Dam litigation is ongoing. Middle Street trail is expected to go out to bid in June 2022. Daughraty Gym historic renovation has no new updates. 2|Page The Historic Inventory is still in the works as Ms. Manning needs to reach out to consultants on current pricing. Morrison School outdoor classroom looks great. Ms. Manning did a virtual walkthrough with the designer and the contractor. Walkway from rear door has been constructed. Kids and teachers are using the space. Photos are included in the monthly update. Member Francis notes that the design was based on a German type of simple machines. All agree it is an outstanding project. Watson Park Shoreline Project is 50% complete; additional funding was approved by Town Council last month (April). Ball field designs at Watson Park are moving ahead. Planning staff is coordinating with the Recreation Department and Weston and Sampson to ensure that the shoreline resilience components are coordinated with any new designs. Dr. Kurzberg confirms that if the members visit Watson Park they will see significant progress. Ms. Manning confirms that she will be visiting to get pictures and there is a bi-monthly progress meeting that Director SantucciRozzi and confirm with Kelly Phelan on schedule. The next item is the Pickleball Courts. Final pavement is done; a minor issue with a gate location is being addressed and the project remains on schedule to wrap in early June. Dr. Kurzberg asks if the large area with new posts is for basketball as well? There are a lot of poles in the ground. Director SantucciRozzi notes that all the poles delineate the walkways and nets with 8 courts with fences in between. There could be as many as 40 posts. How can you play with that many posts? It looks like a sea of asphalt and but will change once the paint goes down. The update on Windjammer Cove is that the request for additional funds is in front of Ways and Means the week of May 16th. Elm Street Cemetery is updated by Ms. Manning. She will meet Ron Frazier at the site tomorrow. She needs guidance on answering the questions of bidders. Bids are due May 19, 2022. Dr. Kurzberg thanks Member Frazier for helping out. Member Frazier notes that this has been a long-time priority of the Historic Commission, and all are looking forward to completing the work. Administrative Business: No update from Mark Lin on Financial Reporting but Director SantucciRozzi has been going back and forth with Ed Spellman on how CPC budgets are tracked and updated. Municipal finance has been carrying the same figure each year but she is working to get a more real time number. She took the average of the past three years state match and it increased the allocation from $90,000 to almost $220,000. This results in the ability to budget more funds for administrative costs. Dr. Kurzberg clarifies that the Town is still collecting something around $800,000 from local receipts and that additional state funding diminishes as more towns adopt CPA. Director SantucciRozzi responds that yes that is still true but last year was a big year for state receipts for all towns in Massachusetts. The PCD figures are more up to date as we are accounting for appropriations as it gets approved by Town Council. Accounting often waits until a contract or purchase order has been requested to adjust budgets in MUNIS. Return of unspent funds is still underway. Ms. Manning wants to have a stronger grip on the budget figures before she recommends cancelling any accounts. 3|Page Virtual meetings will continue at least until the waiver expires in July 2022. Director SantucciRozzi notes that the members got a Master Plan flyer in their packet. A forum will be held 5/21/22. It is a drop-in style to encourage participation and flexibility. She is asking the members to spread the word about the forum and the dedicated Master Plan website. She thanks the members who participated in the focus groups. Member Ron Frazier MOTION to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Member Francis; voted by roll call (6:0:0 votes: Dr. Kurzberg: AYE; Member Frazier: YES; Member Mikami: YES; Member Frasier: YES; Member Googins: YES; Member Preziosi: YES). Member Maria Bonfiglioli is absent. Meeting adjourned at 5:52 PM. Respectfully submitted, Liz Manning, Planning and Community Development 4|Page