Community Preservation Committee

Community Preservation Committee Monday, December 12, 2022 5:00 PM REMOTE VIA ZOOM APPROVED: January 23, 2023 Present: Dr. Peter Kurzberg, Chair Mark Preziosi, Vice Chair Marta Googins Ron Frazier Darryl Mikami Maria Bonfiglioi Diane Francis Also Present: Melissa SantucciRozzi, Director of Planning and Community Development Elizabeth Manning, Community Preservation Manager Chairman Kurzberg calls the meeting to order at 5:10 PM and requests that Ms. Manning take attendance for the December 12, 2022 meeting via roll call: Chairman Kurzberg – present; Mark Preziosi – here, Maria Bonfiglioli – here, Marta Googins – here, Ron Frazier – here, Darryl Mikami- here, Diane Francis here. Seven members are in attendance. Potential New Projects Ms. Manning starts that the potential new projects – Independence Manor, Town Hall Message Board, Daughraty Gym Exterior and Archiving Newspapers - do not have any updates. The Town’s designers for the Fire Station are beginning preparation of elements for a CPC application. Director Santucci Rozzi notes that Planning continues to work as a team with other Departments, being mindful of the budget constraints and any permitting that is needed from Planning, Zoning and Historic. She is focused on making sure that the quality of materials for the project is appropriate for the Historic District. The CPC application will likely involve those exterior elements. Ms. Manning notes that the scope from the neighborhood group will be forwarded to the Recreation Department and put in line for quotes. Dr. Kurzberg asks if this will be underway this Spring. Ms. Manning clarifies design or construction? Construction could begin late Spring if it is straightforward like playground equipment. Much depends on the scope and the cost. Riverwalk at 44 Allen Street is discussed. Director SantucciRozzi brings the Committee up to date on the status of the project. She notes that Winn Companies has been selected to participate in the next funding round with the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Having a local match makes the application stronger. Planning staff met with folks from Winn Companies, Mayor Kokoros and Stuart Saginor from the CPA Coalition. The discussion was around what is CPA eligible and cleanest for CPA funding. It made the most sense to put CPA funding into the affordable units noting that we have deep subsidies for the majority of the units in the project. Planning expects an application in the next 5-10 days and given the timing on the State application (due January 19, 2023) we are looking at having a special CPC meeting before the end of the month, if that works for the 1|Page members. There is a strong desire in the Town to make this project happen – still trying to fine tune some aspects. Old Business Ms. Manning notes that a contract is circulating with Edge Sports Group and anticipates an early January start to the design process. Staff asked to have a mid- project check in with the designers and that should take place at the February meeting. Ms. Manning notes that monumentation for Liberty Grove has been completed. With the Armstrong Dam Trail litigation is still ongoing and Director SantucciRozzi notes that things are getting close and confidence is higher for concluding this. Ms. Manning put out some dates for a site visit for the Middle Street trail. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that she would circle back for dates in January and get those out to the members. Work at the site is ongoing. Ms. Manning updates the members on the Daughraty Gym Historic Restoration project. She prepared a spreadsheet with completed items and proposed next steps. She suggested that cost estimates have been invoiced but were not in the file. In response to Dr. Kurzberg she notes that there is not an executive summary that was simple to scan and distribute. However, there is a scope of work memo that is detailed about the recommended upgrades. Again, the work that has been completed in the building by DPW needs to be confirmed. Director SantucciRozzi notes that she does not think the work done by DPW was part of the historic survey. It was more interior, some lighting, painting, etc. Ms. Manning notes that the Historic Inventory Request for Quotes should be circulated by the next meeting. She had circled in on the format used by Derek Manning in 2020 with a significant amount of detail. Ron Frazier notes that with the economy a little cooler, there should be more interest in the job. Ms. Manning notes that the budget needs to be a bit more flexible upward given her conversations with staff at Mass Historic and former staff. Conservation Restrictions agenda item had not new updates. Ms. Manning notes that Mayor Kokoros is looking to take a field by field approach at Watson and Hollis. This will require sharpening the cost estimates to include any common items such as parking, walkways, utilities, etc. Weston and Sampson has been tasked with updating costs and amending plans to ensure that all resource areas are protected. Chairman Kurzberg notes that a ballpark number of $500,000 sounds reasonable. Then there is a discussion about costs and what common costs this might include. Member Preziosi asks if this is the Babe Ruth diamond and Ms. Manning replies yes, this is the first diamond/ closest to the yacht club (NOTE: the first diamond is a Little League field). Director SantucciRozzi notes that 13 of the units are tenanted and people are moving in at Windjammer Cove. The goal is to have the final 6 units filled by February. Funding has been released and a portion is held in escrow by their lender. They have met the requirements to have the 2|Page units ready and the regulatory agreement is recorded at the registry. She will shortly be putting the units into DHCD for inclusion on the inventory. Member Frasier asks will this project get the Town to the 10% under 40B? Director SantucciRozzi notes that this project alone will not do it. The 44 Allen Street project also needs to come on line for the Town to meet the 10%. The Elm Street Cemetery project is about 70% complete. Ms. Manning provided a report that shows the progress especially on the Vinton Tomb. The work has slowed down but is still on track for early Spring completion. Chairman Kurzberg asks if the headstones are being cleaned too? Member Frasier notes that Frank Drollett has some recommendations for the Town maintenance folks. There was also significant granite pieces discovered just buried in dirt. It would be great to do something with those, but that was not in the budget. These items were not in the original scope. Looking at the pictures from Ms. Manning report Director SantucciRozzi states that having the tombs restored showed her that state of the disrepair. To have it look like it was intended back in the 1800’s is simply amazing. Smelt Brook Restoration is in the public review comment and Director SantucciRozzi notes that she will update the Committee as any local agreements are made to provide the balance of any construction funding which will be a 50% federal, 25% Braintree and 25% Weymouth cost share. Town Hall Ramp is updated by Director SantucciRozzi. Building department staff are working on the bid specifications. Chairman Kurzberg asks what the time frame is. The Director responds that they are hoping for Spring but staffing is down in that department. Administrative Business Member Frazier MOTION to approve the minutes of meeting held 11/16/22 seconded by Member Preziosi voted by roll call (6:0:1 votes: Dr. Kurzberg: AYE; Member Frazier: YES; Member Mikami: YES; Member Preziosi: YES; Member Bonfiglioli: YES; Member Googins: YES; Member Francis: Abstain (Member Francis was absent on 11/16/22). Ms, Manning notes that she shared with the members the actual ACH report from Rockland Trust showing the deposit for the State matching funds for FY22. Chairman Kurzberg asks if this number is going up or down? After looking at a few reports, Ms. Manning notes that the prior year distribution of $371,000 was a bit of an outlier and that $277,000 this year included a bonus from a State surplus. Chairman Kurzberg notes that the Committee expressed a preference to continue with Zoom meetings for the time being. Director SantucciRozzi checks the members availability for a special meeting the week of December 26th for the 44 Allen Street project. This will be a Zoom meeting for anyone travelling. Chairman Kurzberg is available the entire week as well as Member Preziosi. Member Frazier is available as well. Member Francis can do Wednesday. Member Bonfiglioli is only Thursday. Members Mikami and Googins are also available. She will get back as soon as possible with a date. 3|Page Member Frazier MOTION to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Member Googins; voted by roll call (7:0:0 votes: Dr. Kurzberg: AYE; Member Frazier: YES; Member Mikami: YES; Member Preziosi: YES; Member Bonfiglioli: YES; Member Googins: YES; Member Francis: YES. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Liz Manning, Planning and Community Development 4|Page