Community Preservation Committee

Community Preservation Committee Monday, October 16, 2023 5:00 PM REMOTE VIA ZOOM Present: Dr. Peter Kurzberg, Chair Mark Preziosi, Vice Chair Diane Francis Darryl Mikami Maria Bonfiglioli Marta Googins Absent: Ron Frazier Approved: 11/13/23 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 October 16, 2023, meeting via roll call: – Chairman Kurzberg – present; Vice Chair Preziosi -here, Maria Bonfiglioli – here Diane Francis – here, Darryl Mikami – here, Marta Googins - here. Six members are in attendance. New Business: Fire Headquarters Historic Restoration, Applicants Chief James O’Brien and Mayor Kokoros Dr. Kurzberg introduces the project and asks Director SantucciRozzi how she wants to proceed. She responds by introducing Steve Kirby the Town’s OPM (Owner’s Project Manager) from Vertex Engineering. She notes that the Planning Department has already conducted extensive permitting review for the project including Planning and Zoning Boards and the Historical Commission. She asks CPC Manager Manning to review the application. Ms. Manning presents slides from Context Architects that were created for the Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Commission. The slides cover proposed improvements to the roof, gutters, cornice, main entrance, windows and trim, building addition, masonry restoration, lighting and signage. She notes that associated costs are broken out in the application and she can circle back on the cost of any specific items. The entire budget ask is $1,618,497. The roof will be synthetic slate; the gutters will be faux patinaed synthetic; cornice will be repaired/replicated with same materials; main entry will be restored as close to original with full handicap access; windows and trim will be replaced with aluminum clad wood and wood; addition will match materials and design; masonry substantially restored; lighting and signage replicated/restored or in keeping with existing. Dr. Kurzberg asks if Steve Kirby has anything to add. Mr. Kirby notes that more exterior work has been incorporated than originally planned. The building needs it though. This is mainly the exterior tonight while there is significant work happening inside the building and with the addition, but the CPC focus is on the exterior renovations. Director SantucciRozzi notes that elevator is included in the CPC application so that the building will be fully accessible inside and out. 1|Page Chief O’Brien notes that he is very appreciative of the help and the funding. He notes that the 90 people working for the Fire Department are going to be happy. It has been a long time coming with 3 feasibility studies and he is grateful that the end is in sight. Member Preziosi asks about the timing for the work. Director SantucciRozzi notes that the cost estimates are completed and the bid is being put together. Mr. Kirby notes that they have been focused on permitting but now can switch to finalizing documents. They expect to have the bid out in November and have built in lead times for certain items that are harder to procure i.e., Switch gear, mechanical and electrical equipment. They expect to mobilize the site by early 2024 then have 14 months of construction bringing completion into 2025. Member Googins asks about the drawing of the Fire Station from the slide presentation. Has the roof been extended? Director SantucciRozzi confirms that the roof will not be coming off or out. The only change will be recovering the pitched roof. The addition will be a flat roof. Chairman Kurzberg asks if the entire building envelope is being addressed. Mr. Kirby notes that the main entry is replaced, the roof is replaced, the overhead doors are to remain, all windows are replaced, personnel doors are replaced and there is a large amount of masonry restoration. It’s not 100% of all the masonry but quite a bit. Chair Kurzberg asks how long will that last? Mr. Kirby says a 50-year time frame is typical but masonry can last a lot longer than that. Member Preziosi MOTIONS that the Community Preservation Committee in accordance with the provisions of MGL Ch. 44B recommend the Town Council appropriate CPA funding in the amount of $750,000.00 from the Historic Resources Fund and $868,497.00 from the Undesignated Fund for the Braintree Fire Station Historic Restoration (Assessors Map 1005 -07A, 029); said funding to be supervised and expended under the direction of the Community Preservation Committee/Director of Planning and Community Development seconded by Diane Francis; voted by roll call (6:0:0 votes: Dr. Kurzberg: AYE; Member Preziosi: YES; Member Mikami: YES; Member Francis: YES; Member Bonfiglioli: YES; Member Googins: YES. Chairman Kurzberg asks if Member Preziosi can take over the meeting as he needs to depart early. Potential New Projects Ms. Manning states that Katie Barker from Independence Manor is sending prices for windows in the next few weeks. Her application is expected by November or December. Digitizing newspapers, Adams Park design and Braintree American lights have no new updates. Logan Park may not be eligible as CPA restricts communities from using funds for rehabilitation (even handicap access) if the project was not built or acquired with CPA funds. The tomb at the Plain Street Cemetery is in bad shape. Staff still need to understand who would apply for and oversee the project as the applicant for the Elm Street Cemetery was the Town’s Historical Commission. Old Business 2|Page Nathan Buliga designers at Edge Sports Group have submitted plans and draft specifications. Planning and Engineering staff had several comments and questions about landscape, drainage and parking. Ms. Manning gives an update on the Armstrong Dam project. The project is scheduled to complete in Spring 2024. The rain has delayed things a bit. There is a detailed schedule on file and can be sent to the members if they wish. Middle Street Trail on-street parking is installed and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for 10/25 at 11 AM. All members are invited. Easton Architects will be on site the week of 10/30. Staff will reach out to the Historic Commission and Society for one-on-one meetings. Hoping for some draft inventory forms by December. The Elm Street Cemetery fence topper is finally in. Staff would like to have an event there and present artifacts back to the Society. Smelt brook feasibility analysis will be finalized by the Army Corps of Engineers in next weeks. Once this is complete and public notice period is complete, the final design can begin. Town Hall HC ramp did not receive any bids. This is the second time it has been advertised for bid. There are no new updates on Daughraty Gym, Liberty and Grove and the Conservation Restrictions but all remain on the list for resolution or additional action. Delorey Field bids came back higher than budget. It may need to come back for additional funding. Member Preziosi confirms that the low bid was higher than what was approved? Ms. Manning answers yes. Director SantucciRozzi notes that the pricing on these projects has been off the charts. Member Preziosi notes that he got feedback that the original allocation of $737,000 was high for the project. Director SantucciRozzi agrees and notes that similar park projects in other communities are starting at the $1,000,000 range. She feels that given the efforts to date, the neighborhood outreach and the volunteer efforts of the League folks that this project is very worthy of another round of funding. Member Bonfiglioli notes that prices don’t seem to go down so this is likely the new level and things may just keep rising. There is general agreement. Director SantucciRozzi notes that the CPC is the resident’s money and should be put out there to work in the community. Administrative Business Member Francis MOTION to approve the minutes of meeting held 9/18/23 seconded by Member Mikami voted by roll call (4:0:0) votes: Vice Chair Preziosi: AYE; Member Mikami: YES; Member Francis: YES; Member Bonfiglioli: Yes. Member Googins abstained. Ms. Manning notes that Municipal Finance provided updated numbers for the Committee starting 7/1/23. Once admin costs and the Smelt Brook project are factored in, the Committee has just about $5.1 million available for appropriation. With the vote for the Fire Station the number will be closer to $3.7 million. Member Preziosi asks if we will need to replenish the Historic Preservation Fund and Director SantucciRozzi responds that it won’t be necessary because the Undesignated Fund has enough reserve to cover another historic preservation project 3|Page if it comes forward. She also clarified that the annual budget process ensures that at least 10% is allocated to each eligible fund – historic, housing, open space/recreation – keeping things within the statutory requirements. Member Preziosi notes that the money is being spent more quickly than when he first got onto the Committee. He had board members with the Little League that were more conservative about spending money and he felt that the money should be put back in the facility for the use of the members. The residents deserve to get this funding out into the community for use. Staff works proactively to make sure that applicants are well prepared before the Committee sees the application. Member Francis MOTION to adjourn meeting; seconded by Member Mikami; voted by roll call (4:0:0 votes: Vice Chair Preziosi: YES; Member Mikami: YES; Member Francis: YES; and Member Bonfiglioli: YES. Member Googins left the meeting early. Respectfully submitted, Liz Manning, Planning and Community Development 4|Page