Community Preservation Act Committee

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON COMMUN ITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE 50 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027 Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 21, 2021 Committee x Daniel Rist * - John Bruner - Greg Rolland Members: - Scott Cavanaugh  x Andy Hunter x Jay Ryan - Jessica Allan x Joe McCoy x Harry Schumann * Committee Chair |  Vice-Chair (x) present | (-) absent | (L) late City officials: Jamie Webb, Assistant Planner; Jeff Bagg, City Planner Administrative Items Approval of Minutes  Motion to approve the minutes of 4/15/2021, 6/17/2021, and 9/20/2021 ⦁ Not enough members from those meetings present to vote. Tabled to November. Public Comments / Public Speak  none CPA Account Balances & Open Projects Updates  See attached handout dated 9/15/2021 Communication from city officials / correspondence / other related administrative items  Old Town Hall was approved by City Council to use the second floor funds for the first floor work as requested in August  Community Preservation Coalition is seeking feedback on their operations and what member communities would like to see them prioritize Hearings / Review of applications for CPA funding Emily Williston Library – Historic Preservation Deed Restriction Present  Members of the Library Board of Directors: Elizabeth Appelquist, Marge Prendergast, Lori Ingraham, Joanne Schmidt, Lois Peirent Applicant Presentation / Discussion / Q&A  Jamie Webb  it is the library’s decision as to whether or not they want to move forward with this. But the CPA can be involved to provide funding for the legal costs and compensating for loss of value related to the restriction  Dan Rist  how much would the legal costs be?  Jamie Webb  research using the Community Preservation Coalition and Mass Historic Preservation Listserv shows that it is in the $10,000 range for legal fees and appraisals.  Dan Rist  how is the value adjustment of the building determined?  Jamie Webb  there would need to be appraisals to show the market value and restricted value. CPA could pay for the difference between the two if the library wants to be compensated. The library could choose to write off the lost value and make a charitable tax donation instead.  Elizabeth Appelquist  we are very interested in preserving the building and are interested in learning more about this. Concern that if the library is planning to move out of that building, should we still move forward with this? ⦁ Dan Rist  if library is not moving then you wouldn’t necessarily need to do this. Library Board owns the building but CPA won’t want to fund future project requests unless the building is protected 1 of 3 Community Preservation Act Committee Thursday, October 21, 2021  Lori Ingraham  Interest but wondering why would library be interested in doing this If we are moving? ⦁ Dan Rist  CPA is interested in preserving this building as it is important to the City. Would like it preserved if/when the library moves out and sells to some other group. ⦁ Jamie Webb  Historic preservation restriction would also help preserve the building in cases that don’t rise to total demolition  Marge Prendergast  library needs to grow but we cannot build more on that site. Building is just as important to the library as it is to the CPA. Library cannot grow there and more is needed. Would like to look into it more. It is the Emily Williston Memorial Library Museum. It is a city treasure. Would appreciate CPA help in understanding what is required to preserve the building.  Dan Rist  we need to get the ball rolling. You need to apply to CPA for funding for legal help in drafting documents. Jamie will help you with the process.  Elizabeth Appelquist  Why would the library not want to do this? ⦁ Dan Rist  its really in the libraries best interest to do so. It opens up more possibilities than closes them. If it’s not protected then I won’t vote for any more money for the library and I think that you would have a huge public relations problem if you try to sell the building and its not protected.  Marge Prendergast  we just need a vote from the board to move forward with this. We didn’t realize that we could ask for help for the legal process of doing this.  Jamie Webb  sent out document to CPA and Elizabeth outlining the legal process to move forward. Requires review by the Mass Historical Commission. Will take at least a year for this to go forward.  Jay Ryan  supports funding legal fees to make this happen  Joe McCoy  supports the idea and its great for the building and library. Question: not sure not all past CPA projects have been required to have HPRs; why requiring it for the library? ⦁ Dan Rist  because they are planning to move out of that building and we would like to protect CPA investments in it after they are no longer there  Andy Hunter  supports funding legal fees  Jamie Webb  should we apply for CPA funding now? Funds will stay in City accounts and would only be paid out as they are used and it would help move this forward. Continued to November meeting Planning Department – Reprogram Rail Trail Funds Present  Jeff Bagg Discussion / Q&A  Jeff Bagg  Rail trail has approximately $25,000 left in the project account. Money was appropriated for contingency work and some other miscellaneous items. None of those items have materialized as costs and its time to do something else with them.  Dan Rist  was appropriated for design so it could be used for design funding now but if it’s a new project then we would want it to go to city council again.  Jamie Webb  there was not a project funding agreement when the project was originally funded. There were two appropriations for a total of $90,000 for design and contingency for the rail trail extension to Northampton.  Dan Rist  that is specific enough that this is a different use of the funds and should go to city council  Jeff Bagg  would like to use these funds to improve the Payson Ave rail trail crossing. Funds would be used for design. Would be constructed using Shared Streets and Spaces grant in February 2022. But they only fund construction projects and not design. Presented sketch of area that highlighted problems in the area: Rail Trail Crossing, Railroad Ave crossing, and Payson Ave sidewalk. Project would improve ADA accessibility. Would also be going to rail trail committee for project support. 2 of 3 Community Preservation Act Committee Thursday, October 21, 2021  Dan Rist  seems like a good use of funds. Enough of a change that it would need to go to council for approval. Will need to come back to CPA for the request after rail trail committee give approval.  Jeff Bagg  will be getting proposals from designers with an exact amount for the work  Dan Rist  come back in November with a letter and statement of support from the rail trail committee. We can approve the funds in November and City Council can approve in December.  Dan Rist  any reason why we shouldn’t allow this?  Jeff Bagg  funds were originally set aside for creation of as-built plans for the Eversource easement but it hasn’t happened and they haven’t asked for them. Its been 10 years and we can’t hold these funds forever. It makes sense to go ahead and use them and if Eversource comes back then we can figure out how to fund that then.  Dan Rist  good to hear about that and we can cross that bridge later if needed. Better to use it now then continue to wait for Eversource. Meeting with the rail trail committee is key. If we don’t use it for this then CPA should get the funds back.  Jamie Webb  It really doesn’t make sense to keep these funds set aside. There was discussion with Northampton to do the surveys together to save money but when recently contacted about it, the Northampton Planning Director said that they never pursued it and aren’t planning to pursue it because its been so long and Eversource is clearly not interested. Continued to November meeting Valley CDC – Update: Pre-Development Assessment for Housing  Valley CDC submitted their quarterly report. No discussion or questions. Announcements  The next CPA meeting is Thursday, November 18, 2021 @ 6:15pm Meeting adjourned at 7:10pm 3 of 3  CITY OF EASTHAMPTON COMMUN ITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE 50 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027 CPA Account Balances & Open Projects Open Space Hist. Pres. Aff. Housing Undesignated Reserve Fund Total Beginning Balances - Prior FY (FY21) 75,000.00 440,814.06 85,198.20 1,440,945.02 39,750.00 2,081,707.28 Prior Fiscal Year Appropriations (FY21) OTH 2nd Flr & Elev Retained City Match (budget) (250,000.00) (250,000.00) OTH 2nd Flr & Elev Retained City Match (supp.) (300,000.00) (200,000.00) (500,000.00) Return unused funds (OTH Facade Design) 3,824.77 3,824.77 City Records Management Survey (9,900.00) (9,900.00) Mt. Tom N Trailhead Park - Trail Const (75,000.00) (101,000.00) (176,000.00) Mt. Tom N Trailhead Park - Historic Survey (9,850.00) (9,850.00) Boruchowski Mtn Bike Trails - Design (35,400.00) (35,400.00) City Records Mgmt - Phase 2 (15,000.00) (15,000.00) EW Library Ventilation System (71,200.00) (71,200.00) Subtotal - Prior FY Appropriations (75,000.00) (402,125.23) - (551,000.00) (35,400.00) (1,063,525.23) Estimated Fund Balances (as of 6/30/2021) - 38,688.83 85,198.20 889,945.02 4,350.00 1,018,182.05 Close Prior Fiscal Year & Start Current FY Unappropriated Balances (prior FY) - 38,688.83 85,198.20 889,945.02 1,013,832.05 Add: all revenue received (prior FY) 825,283.86 825,283.86 Add: project budgets & reserve fund (prior FY) 1,634,136.88 1,634,136.88 Less: all expenses (prior FY) (254,377.43) (254,377.43) Less: project budgets & set-asides (current FY) 80,000.00 80,000.00 80,000.00 (1,935,159.05) (1,695,159.05) Estimated Beginning Balances (current FY) 80,000.00 118,688.83 165,198.20 1,159,829.28 52,000.00 1,575,716.31 Current Fiscal Year Appropriations (FY22) OTH 2nd Flr & Elev Retained City Match (budget) (250,000.00) (250,000.00) ValleyCDC Housing Predevelopment Assessments (58,083.00) (58,083.00) Hampshire-Hampden Canal Historic Survey (15,000.00) (15,000.00) Subtotal - Current FY Appropriations - (15,000.00) (58,083.00) (250,000.00) - (323,083.00) Estimated Fund Balances (as of 8/31/2021) 80,000.00 103,688.83 107,115.20 909,829.28 52,000.00 1,252,633.31 Pending, Earmarks, and Other Items Return unused funds (Mt Tom Addt'l funds) 89.45 89.45 Return unused funds (SRO Housing CNA) 950.00 950.00 Return unused funds (City Records Mgmt Survey) 1,650.00 1,650.00 Return unused funds (Mt Tom Trail Design) 117.54 117.54 Return unused funds (Pickleball Consruction) 32,483.00 32,483.00 Reservation Road OS Acquisition (80,000.00) (41,588.00) (121,588.00) Subtotal - Pending, Earmarks, & Other (80,000.00) 1,650.00 950.00 32,689.99 (41,588.00) (86,298.01) Estimated Available Balance (as of 8/31/2021) - 105,338.83 108,065.20 942,519.27 10,412.00 1,166,335.30 *** Please note that the current fiscal year account balances are estimated based on account balance information as of 4/30/2021 and my knowledge of approved supplemental appropriations as of 8/31/2021. The account balances are liable to change once the Auditors close the books for FY21 and the State DOR certifies the accounts. As soon as this information is provided to the Planning Department, these estimated balances will be updated and provided to the CPA committee. Community Preservation Act Committee Account Balances & Open Projects Open Project Balances (as of 8/31/21) CPA Amt. Match Amt. Total Amt. Remaining CPA Lower Mill Pond Park (FY06 & FY08) 146,030 252,230 398,260 5,822 4% Manhan Rail Trail (FY10) 50,001 4,400,000 4,450,001 25,985 52% Housing Auth. Reasonable Accomodation (FY17) 40,000 - 40,000 23,022 58% Old Town Hall 2nd Floor Design (FY17) 206,479 135,000 341,479 56,596 27% Echodale Orchard Restoration (FY17) 10,000 6,500 16,500 8,920 89% Nonotuck Park Benches & Bleachers (FY18) 30,000 6,000 36,000 - 0% Dog Park Design (FY19) 9,000 - 9,000 650 7% Nonotuck Park Stonehouse Bathroom Design (FY19) 30,000 10,000 40,000 27,525 92% Nashawannuck Pond Sedimentation Basins (FY20) 261,000 40,000 301,000 21,451 8% Nonotuck Park PickleBall Court Construction (FY20) 80,000 15,000 95,000 32,483 41% Housing Production Plan Update (FY20) 15,000 35,000 50,000 5,740 38% Historic Structure Inventory (FY20) 12,500 12,500 25,000 4,915 39% Emergency Rental Assistance Program (FY20) 300,000 - 300,000 224,566 75% Open Space & Recreation Plan Update (FY20) 36,000 - 36,000 35,000 97% Old Town Hall 2nd Flr Retained City Match (FY21-FY22) 1,000,000 - 1,000,000 1,000,000 100% Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park Historic Survey (FY21) 9,850 - 9,850 9,850 100% Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park Trail Construction (FY21) 176,000 374,000 550,000 176,000 100% Boruchowski Mtn Bike Trail Rehab (FY21) 35,400 - 35,400 31,800 90% City Records Mgmt Phase 2 (FY21) 15,000 50,000 65,000 - 0% Emily Williston Library Ventilation System (FY21) 71,200 - 71,200 71,200 100% ValleyCDC Housing Predevelopment Assessments (FY22) 58,083 25,553 83,636 58,083 100% Hampshire-Hampden Canal Historic Survey (FY22) 15,000 97,000 112,000 15,000 100% Reservation Road OS Acquisition (pending) 121,588 245,412 367,000 Total 2,728,131 5,704,195 8,065,326 1,834,608 Open Project Updates (as of 9/14/2021) Lower Mill Pond Park (FY06 & FY08): 12/13/16  John Mason: remaining funds are intended for park entrance signage and a few other items and will be completed in 2017 (was waiting for the Mills project to finish). 5/2/18  RFP for signage released. 4/17/19  Construction in the area (for One Ferry St and MassWorks grant) necessitate delay of sign install until after the MassWorks project is complete. Manhan Rail Trail (FY10): 12/1/16  Remaining funds are for final survey and creation of as built construction documents, easement plans, and easement filing. We are coordinating with Northampton to have this work done as part of the closeout to their current bike path tunnel project on King Street. Housing Authority Reasonable Accommodations (FY17): 8/29/17  two projects complete. 6/20/19  two additional projects completed at Cliffview & Sunrise Manors. 3/17/21  two more projects at Glad Acres & Sunrise Manor. 4/18/21  one more project at Cliffview Manor Old Town Hall 2nd Floor Design (FY17): 5/30/17  MCC awarded $135,000 which was lower than expected. 9/19/17  CitySpace finalizing contracts with Kuhn Riddle Architects and City. 7/10/18  90% cost estimate and design documents complete. Additional expenses incurred for structural engineer related to load capacity of plaster ceiling and weight of proposed lighting grid. 9/30/18  Design phase complete; remaining funds ($63,729) are for creation of bid & construction documents and will be held until matching funds are raised. 8/19/21  Committee approval of request to use $13,219 for first floor improvements. Echodale Orchard Restoration (FY17): 8/31/17  Invasive plant plan complete. Commission determining next steps for removal, and priority areas / plants for removal. 4/17/19  project was delayed due to an issue with mowing operations; one herbicide treatment completed, another planned for this summer, and a final treatment in 2020; tree removal will occur during a dry spell this summer; additional CPA funds may be needed due to unanticipated higher costs for tree removal and mowing. Nonotuck Park Stonehouse Bathroom Design (FY19): 5/2/19  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 9/16/19  ArchitectureEL contracted for Feasibility & Pre-Development Design Services. Historic Structure Inventory (FY20): 3/27/20  matching grant funds ($12,500) awarded to project by Mass Historical Commission. 4/20/20  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 11/12/20  RFQ released for consultant. 2 of 3 Community Preservation Act Committee Account Balances & Open Projects 2/17/21  PaleoWest selected as consultant and work has begun. 9/1/21  Inventory work is complete; PaleoWest working on the final report and documentation. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (FY20): 6/19/20  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 11/12/20  Community Action Pioneer Valley selected as program administrator. 2/1/21  Program accepting applications. 5/4/21  program guidelines revised. 6/17/21 19 approved grants for a total of $53,793 Old Town Hall 2nd Floor Retained City Match (FY21-22): 7/1/20  $250K in FY21 budget. 9/8/20  $500K additional funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 7/1/21  $250K additional in FY22 budget. Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park Trail Construction (FY21): 12/8/20  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 6/15/21  PARC gran awarded. 9/1/21  Construction low bid result of $460,000 Boruchowski Mtn Bike Trails – Design (FY21): 1/7/2021  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 8/19/21  MassTrails grant not awarded; committee approved use of funds for additional due diligence work to support future grant application. Valley CDC Pre-development Assessments (FY22): 8/5/2021  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. Hampshire-Hampden Canal Historic Survey (FY22): 8/5/2021  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. Reservation Road Open Space Acquisition (pending): 8/19/2021  CPA approval of funding; pending City Council & Mayor approval. Substantially Complete Projects Dog Park Design (FY19): 3/20/19  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 11/25/19  first public meeting held on potential site locations; narrowed to Oliver St & Nonotuck Park. Nashawannuck Pond Sedimentation Basins (FY20): 9/4/19  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 12/9/19  GZA engineers selected to manage project. 8/11/20  Project is out to bid. 2/17/20  Both basins dredging complete; restoration work will continue in Spring 2021. 9/13/21  final walkthrough and project accepted; awaiting final invoices and release of retainage. Housing Production Plan Update (FY20): 11/26/19  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 1/27/20  consultant selected via RFP process; project underway. 5/4/21  planning process is complete; HPP has been approved by City Council, Mayor, and State; plan is online for public viewing; awaiting final invoices. Open Space & Recreation Plan Update (FY20): 6/19/20  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 5/4/21  Planning process is complete; OSRP has been approved by the state; plan is online for public viewing; awaiting final invoicing to be completed. Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park Historic Survey (FY21): 12/8/20  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 5/4/21  Survey is complete and report received; awaiting final invoices to be completed. E.W. Library Ventilation System (FY21): 4/22/2021  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 6/7/2021  work in progress: ½ of the duct work installed; electrical, filtration system, and finish work still needs to be done. 9/13/21  Construction is complete; awaiting final reimbursement request. Fully Complete Projects Nonotuck Park Benches & Bleachers (FY18): 5/31/18  benches & bleachers received. 9/5/18  installation on-going. 10/18/18  Benches are all installed; all bleachers are built: 5 installed; 7 waiting for concrete pads. 4/17/19  remaining concrete pads will be poured this spring and remaining bleachers will be installed when pads are ready. 6/22/21  project fully complete and remaining funds to be returned to CPA. Nonotuck Park Pickle Ball Courts Construction (FY20) 12/9/19  funding approved. 3/10/20  Vermont Recreational Surfacing & Fencing, Inc submitted low bid of $58,977 + $6,339 for alternate for taller fencing = $65,316. 6/22/21  project fully complete City Records Management – Phase 2 (FY21): 3/19/2021  funding approved by City Council & Mayor. 6/1/2021  all inventory work, re-boxing, indexing, and storage room improvements completed. 3 of 3