Community Preservation Committee

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

• Ronald Lum - Chair
  Representative: Housing Authority
• Ryan Egan
  Representative: Town Council
• Bruce Fleischmann
  Representative: Community Member-Business
• Thomas J. Fisher
  Representative: Community Member-Resident
• Marcell Robateau
  Representative: Community Member - Resident
• Mary West
  Representative: Historical Commission
• Alexandra Alexopoulos
  Representative: Planning Board
• Coleen Burgess

  Representative: Recreation Advisory Board

• Conservation Commission Representative- Vacant

Overview

The Community Preservation Act (hereafter referred to as "CPA"), M.G.L. c. 44B, allows Massachusetts cities and towns to raise monies through a surcharge of up to 3% of the real estate tax levy on real property. In November 2004, Town Meeting voted a 2% annual real estate levy against real property which was ratified at the Annual Town Election on April 5, 2005. Town Meeting accepted two exemptions from this surcharge as permitted by law: an exemption of $100,000 of the value of each taxable parcel of residential real property and an exemption for low income.

These CPA funds are to be used for four core purposes: 

• To acquire, create and preserve open space
• To acquire, rehabilitate, restore and preserve historic resources
• To create, preserve and support community housing and 
• To acquire, preserve and utilize land for recreational use

A minimum of 10% of the annual revenues of the fund must be appropriated for each of the three core community concerns. The remaining 70% can be allocated for any combination of the allowed uses, or for land for recreational use.