The second night of Town Meeting (Meeting) opened with arguably everyone’s favorite article: The Appropriation of Community Preservation Funds. Select Board Chair Dean Charter moved the article as printed in the warrant and CPC chair Jim Colman marched through his presentation, explaining first how the funding accumulates from a 1.5 percent surtax on local property tax bills complemented by funding allocations from the State. He then outlined the allocation among four required spending categories: Open Space, Recreation, Community Housing, and Historic Preservation, as required by statute.
Each year, various Acton organizations bring forward projects for consideration through a stringent application process. The projects are evaluated and categorized by the 10 member CPC committee over about five months. Working with total available assets of $1,959,205 this year, the CPC agreed to fund 10 projects ranging from resurfacing accessible trails at the Arboretum, to supporting work to restore the Town Hall clock tower, to relocating the driveway at the Faulkner Homestead, and assisting the Acton Housing Authority in meeting unanticipated development costs at McManus Mansion.
Under the Open Space category, CPC made annual bond payments for three previously purchased parcels and set aside over $850,000 for future purchases. Chair Colman assured the Meeting that the set aside funds could be used for the purchase of property at 46 Taylor Road if the related Warrant article passed later in the Town Meeting.
In total, CPC recommended a total of $2,279,396 in projects grants, administrative expenses and debt service using almost the entire CPC General Fund (new money) as well as set aside funds from previous years. Chairman Colman observed that the remaining unappropriated balance of $9.32 in the General Fund attested to the rigor of the CPC’s review process and the careful administrative analysis, as well as the demand for funding quality projects. The entire slate of projects was approved by the Meeting without controversy by a vote of 327 to 15.
Pat Clifford is on the Letters Committee of the Acton Exchange and on the Town of Acton Planning Board. She steps forward each year to contribute to Town Meeting coverage for the Acton Exchange.
