Community Preservation Committee (CPC)

CPC Composition

The composition of the Committee, the appointment authority, and the term of office for the Community Preservation Committee members shall be as follows:

• One member of the Conservation Commission as designated by the Conservation Commission, for a term of three years
• One member of the Historical Commission, as designated by the Historical Commission, for a term of three years
• One member of the Planning Board as designated by the Planning Board, for a term of three years
• One member of the Parks Commission as designated by the Parks Commission for a term of three years
• One member of the Housing Authority as designated by the Authority for a term of three years
• One member of the Affordable Housing Trust as designated by the Trust for a term of three years

If a vacancy occurs in any of the preceding positions during the terms set forth above, that vacancy shall be filled by the commission, board or authority that made the original designation to complete the remainder of the term.

Three members to be appointed by the Select Board:

• Two members to be appointed for an initial term of one year and thereafter for a term of three years
• One member to be appointed for an initial term of two years and thereafter for a term of three years
• If a vacancy occurs in any of the preceding positions during the terms set forth above, that vacancy shall be filled by the Select Board to complete the remainder of the term.

CPC Responsibilities

Needs Assessment

The Community Preservation Committee shall undertake an annual Needs Assessment to determine the Town's priorities for open space, historic resources, community housing and outdoor recreation projects. The Community Preservation Committee shall consult with existing municipal boards, including the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Planning Board, Parks Commission and the Housing Authority to assess the Town's community preservation goals. The Town department heads involved with recreation, conservation, affordable housing and historic preservation shall also assist the Community Preservation Committee in the development of the Needs Assessment. As part of its analysis of community preservation needs, the Community Preservation Committee shall hold one or more public informational hearings to seek the public's input on the Town's community preservation needs, opportunities, resources and priorities. The Community Preservation Committee shall provide notice of the public hearing by posting notice at Town Hall, the Town's official web page and by publishing the notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town for each of two consecutive weeks preceding the hearing.

Develop a Community Preservation Plan

The first responsibility is to study the needs, possibilities and resources of the community with regards to community preservation. In performing this research function, the CPC must meet and consult with other municipal boards and committees to get their input, and must hold at least one public hearing annually to get input from the general public. The public hearing must be posted publicly and advertised for two weeks preceding the public hearing in a local newspaper of general circulation. Following its research, the CPC is responsible for developing a local CPA plan to guide its decision-making on CPA project proposals. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR), which is the agency tasked by the statute with overseeing CPA, provides more information on this requirement in DOR Informational Guideline Release Number 00-209 (amended version) (PDF) - page 24, "Annual Needs Study." View sample plans from existing CPA communities.

Recommendations to Town Meeting

The Community Preservation Committee shall make recommendations to Town Meeting for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; for the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic resources; for the acquisition, creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; for the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of community housing; and for rehabilitation or restoration of open space and community housing that is acquired or created with monies from the Town's Community Preservation Fund.

Recommendations on the Community Preservation Fund

The Community Preservation Committee may include in its recommendation to Town Meeting a recommendation to set aside for later spending funds for specific purposes that are consistent with community preservation but for which sufficient revenues are not then available in the Community Preservation Fund to accomplish that specific purpose or to set aside for later spending funds for general purposes that are consistent with community preservation.

Expenditures

Subject to the requirements of Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) chapter 44B, no expenditures shall be made from the Community Preservation Fund without first receiving a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and an appropriation from Town Meeting. Town Meeting may make appropriations from or reservations of money in the Community Preservation Fund in the amount recommended by the Committee or it may reduce or reject any recommended amount. Any motions to appropriate an amount of money less than the amount recommended by the Community Preservation Committee shall be based on a written cost estimate. Town Meeting may not increase any appropriation or reservation amount recommended by the Community Preservation Committee and it may not appropriate or reserve any Community Preservation Fund monies on its own initiative. Funds for approved projects become available on July 1st each year subject to a fully executed grant agreement between project sponsors and the Community Preservation Committee. 

Requirement for a Quorum & Cost Estimates

The Community Preservation Committee shall not meet or conduct business without the presence of a quorum. A majority of the members of the Community Preservation Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Community Preservation Committee shall approve its actions by a majority vote of those members present and voting. Community Preservation Committee recommendations to Town Meeting shall include their anticipated costs for each Community Preservation Fund expenditure, based on a written cost estimate.