Community Preservation Act Page
January 6, 2016
Discussion About the Community Preservation Act
Tuesday, January 26, 7:30 PM
Selectboard Meeting at Town Hall
The public is invited to attend a program to learn about the Community Preservation Act (CPA) presented by Stuart Saginor, Executive Director of the Community Preservation Coalition.
Residents, town Boards & Committees, and staff are encouraged to attend, learn about the CPA, learn how it would effect Petersham if adopted by the voters, and ask questions. We hope you can attend on January 26th to learn more and bring your questions to see if this a program that should be brought before Petersham town voters for consideration. Please note, the Selectboard has no opinion nor taken any action on the subject and at this time is seeking information.
In summary:
The Community Preservation Act is a state law (MGL Chapter 44B) signed by Gov. Paul Cellucci and Lt. Gov. Jane Swift in September 2000. If adopted by local voters, it enables a town to annually raise monies for a local Community Preservation Fund to be used for the purposes of:
• Rehaibiltation & upgrading historic sites & resources. • Creating & supporting community/affordable housing. • Preserving open space. • Developing recreational facilities.
Funds are raised for these purposes through a surcharge assessed on local property tax bills ranging from 1% up to 3%. The percentage is determined by voters and several exemptions can also be authorized by voters at the time of adoption. Local adoption of the CPA also triggers annual distributions to towns from the state’s Community Preservation Trust Fund maintained by the Mass. Dept. of Revenue.
The two sources of revenue — the local fund and the state fund — form a town's Community Preservation Fund. A local committee is seated to work with other town Boards, review possible projects, and make annual recommendations on use of the funds to go before the voters at Town Meeting.
To date, 160 towns & cities have adopted the CPA and some towns have reviewed the process and voted not to adopt the CPA. If moved forward, consideration of adopting the CPA occurs as a two-step process — first by local voters at a Town Meeting, then by ballot vote at a town or state election.
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For more information: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elecpa/cpaidx.htm
For examples of CPA projects in other towns: http://www.communitypreservation.org/projects/report
The full MGL Chapter 44B can be found on line at:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter44B
and
http://www.communitypreservation.org/content/text-legislation
Below is the specific MGL text detailing which categories of projects can be funded by a town with their CPA funds:
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT
General Laws Chapter 44B (2010 Official Edition)
As amended by St. 2012, c. 139, §§ 69-83 and c. 503 of the Acts of 2014
Provided by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, January 2013 and amended January 2015
Section 2:
(2) The community preservation committee shall make recommendations to the legislative body 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 as provided in this section; provided, however, that funds expended pursuant to this chapter shall not be used for maintenance.
With respect to community housing, the community preservation committee shall recommend, wherever possible, the reuse of existing buildings or construction of new buildings on previously developed sites. With respect to recreational use, the acquisition of artificial turf for athletic fields shall be prohibited.
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Steven C. Boudreau- Administrative & ADA Coordinator
3 South Main Street PO Box 486
Petersham, MA 01366
978-724-3353 Office
774-200-4629 Cell
978-724-3501 Fax
Email [email protected]
Office Hours:
Monday 7am-7pm
Tuesday 7am-4pm
Wednesday & Thursday 8am-4pm
Friday 8am - 12 noon
Discussion About the Community Preservation Act
Tuesday, January 26, 7:30 PM
Selectboard Meeting at Town Hall
The public is invited to attend a program to learn about the Community Preservation Act (CPA) presented by Stuart Saginor, Executive Director of the Community Preservation Coalition.
Residents, town Boards & Committees, and staff are encouraged to attend, learn about the CPA, learn how it would effect Petersham if adopted by the voters, and ask questions. We hope you can attend on January 26th to learn more and bring your questions to see if this a program that should be brought before Petersham town voters for consideration. Please note, the Selectboard has no opinion nor taken any action on the subject and at this time is seeking information.
In summary:
The Community Preservation Act is a state law (MGL Chapter 44B) signed by Gov. Paul Cellucci and Lt. Gov. Jane Swift in September 2000. If adopted by local voters, it enables a town to annually raise monies for a local Community Preservation Fund to be used for the purposes of:
• Rehaibiltation & upgrading historic sites & resources. • Creating & supporting community/affordable housing. • Preserving open space. • Developing recreational facilities.
Funds are raised for these purposes through a surcharge assessed on local property tax bills ranging from 1% up to 3%. The percentage is determined by voters and several exemptions can also be authorized by voters at the time of adoption. Local adoption of the CPA also triggers annual distributions to towns from the state’s Community Preservation Trust Fund maintained by the Mass. Dept. of Revenue.
The two sources of revenue — the local fund and the state fund — form a town's Community Preservation Fund. A local committee is seated to work with other town Boards, review possible projects, and make annual recommendations on use of the funds to go before the voters at Town Meeting.
To date, 160 towns & cities have adopted the CPA and some towns have reviewed the process and voted not to adopt the CPA. If moved forward, consideration of adopting the CPA occurs as a two-step process — first by local voters at a Town Meeting, then by ballot vote at a town or state election.
————————--
For more information: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elecpa/cpaidx.htm
For examples of CPA projects in other towns: http://www.communitypreservation.org/projects/report
The full MGL Chapter 44B can be found on line at:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter44B
and
http://www.communitypreservation.org/content/text-legislation
Below is the specific MGL text detailing which categories of projects can be funded by a town with their CPA funds:
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT
General Laws Chapter 44B (2010 Official Edition)
As amended by St. 2012, c. 139, §§ 69-83 and c. 503 of the Acts of 2014
Provided by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, January 2013 and amended January 2015
Section 2:
(2) The community preservation committee shall make recommendations to the legislative body 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 as provided in this section; provided, however, that funds expended pursuant to this chapter shall not be used for maintenance.
With respect to community housing, the community preservation committee shall recommend, wherever possible, the reuse of existing buildings or construction of new buildings on previously developed sites. With respect to recreational use, the acquisition of artificial turf for athletic fields shall be prohibited.
————————--
Steven C. Boudreau- Administrative & ADA Coordinator
3 South Main Street PO Box 486
Petersham, MA 01366
978-724-3353 Office
774-200-4629 Cell
978-724-3501 Fax
Email [email protected]
Office Hours:
Monday 7am-7pm
Tuesday 7am-4pm
Wednesday & Thursday 8am-4pm
Friday 8am - 12 noon