Below is a summarized version of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Study Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
🏛️ Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study Committee Meeting Summary
📅 Date: September 29, 2025
🕖 Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Town Hall and Zoom
👥 Committee Members Present: Joseph Carnahan (Chair), Sarah Brukilacchio, Sanford Matathia, Martha Moore, Carlo Bacci, Catherine Kaminer
(Absent: Margaret Donnelly Moran)
🔹Call to Order and Introductions
🕒 7:30–9:13
- Meeting called to order with quorum present.
- Welcomed new Recreation Committee liaison Catherine Kaminer.
- Committee members introduced themselves and their affiliations.
🔹Liaison Reports
🕒 9:13–21:30
- Conservation Commission: Mattera Cabin needs upgrades; CPA may be a funding source. Clarified CPA cannot fund maintenance, only upgrades.
- Discussion: Reviewed CPA eligibility matrix from CPC materials.
🔹CPA Project Spotlights
🕒 21:30–25:53
- Pelham – Amethyst Brook Apartments: $500K CPA leveraged into $22M affordable housing project.
- Lowell – Pucket Wildlife Sanctuary: $1.5M CPA leveraged into $12M open space preservation project.
- Emphasis on CPA’s power to leverage additional funding.
🔹Reading Fall Street Faire Recap
🕒 25:53–38:41
- Committee staffed an outreach table with flyers, a CPA map, and a marble voting activity.
- ~50 participants voted on preferred surcharge rate:
- Majority favored 1%
- Some preferred 1.5% but felt 1% was more politically viable
- Feedback included interest in downsides and tax impacts.
- Discussion on timing and messaging challenges, especially with potential future overrides.
🔹Committee Outreach Updates
🕒 38:41–1:24:18
✅ Completed Presentations:
- Climate Advisory Committee: Supportive; vote pending.
- Reading Housing Authority: Presentation by Margaret and Sandy; vote pending.
- School Committee: Concerns about tax impact and override timing; discussion on historic buildings and recreation spaces.
- Conservation Commission: Presented by Martha and Sandy using a Q&A format; feedback on CPA committee composition and capital plan eligibility.
📅 Upcoming Presentations:
| Date | Committee | Assigned Members |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | Trails Committee | Martha Moore |
| Oct 6 | CPDC | Sarah Brukilacchio, Sanford Matathia |
| Oct 8 | Financial Forum | TBD (Margaret likely) |
| Oct 15 | Affordable Housing Trust Fund | Margaret Donnelly Moran (TBD) |
| Nov 3 | Housing Authority (tentative) | TBD |
| Nov 5 | Historical Commission | Sarah Brukilacchio, TBD |
| Oct 20 | Recreation Committee (tentative) | Catherine Kaminer, TBD |
📨 Outreach in Progress:
- Bylaw Committee: Scheduling pending due to busy agenda.
- Library Trustees: Sandy to follow up.
- Cemetery Trustees: Sarah to follow up.
- Council on Aging: Outreach pending.
🔹Additional Outreach Planning
🕒 1:24:18–1:39:05
- Town Staff: Suggested outreach to department heads (e.g., Recreation, Planning, Housing).
- Town Meeting: Allan declined live presentation; committee may request a table in the hallway.
- Library Event: Committee will participate in “Connected Reading” at Reading Public Library on October 28, 5–7 PM.
- Joe to register table
- Martha to provide marble voting setup
- Flyers and CPA map to be reused
🔹Report Composition & Public Input
🕒 1:39:05–1:54:04
- Discussed timing for public input before final report to Select Board.
- Considered inviting public to November 3 meeting for feedback.
- Emphasized importance of advertising meeting to encourage attendance.
🔹Next Meeting Scheduled
🕒 1:54:04–1:56:05
📅 Date: Monday, November 3, 2025
🕖 Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Reading Town Hall
- Sandy will present next CPA project spotlight.
🔹Meeting Minutes Approval
🕒 1:56:05–1:59:46
- August 18, 2025 minutes approved unanimously (6–0)
- Noted that Conservation Commission did not submit a funding request for November Town Meeting as previously expected
🔹Adjournment
🕒 1:59:46–2:00:14
- Meeting adjourned by unanimous vote
✅ Key Outcomes
- New Member Welcomed: Kate Kaminer joins as Recreation Committee liaison
- Outreach Expanded: Multiple committee presentations completed and scheduled
- Public Engagement: Successful Fall Street Faire outreach; upcoming library event planned
- Surcharge Feedback: Majority of public input favors 1% rate
- Next Meeting: November 3, 2025; public input encouraged
