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: December 1, 2025
🕖 Duration: 2hr16min
📍 Location: Town Hall conference room and Zoom
👥 Committee Members Present: Joseph Carnahan (Chair), Sarah Brukilacchio, Martha Moore, Sanford Matathia, Kate Kaminer, Margaret Donnelly Moran, Carlo Bacci
🔹Call to Order
🕒 7:30 PM
- Meeting called to order; all members present in person.
- No public comments.
🔹Liaison Reports
🕒 8:00–9:04
- Recreation Committee: Presentation postponed to January due to November meeting cancellation and December joint meeting with Council on Aging.
- Finance Committee: Presentation completed; discussion focused on CPA funding offsetting capital costs and affordable housing implications.
- Reading Open Land Trust: Positive engagement; questions about joint land ownership and conservation restrictions.
🔹CPA Project Spotlight
🕒 9:04–14:14
- Examples Shared:
- Hingham: $250K CPA funds for six-unit veterans housing.
- Dog Park Project: Highlighted strong community appeal.
- Chelsea: CPA funds used for rental subsidies during COVID.
- Amherst: CPA-funded upgrades to North Common (trees, benches).
🔹Town Meeting Outreach Recap
🕒 14:14–30:10
- CPA information table staffed for three nights during November Town Meeting.
- Distributed all flyers; engaged with attendees for Q\&A.
- Messaging emphasized timeline: Select Board presentation in January, Town Meeting vote in April.
🔹Pending Outreach
🕒 30:10–36:01
- Library Trustees: Presentation scheduled for December 8, 2025 at 7 PM (Sarah and Kate to attend).
- Recreation Committee: January meeting confirmed.
- Council on Aging & Cemetery Trustees: Outreach attempts ongoing.
- Bylaw Committee: Deferred until post-Town Meeting.
🔹Key Decisions: CPA Recommendations
🕒 36:01–1:13:20
✅ Surcharge Rate
- Motion: Recommend 1% CPA surcharge.
- Vote: Passed unanimously (7–0).
- Rationale:
- Balances affordability and revenue (~$95/year per household).
- Enables state match and leverage for grants.
- Aligns with historical spending on CPA-eligible projects (~$10M over 10 years).
✅ Residential Exemptions
- Motion: Recommend:
- First $100,000 of assessed residential value.
- Full exemption for low-income households.
- Full exemption for low/moderate-income seniors.
- Vote: Passed unanimously (7–0).
✅ Commercial/Industrial Properties
- Motion: Exempt all commercial and industrial properties.
- Vote: Passed (6–0–1; Carlo abstained due to conflict of interest).
- Rationale:
- Minimal revenue impact (~$51K).
- Avoids political controversy and supports local businesses.
🔹Report Development
🕒 1:13:20–2:08:31
- Draft Report Review:
- Structure modeled on Natick and Winchester reports.
- Sections finalized: Executive Summary, CPA benefits, surcharge impact, exemptions.
- Pending updates:
- Rewrite override/tax impact section (Joe).
- Clarify state match language (“partial contribution” vs. “match”).
- Add local context for capital plan and unmet needs.
- Remove outdated references; confirm current plans with town staff.
- Include warrant article template for CPA adoption (exclude CPC formation language).
- Visuals:
- Photos of Birch Meadow playground, tennis courts, pickleball courts.
- Open space and historic sites.
- Affordable housing examples.
- Action Items:
- Members to send edits and photos by Dec 6 (via Jackie for public record).
- Margaret to incorporate revisions and circulate updated draft before next meeting.
🔹Next Meetings
📅 December 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
📍 Focus: Finalize CPA report for Select Board presentation in January.
✅ Key Outcomes
- Surcharge & Exemptions Approved: 1% rate; residential exemptions; full commercial exemption.
- Report Draft Reviewed: Major edits and visuals identified; timeline set for completion.
- Outreach Scheduled: Library Trustees (Dec 8); Recreation (Jan); others pending.
