Community Preservation Committee

Overview

§ 41-1Establishment.

A. There is hereby established a Community Preservation Committee ("Committee"), consisting of nine voting members pursuant to MGL Chapter 44B. The composition of the Committee, the appointment authority and the term of office for the Committee members shall be as follows:

(1) One member of the Planning Board (created by MGL c. 41, § 81a) as designated by the Board for an initial term of one year and subsequent terms of three years.

(2) One member of the Conservation Commission (created by MGL c. 40, § 8C) as designated by the Commission for an initial term of two years and subsequent terms of three years.

(3) One member of the Historical Commission (created by MGL c. 40, § 8D) as designated by the Commission for a term of three years.

(4) One member of the Park Commissioners (created by MGL c. 45, § 2) as designated by the Board for an initial term of one year and subsequent terms of three years.

(5) One member of the Housing Authority Board (created by MGL c. 121B, § 3) as designated by its Board of Directors for an initial term of two years and subsequent terms of three years.

(6) One member of the Open Space and Recreation Committee (created by the Board of Selectmen) for a term of three years.

(7) One member of the Board of Health (created by MGL c. 111, § 26) as designated by the Board for an initial term of one year and subsequent terms of three years.

(8) One member of the general public who does not concurrently hold elected or appointed office, nor concurrently serve as a municipal employee, to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen for an initial term of two years and subsequent terms of three years.

(9) One member of the general public who does not concurrently hold elected or appointed office, nor concurrently serve as a municipal employee, to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a term of three years.

B. Any vacancy on the Committee, whether arising by resignation or expiration of term or otherwise, shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the commission, authority or board that designated or appointed the member.

C. Should any of the entities who have appointment authority under this bylaw be no longer in existence for whatever reason, the appointment authority for that entity shall become the responsibility of the Board of Selectmen.

§ 41-2Duties.

A. The Community Preservation Committee shall study the needs, possibilities and resources of the Town regarding community preservation. The Committee shall consult with existing municipal boards, including the Board of Selectmen, the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission, the Planning Board, the Parks Commissioners and the Housing Authority, or persons acting in those capacities or performing like duties, in conducting such studies. As part of its study, the Committee shall hold one or more public informational hearings on the needs, possibilities and resources of the Town regarding community preservation possibilities and resources, notice of which shall be posted publicly and published for each of two weeks preceding a hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town. The Committee may, after proper appropriation, incur expenses as permitted by state law using funds from the Community Preservation Fund to pay such expenses.

B. 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 the rehabilitation or restoration of open space and community housing that is acquired or created with Community Preservation Funds. 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.

C. The Community Preservation Committee may include in its recommendation to the 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 recommended action to set aside for later spending funds for general purposes that are consistent with community preservation.