CPA project funding total among the highest in recent years

Date: 10/2/2014

LONGMEADOW – The Community Preservation Committee’s (CPC) list of grant recommendations for 2014 was one of the largest in recent years, with a total of $758,397 approved for 10 different projects by residents at the 2014 Annual Town Meeting.

“We can approve projects in four general categories; historic preservation, open space, community housing, and recreation,” CPC Chairperson Steve Weiss said. “So every application that we get has to fit into one of those four boxes, if you will.”

One of the largest projects funded by Community Preservation Act (CPA) money was the Blinn Tennis Courts for $325,000 of its initial project estimate of $675,000.

Select Board Chair Richard Foster said the lowest bid for the project is $832,690.

“The courts are heavily used by the public for area tournaments, league play, lessons, and general recreation,” Board of Park Commissioners Chair James Russell stated in a letter to the CPC. “With the courts being over 50 years old, they are in serious need of major reconstruction, including the surface areas, fencing, and lighting.”

Weiss said other projects include the removal of two softball fields and grass areas to create multipurpose fields at Wolf Swamp Field for $35,000 and improvements to the stage and auditorium at the Community House for $54,000.

The Wolf Swamp Field project is nearing completion, he added.

Russell said the Community House was constructed in 1921 and serves the town for recreational purposes, elections, and as a rental space for parties, weddings, churches, and town events.

The Greenwood Park project also received CPA funding for the creation of a walking trail, adjacent to the Adult Center for $5,970.

Elliptical trainers will also be placed in the Molly McEvoy Playground, the bocce court will be upgraded, and a horseshoe pit, a shuffleboard court, benches, and picnic tables will be placed in the area.

A second phase project for the restoration of deteriorating gravestones dating back to the 1740s was also approved for $30,080, Weiss said.

“Longmeadow’s historic gravestones and grave markers are critical to the telling of the history of our town,” Longmeadow Cemetery Association Chairman Alfred McKee explained. “The markers placed by our forefathers mark the graves of some of [the town’s] earliest inhabitants and tell the story of the lives of these early citizens.”

Weiss said the historic preservation of thousands of town documents dating back to the 1700s is a project that was approved for $20,000.

“In terms of community housing, we authorized a project to install an emergency generator at Genesis House, which is an affordable housing property,” he added.

Several projects that were submitted to the CPC were rejected last year, including improvements to Storrs Library’s sidewalk, driveway, and handicap access.

Weiss explained that typically when a project is rejected for CPC recommendation to be added to a Town Meeting warrant, it doesn’t fit into specific qualifications for funding.

About two or three years ago, the CPC changed its qualifications in regards to recreations projects, which has resulted in increased of funding for that criteria, he added.

CPA funds are derived from a 1 percent surcharge on real estate taxes and grant money from the Commonwealth, Weiss explained.

The CPC is usually comprised of nine members, four at-large members and five representatives appointed from town board, who serve three-year terms. Currently, there is one open spot on the committee.

Weiss said that any individual interested in serving on the CPC should contact the Select Board in order to be interviewed for an appointment on the committee.

“There are certain projects that would be hard to fund through a regular town budget because it deals with certain priority items like roads, sewers, infrastructure, and utilities,” he added.

The deadline for submitting an application for 2015 CPA funding is Dec. 4.