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CPC makes final decision on projects for Town Meeting

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW Despite being a relatively new group in town, the Longmeadow Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has officially made its first largely important decision on which publicly-submitted applications will be included on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, taking place April 29.

The projects, if approved by town residents, would be funded by monies provided by the Community Preservation Act (CPA), a property tax surcharge of one percent with revenues matched by state funds that fund open space, historic preservation, community housing and recreation projects.

Of the 12 applications submitted, six have been chosen by the CPC for inclusion in a warrant article. Some proposals are straightforward, while others involve conditions for approval.

Section A of the article, "Preservation of Community House Painting and Balustrade," entails the painting of the exterior trim of the Community House and the replacement of the building's balustrade (decorative railing), which would be contingent upon a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic District Commission. The project would be completely funded by the historic preservation CPA monies.

Rebecca Townsend, at large member of the CPC, said she thinks the town will stand behind this project. "It's the Community House," she said. "The project has a lot of meaning and history for the town."

Section B asks for funds from the CPA's undesignated fund for vital record preservation.

Section C asks for approval for a patio to be built at the Council on Aging's Adult Center, but only if the materials and surface used are environmentally-friendly and the site is approved by the town's Tree Committee.

The Longmeadow Adult Center will also be seeking approval for game tables, as long as the location is approved by the Tree Committee, in Section D. Both projects will need verification from the CPC.

Section E, the Historical Images of Longmeadow project, would be fully funded if approved, providing a minimum of 150 photograph negatives would be officially owned and stored by the town of Longmeadow.

Finally, Section F would appropriate $53,000 from FY09 anticipated CPA revenue for the Colony Hills Streetlights and Streetsigns Restoration project, but only if the Colony Hills neighborhood is recognized as a historic district within 24 months of town approval.

Arlene Miller, vice-chair of the CPC, suggested discussing this project last in the article because she thought it was the most contentious of the six.

Several of the six applications that were not approved of by the CPC could be considered contentious as well, however. The most prevalent project was the creation of a synthetic multi-purpose athletic field at the high school.

"It was rejected unanimously," Townsend said. "The project did highlight for me and other members of the committee the need for maintenance of the fields we already have. The proposed turf field site was a mess last year."

She thanked the town residents who provided their input on the project proposal over the past few months.

The Riverfront Park project was rejected as well, but the project itself wasn't as divisive as the turf field. "It stinks it was rejected because it was a great project," Townsend told Reminder Publications, "but we can't approve of projects in areas already designated as recreational."

The Turner Park project was denied from the warrant article and funding for the same reason.

To review the full applications of the projects that will be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting, go to www.longmeadow.org/towngovt/commpreservation.htm.