Council opts against putting CPA repeal on ballot

Date: 6/28/2011

June 29, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

AGAWAM — For the second time in as many years, a resolution to allow residents to vote to maintain or discontinue the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) property surtax failed to win support from the City Council.

The 1 percent surcharge is used to fund community improvement projects – such as the proposed renovations to the School Street Barn — under the state’s Community Preservation Act (CPA).

The measure was defeated by a vote of 9-2 at the June 20 meeting — with Councilors John Walsh, co-sponsor of the resolution, and George Bitzas in the minority in support of allowing voters to decide the issue.

“The resolution is not a question of whether or not we are in favor of the Community Preservation Act or not, it’s whether we are going to permit the voters to decide to keep the Community Preservation Fund or not,” Walsh argued prior to the vote.

He noted the effects of the economic downturn on residents and the restriction that CPF monies only be used for preservation or restoration projects — not repairs such as the much-needed replacement of the high school’s track — as major reasons he supported putting the surtax to a vote.

Councilor Robert Rossi, who said he had been working with the CPA Commission to find ways to loosen the restrictions on the use of its funds, noted that he’d “never heard” any voters say the that they wanted the 1 percent surtax removed.

City Councilor Joseph Mineo said he, too, had heard no complaints about the surtax. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said.

City Councilor James Cichetti, who originally co-sponsored the resolution, said that after learning about a measure before the state legislature designed to loosen the ways CPA funds can be used, he was withdrawing his support.

“I’m not against the CPA, but I am for letting people decide,” Bitzas said as he tried unsuccessfully to convince his fellow councilors to allow the issue to go to a public vote in November. “Please give them an opportunity to vote [on this] in our election,” he added.

City Councilor Jill Messick said the public already has recourse to complain about the surtax and to voice their opinion about bringing the issue to a vote.

“If that happens, and there is a groundswell of people writing letters to the newspapers and us, then let it be put on the ballot,” Messick said.

Debbie Gardner can be reached by e-mail at debbieg@thereminder.com