CPA plans to continue work through FY11

Date: 7/13/2010

July 14, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

AGAWAM -- The Community Preservation Act (CPA) Committee plans lengthen its laundry list of community-wide improve-ments throughout fiscal year 2011 (FY11).

The City Council will vote at its next meeting to authorize the reservation and appropriation of approximately $509,000 of CPA funds for FY11. If approved, the funds would be divided to cover administrative expenses, community housing, open space and recreation, historic resources and budgeted reserve.

CPA Chair Henry Kozloski said projects on tap for FY11 could include the development of School Street Park's remaining 20 acres, the completed preservation of the town's historical records and the possible acquisition of the Sportsman Club on Corey Street for open space and recreation.

The CPA collected $393,071 from taxpayers' 1 percent surcharge on property taxes in FY09 and received $137,993 in matching funds from the state last October. The funds were initially matched 100 percent by the state but now garner a 31 percent return, Kozloski noted.

"The books closed on June 30 [so we won't know what] the state will match until October," he explained of matching funds from FY10.

Since the CPA's inception in 2003, the committee and the city council have agreed to authorize $303,591 for historic preservation, $248,757 for community housing, $18,257 for open space, $1.8 million for recreation and $40,915 for administrative expenses.

Other projects on the committee's radar include potential uses for the historic preservation of School Street Barn, Minerva Davis Community House and Town Hall.

Funding was previously allocated for preservation projects including the restoration of the Thomas Smith House, School Street Park, the Capt. Charles Leonard House, among others.

The City Council will vote on the CPA resolution at its July 19 meeting.