Residents petition to repeal CPA, despite extensive work

Date: 7/14/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



AGAWAM -- Billy Chester of Barry Street wants his $20 back and he's petitioning the town to get it.

Chester and 1,005 registered voters have signed a petition requesting that a question to repeal the Community Preservation Act's (CPA) one percent surcharge -- totaling approximately $20 per resident annually -- be put on the November ballot.

"I can buy one 90-day prescription with my $20 co-pay for what I give to the CPA and that will benefit me better than the CPA," Chester told Reminder Publications. "The people should have the right to say how they want to spend their money."

Agawam voters established the CPA in 2001, which uses funds garnered from the one percent surcharge -- and matching funds from the state -- to preserve open space and historical sites and establish affordable housing and recreational facilities.

The CPA has allocated funds for a variety of projects since its inception, including $1.6 million for School Street Park; $92,000 to replace the vandalized playscape at Benjamin J. Phelps Elementary School; $97,000 for the restoration of the Thomas Smith House; and $248,000 to the Housing Authority for building repairs.

"So far, the majority of money that we've spent on approved projects has been state money and not from the town taxpayers because we've been using matching state funds and the interest [accrued]," Louis Russo, vice chair of the CPA Committee, explained, adding that there's currently $2 million remaining in the CPA account.

He added that the CPA has allocated funds for projects that the town wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise. Russo noted that the CPA surcharge is deductable on each resident's federal income taxes.

"Before anyone makes a decision whether or not they want to repeal [the CPA surcharge], I ask them to get the facts about what the CPA is and what it's done for this community," he said. "Don't listen to the handful of people who don't really understand the CPA themselves."

Town Clerk Richard Theroux said 1,005 of the 1,026 signatures on the petition have been certified and that his office is waiting on direction from the Law Department and City Council on how to proceed.