Community Preservation Committee
Town Hall Judge Welsh Room
April 29, 2005
Members Present: David Nicolau, Chairman, Bill
Dougal, Eric Dray, Tim Hazel, Stephen Milkewicz
Excused Absences: Elaine Anderson, Vice Chairman,
Nancy Jacobsen, Treg Kaeselau
A quorum being present,
David Nicolau opened the Public Hearing at 9:10 a.m.
Public Hearing
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Win Smith from the
Planning Board was present. He said that he will be the representative from the
Planning Board on the Community Preservation Committee. He had not been
officially appointed as yet, so was not here as a member today.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION
WITH LAURA SHUFELT
David Nicolau opened the
discussion with Laura Shufelt, a consultant who is working with the Falmouth
Housing Authority. Ms. Shufelt presented information about the process of
obtaining and distributing CPA funds. She handed out copies of Employment and
Wages Reports from the Massachusetts Division of Career Centers and Division of
Unemployment Assistance. Ms Shufelt had compared figures from these reports
with figures from 2001 and 2003. She found that the statistics are similar and
there has not been much change from year to year. Provincetown's median income
is about 30% less than the county median. These figures include all employees,
including the self-employed. The CPA funding is based on the county median, not
Provincetown's median income. Provincetown's middle income is comparable to the
county median income. Even though CPA funding can be used only for moderate and
median income groups, here in Provincetown that would include most middle
income people as well. If a person or family makes below a certain amount, a
landlord might not rent to them, because they couldn't afford the rent, David
Nicolau said that CPA money could be used to subsidize poorer people, Bill
Dougal mentioned the fact that one must live here year-round in order in order
to benefit. People in the service professions don't always stay year-round.
Laura Shufelt said that leases must be for year-round residents and there must
be monitoring to make sure that this is complied with. A person is considered a
resident as soon as s/he lives here. Preference cannot be shown to those who
have lived here longer.
The selection criteria
must be made simple so people can understand it. It was suggested that there be
rolling application dates. David Nicolau said that some existing housing should
be kept, but at an affordable level.
A question was asked about
what the timetable should be. Ms. Shufelt said that between now and June 1st,
the Committee should develop the selection criteria and application. Mr.
Nicolau said that some work has already been done on this. The RFP's (or notice
of funding availability for community housing) should go out on July 1st
and applications should be returned by August 1st. The Committee
would then have a month to review the applications and have something to
present to the Board of Selectmen by mid-September. The selections would then
be presented at the fall Town Meeting. Tim Hazel and Bill Dougal want the
support of the BOS and thought that they should be given a progress report and
a final draft before the applications are made public.
Laura Shufelt said that
applications could still be received after the August 1st deadline,
but they would not be approved until the spring Town Meeting. Those chosen
would have to demonstrate a need for the money and present preliminary plans
and a budget for the first year.
David Nicolau suggested
that the Committee meet with the Board of Selectman in early June to review
their work and make any changes before July 1st.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be
on Tuesday, May 10th at 4:30 p.m..
A motion was made to
adjourn the meeting at 10:30 a.m.
Moved by: David Nicolau Seconded by:
Bill Dougal Yea: 5 Nay: 0
Respectfully Submitted
Cynthia Curran
Approved by:
_________________________________ on ______________________
David Nicolau, Chairman
Date