ALDERMEN TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT, SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS THIS WEEK
the regular meeting of the Somerville Board of Aldermen on Thursday, April 11th,
Aldermen will discuss the Community Preservation Committee Ordinance, which had
been introduced by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone on February 28th and referred to
the Committee on Legislative Matters following the passage of the Community
Preservation Act (CPA) by a local electorate on the 2012 ballot. The CPA was passed by Massachusetts State
Legislature in 2000, and allows the City to raise funds for projects
that involve the acquisition, creation, preservation, support, rehabilitation
and restoration of open space, historic resources, recreational land and
community affordable housing. The key
terms of the ordinance will set forth the composition of the Committee, terms
of the Committee members, and methods for members of the general public to
apply for membership on the Committee.
"Somerville voters
approved the CPA by a margin of three-to-one, further demonstrating our
community's commitment to maintaining and improving our open space, creating
new affordable housing opportunities, and preserving our unique historic
character," said Mayor Curtatone. "As we
work to form a Committee in the coming weeks, I look forward to engaging
discussions from representatives in each of these areas of expertise, and to
forming recommendations to strengthen our commitment to these projects."
"This is an important step in our advancement and growth as
a community," said Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz. "With this ordinance,
we're proving that our residents and stakeholders truly have a key role to play
in that development, and that is really something, to know that the public is
so invested in their community."
The CPA was passed in 2000 as an optional measure to
support funding for projects related to historic preservation, open space, or
affordable housing in individual cities and towns. Somerville voters favored the CPA ballot
question in November 2012 with a majority of 75%.
The CPA surcharge - 1.5% on the total net tax of each
property within the City - will apply to the FY 2014 tax bill starting with the
first quarter bill issued on July 1, 2013 but revenues will not be available
until the next fiscal year. The Commonwealth will also match whatever
funds are raised in the City, though a match percentage has not yet been
determined.
There are several exemptions from the CPA surcharge that are
available. The first $100,000 of total assessed value will be exempt from
the CPA calculation on all taxable properties. In addition, taxpayers with
a total full or gross value of $100,000 or less will be exempt from the CPA
surcharge altogether. Low and moderate income taxpayers may also be
exempt from the surcharge upon application to the Board of Assessors based upon
area wide median income guidelines established by HUD and CPA
regulations. Applications will be accepted by the Assessors after the Q3
tax bill is issued around December 31, 2013. A new application will be
required each fiscal year after the mailing of the Q3 tax bill.
The funds accrued through the ordinance will be discussed
by the nine voting members of the CPC, which will be formed in the coming weeks.
This committee will be charged with the vetting of all projects submitted by
application for CPC funding. Final
recommendations will be made by the Committee to the Mayor and the Board of
Aldermen.
CPC members will be selected according to the ordinance,
and will have a term of three years. Per the ordinance, the Committee will
include one member of the Planning Board, one member of the Conservation Commission,
one member of the Historical Preservation Commission, one member of the Parks
and Open Space Department, one member of the Somerville Housing Authority and
four members of the public selected by the Mayor, and confirmed by the BOA, and
not affiliated with the operations of the City through appointment or election.
No member shall be allowed to serve more than 2 terms, and the first members of
the committee will have only 2 or 1 year terms in order to properly stagger the
terms. The CPC will recommend projects using CPA funds, with final
authorization being made by the Mayor.
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