MEMBERS SOUGHT FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

Somerville voters overwhelmingly approved adoption of

the CPA in November 2012. The act will raise an estimated $1.5 million in

funding annually via a tax surcharge and state funds that are designated for major

public investments in open space and outdoor recreation, affordable housing,

and historic preservation. The Community Preservation Committee, required by

the CPA, is tasked with evaluating Somerville's needs in those three specific

areas and making recommendations to the Board of Alderman on how CPA funding

should be spent.

The committee consists of nine volunteers, including

four members from the general public and a member from each of the following

bodies: the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, the Historical

Preservation Commission, the Parks and Open Space Department, and the Housing

Authority. The City is currently looking to fill the four general public positions.

To ensure the most qualified applicants are selected, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

has formed a planning team of City experts and community members to review

applications, conduct interviews, and consider public feedback on candidates.

From the group of applicants, they will nominate candidates for appointment for

the Mayor to review. The Mayor will then submit candidate finalists to the

Board of Aldermen for approval.

"The diversity of expertise of Somerville residents is

one of the greatest strengths of our city, as is our residents' passion. The

Community Preservation Committee will leverage those strengths to guide CPA

funds towards the best possible uses," Mayor Curtatone said. "Somerville works

best when we involve the community in shaping our vision for the future and in

our decision making process, from our long-term SomerVision comprehensive plan

to our grassroots-oriented Somerville by Design neighborhood planning sessions.

The Community Preservation Committee will once again tap the wisdom of our

community, match with our City experts' know-how, and build a better city for

all."

Committee members serve three-year terms, but initial

appointments to the committee have been staggered, so therefore the City seeks to

fill two one-year term positions, one two-year term position, and one three-year

term position. Though it is ultimately the decision of the Community

Preservation Committee to decide when and how often to meet, the City expects

that it will meet one to two times each month in the evening. The inaugural

meeting of the committee will likely take place in December 2013 or January

2014.

Being an effective committee member will require that

you:

• Familiarize yourself
  
  with Somerville's affordable housing, historic preservation, and open
  
  space/outdoor recreation policies and needs

• Familiarize yourself
  
  with the law (Community Preservation Act, MGL Chapter 44B) that governs the committee

• Attend meetings
  
  regularly

• Foster good relations
  
  with other city departments, boards, and commissions

• Listen to and be
  
  responsive to community feedback

• Use fairness and
  
  objectivity when making decisions

The planning team is seeking candidates who:

• Are supportive of all
  
  three programmatic areas of the CPA: affordable housing, historic
  
  preservation, and open space and outdoor recreation AND

• Have demonstrated a
  
  commitment to at least one of these areas.

In addition, the goal of the planning team is to

create a balanced committee that includes members who:

• Come from diverse
  
  demographic backgrounds

• Represent all
  
  geographic areas of the City

• Have financial
  
  expertise

• Have project
  
  management experience

• Are actively
  
  involved in the community

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested residents should complete the application available on the City's website at http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/CPC%20application_8%2026%2013.pdf

or outside the SomerStat Office at City Hall, 93

Highland Ave. Completed applications should be sent to Candace Cooper (ccooper@somervillema.gov or 617.625.6600 ext. 3306) by September 22, 2013. All

residents are welcome to apply. No nomination is required to submit an

application.

To find out more about serving as a CPC member, please

visit the following websites:

http://www.somervillema.gov/cpa

http://www.communitypreservation.org/