Lenox CPC finds faults in several proposals

LENOX – The Community Preservation Committee has some new options this year as it moves forward with its granting process.

The largest change is an increase in focus from the state level on outdoor recreation.

“This is the first year we can use funding for recreation facilities, and we need to continue to work that into our plans,” said Town Planner Mary Albertson.

To this end, last year the CPC set aside $350,000 to acquire more open space in the town.

Yet, for this year, the only outdoor recreation project, a rehab of Roche Reading Park, has been withdrawn by the applicant.

After that withdrawal, the committee is left with five projects to discuss and deliberate in preparation for the annual town meeting.

“I really believe that, given our financial situation, we are going to have to deny several of these proposals,” said CPC Member Albert Harper. “And I think we should only be spending an additional $130,000 for a max.”

This year’s requests total over $300,000. This year’s requests come from the Lenox Fire Department, The Mount, Ventfort Hall, Church on the Hill Cemetery and the Lenox Affordable Housing Trust.

One proposal that has received a lot of attention from the CPC is the one by the Lenox Fire Company.

The majority of that discussion is over whether restoring fire trucks is the best use of town funds.

“It can be a hard pill to swallow that we spent $75,000 on old trucks if you live on a road that doesn’t have town sewer,” said CPC Member Eugene Chague.

The board also had questions over how the trucks would be stored and made available to the town.

Jeff Lynch, who presented for the fire company, explained, currently, the trucks are stored in barns and garages around town, and they have limited members who can drive and show the trucks.

“I would like to hear a plan of how they will be stored and open to the public to have some value to the residents,” said Mr. Harper.

No decision has been made by the board on the project, but if the CPC approves it, the project will still also need approval by the Historical Commission.

The CPC has also been discussing an application by The Mount for $40,000 for a utility overhaul in the stables building.

“There is no question that The Mount is a great resource for the town,” said Mr. Harper. “But they are the only applicant that can raise the funds on their own, and we have some very needy projects.”

Several board members then went through their mission statement and pointed out how well the project met up with all of their goals.

“This project gives us great bang for the buck and would be great for the whole town,” said CPC Member Joe G. Strauch.

The CPC also took up the request by the affordable housing trust and the overall outlook for funding from the board was not good for the trust.

“I cannot see giving them another cent because nothing has happened with the funding they do have,” said CPC Chair Frederick Keator.

The only CPC member to back the proposal at the most recent meeting was Kathleen McNulty-Vaughan, who is also a member of the Affordable Housing Trust.

“We had to ask, but I don’t think we were expecting to get your approval, but we wanted to vet the idea with you,” said Mrs. McNulty-Vaughan.

Posted by Kameron Z. Spaulding on February 28, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry