Community Preservation Committee

Meetings

• Monthly

Committee Members Appointed by Board of Selectmen

• John Alves, Chairperson
  Term Expires: 2025
• Susan Waddington, Secretary
  Term Expires: 2025
• Priscilla Dunn, Member
  Term Expires: 2025
• Willit Mason, Member
  Term Expires: 2026

Board Representatives

• James Troiano
  Board: Parks and Recreation
• James Tusino
  Board: Housing Authority
• Michael Dressler
  Board: Historical Commission
• Rob Emlen
  Board: Conservation Commission
• David Sullivan, Jr.
  Board: Planning Board

Mission Statement:

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will strive to be a catalyst toward future projects in the areas of open space, new recreational spaces, community housing, and historic preservation via CPA funding; will utilize community goals set forth in documents such as the Master Plan and the Open Space and Recreation Plan which have received wide scrutiny and public input; will attempt to meet multiple community preservation goals; and will communicate its mission and goals to the general public.

Overview

• Appointed By: Selectmen
• Members: Four
• Term: Three Years
• Meeting Schedule: Monthly
• Legal Basis: MGL Chapter 44B Section 5
• Purpose: The CPC will recommend to Town Meeting those projects that it feels will best achieve the purpose of the Community Preservation act legislation which includes open space, historical preservation, affordable housing, and recreation.

Full Information about the Community Preservation Act (CPA)

The CPA was adopted by Seekonk voters in April 2009 with a tax surcharge of 1.25%. For information about exemptions, including residential, senior, and low-income, please use the spreadsheet link on this page.

The committee usually meets monthly and dates are posted in Town Hall and on TV9. Our meetings are open to the public and minutes are available in the Town Clerk's Office.

The Committee represents diverse groups within the town and has the responsibility for making recommendations to the town each year for projects which meet the goals of the Community Preservation Act. In addition to our regular meetings, we will be meeting with local groups, official and otherwise, and holding public meetings to identify potential projects and to keep Seekonk residents informed of our progress.

It is important to remember that although the Committee makes the final selection of projects to be presented to an Annual Town meeting, it is the voters who decide which projects are approved. If voters do not approve a project, the money remains unspent. It is also important to know that this money is a completely separate fund that cannot be commingled with Seekonk town monies.

The Committee is also responsible for ensuring that the financial requirements of the CPA are maintained. A minimum of 10% of the annual revenues of the fund must be set aside each year for the three core community concerns: open space, historic preservation, and affordable community housing. The remaining money can be used in any combination for the allowed uses or held in an undesignated account. In this way, the Town can build up its CPA fund for a bigger project than could be managed with just the annual disbursement of funds.