Daily Buzz | What is the Community Preservation Act?

Good morning, Burlington!

Before we get started today, I wanted to let you know about an upcoming opportunity for Burlington to opt into the Community Preservation Act. The CPA was established by Governor Cellucci and Lieutenant Governer Swift in 2000, with the understanding that successful communities place a high value on open space, recreation, historical preservation, and affordable housing. Under this program (Don’t stop reading until you get to the end of this paragraph!), a fund is established from a surcharge on property taxes. This fund can be used to support the uses noted above: open space; recreation; historical preservation; and affordable housing. And, the state partially matches these funds, making the money go farther. IMPORTANT: Those on fixed incomes or with low incomes defined by state guidelines can opt out of this surcharge.

A committee of community members in Burlington will be presenting a warrant article at Town Meeting in May to have a ballot measure placed on the November ballot, so the entire community can vote on whether or not to become a part of the CPA. Again, if Town Meeting votes yes in May, it will be to put the measure on the ballot. Voters will have the ultimate say in whether or not to join the program.

Attached is a handout about the Community Preservation Act and the benefits it could bring to Burlington. At this point, the committee is trying to bring awareness to this opportunity, and if you have any questions you’re welcome to contact Larry Cohen.

Before it gets too late in the week, I wanted to let you know about another candidate meet and greet coming up this weekend, this time put on by Indian Americans for Burlington (IAB). The event will take place at the library on Sunday 3/27 from 1:30-4. Register here.

On to today’s meetings, which are plentiful:

• 8:00 AM - Ways & Means Subcommittee meets to review a variety of different budgets around town.

• 9:00 AM - Ways & Means Subcommittee meets to discuss the Veteran Services and Disability Access Commission budgets for the coming year.

• 6:00 PM - Shawsheen Curriculum Subcommittee meets to review the program of studies.

• 7:00 PM - Board of Health meets for their regular meeting. There are a couple discussions that look interesting in item VIII, plus some staff reports and applications/permit requests. (Join via Webex)

• 7:00 PM - Capital Budget Subcommittee meets to review DPW capital requests for the coming year.

• 7:00 PM - Land Use Committee meets for several presentations. As I mentioned, various conversations from around town are being touched upon here, so this would be a good one to catch. (Join via Zoom) Presentations include:

  • The petition for rezoning the area over where Fedex and other buildings are on Middlesex Ave./Adams Street

  • The Community Preservation Act mentioned above

  • The Planning Board article on groundwater separation that was discussed last week at Planning Board (and possibly at other meetings I wasn’t at)

  • The proposed amendments to the stormwater management bylaw

• 7:00 PM - School Committee meets for their regular meeting. (Join via Webex) Some items:

  • Reviewing the Special Educational Programs and Accommodations policy and the 22-23 calendar

  • Equity Audit Update

  • Updates on Fox Hill and BHS

  • Community Preservation Act (see above and below)

  • Departmental budget reviews

• 7:30 PM - Shawsheen School Committee meets for their regular meeting. (Watch via YouTube) Items include:

  • Setting some dates for the upcoming school year

  • Hearing from the two subcommittees that met this week

  • Appointment of a Business Manager

As you can see, lots going on today. I’ll do what I can, but if you’re attending one of these meetings and want to throw me a few bullets, please do!

Don’t forget to review the attached presentation for the Community Preservation Act. Several of our committees will be hearing about it tonight!

Have a great day, neighbors!

Nicci

Cpa PresentationDownload