Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Approved Minutes 11.19.15
HARWICH Community Preservation Committee Regular Meeting
October 29, 2015, at the Harwich Town Hall, Griffin Meeting Room
Present: Chairman Bob MacCready, Vice Chair Kathy Green, Cindi Maule, Walter Diggs, David Nixon, Daniel Tworek, Robert Bradley, and Jim Atkinson (new Planning Board representative)
Vacant: Housing Committee representative
Absent Selectmen’s Liaison: Peter Hughes
Present: Michael MacAskill and Linda Cebula of the Board of Selectmen
Called to order at 7:04 PM by Chair Bob MacCready. Guests welcomed.
October 8, 2015 CPC meeting minutes. A motion was made by Kathy Green and seconded to approve the minutes
as presented. Vote: 5 Yes. 0 No. 3 abstained. Motion carried.
Old Business:
- Community Preservation Plan (CPP)’s RFP: The RFP is out. Chair MacCready has already been contacted.
New Business:
- 2015 CPC Project Funding Request Applications for the 2016 Annual Town Meeting – Discussions with the following submitters:
HP3 - Fireplace Hearth and Fireplace Base Restoration Chase Library, submitted by Chase Library, presented by project manager Board President Judy Dolaher and Board Vice President Carol Dickerson. The library board researched the fireplace problem with brick and stone masons; four work estimates provided. The board would like to use the most comprehensive bid of $3,100 to the restore the firebox base and hearth. For the longevity of the fireplace, the firebox and extensions need to be sound.
The fireplace is now just decorative; the board does not intend to rebuild it to recreate a working fireplace. The bid requests didn’t include that work. The estimate that included chimney work was included just as an example.
The original base was sand filled. It is pushing forward, jeopardizing the firebox and hearth. The fireplace’s firebox has shifted 5” down. The foundation will be attended to and then the firebox base and hearth will be restored.
It was questioned if the base is adequately supported? If not, do they consider it a safety concern? The board felt it is unknown if weight is placed on the firebox if it would be supported. The board doesn’t go down to the basement. Blocks of stone and sand make the base. The frame holds it up. There were two different view points from the contractors on the restoration and foundation.
It was questioned if the fireplace had been maintained could this work have been avoided? Maintenance is not CPA funding eligible. The board did not know.
It was noted if this is a true restoration project the work has to follow the Federal standards. The board couldn’t say for certainty, but they requested bids from professional restoration masons aware of the historic nature of the project.
HP5 - Restoration of Historic Appearance of Exterior Porches at the Albro House, submitted by the Harwich Historic District and Historical Commission (HDHC), presented by project manager Harwich Town Planner David Spitz. Requesting $20,000. The CPC has funded two projects at the town owned Albro House in 2009 and 2010, but since then other project requests have failed to be supported. The building has seen an increase in use; currently the upstairs offices are full, in addition to the Youth Counselor, two other tenants now fill the offices. The town is still working on the downstairs use.
The CPC application lists David Spitz as the project manager, and he will be responsible for the project. The Planning Department has been involved in the Albro House for the past 1 ½ years because Mr. Spitz thought it was floundering. In researching the CPA funding guidelines, Mr. Spitz found their website shows which properties have met the qualifications needed to receive funding. Preservation rehabilitation requires the property to comply with the US Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. While preserving the historic character
and integrity of the structure, it does allow for ADA compliancy, but not maintenance. The HDHC has designated the Albro House as an historic property.
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Restoration of the front porch includes improving the siding and mismatching post, and a new walk. They will remove the (accessible) ramp and an old shed. The back porch will now be the location for the ramp with new handrails, decking, and roof. Doors need to be wider to become ADA compliant. They will be historically appropriate. Building a new ramp in the back of the building will not be included in this project request. It was questioned why the ADA ramp wasn’t a part of the request? Mr. Spitz said he has not seen a historic photo of the porch, but he feels the ramp removal is more historically appropriate.
Cost estimates were provided by the town engineer. Who will do the construction work has not yet been determined. CPA funding cannot pay for town employees’ work. It was questioned if the rear porch’s roof was necessary for ADA compliancy? No, it was explained that they have planned that for the historical character of the building. The amount of the contingency budget was also questioned. Why was the amount set at 50%, where normally it is more appropriate at 20%? Mr. Spitz said he would get back to the committee on that. Mr. Spitz said the support of the Board of Selectmen on this project is unknown as yet.
HP6 - Continued Update of Town Historic Property Inventory, submitted by the Harwich HDHC, presented by project manager Harwich Town Planner David Spitz and HDHC consultant Mirande Dupuy-DeWitt. Requesting $20,000. Years ago the CPC funded the town’s inventory of historic properties. Until recently the work was stalled, but then the HDHC contracted Mirande Dupuy-DeWitt and the project is almost finished, with about 15% of the project to be completed, and a balance of $2,000 remaining on account.
Harwich has some 900 buildings that are over hundred years old. The updated inventory will be a strong working document for the HDHC, identifying supporting information of the cultural and historic assets of the town. A tool the town can to use in review of demolition requests, among other things. To be included in the state’s Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) the historical narrative is required. In addition to the inventory, research has also been done on the historical and architectural analysis of a subset or cluster of buildings. In the future the HDHC will help identify new subset areas to be researched.
The ultimate use of the project is to understand the history of Harwich through its structures, providing physical and historical information and how they fit into the area. The committee was told there is going to be an evaluation of historic structures, expanding on what has already been done. The update will provide more detail, combining the old and new information. Other uses of this research can provide information for qualifying properties for the historic register. A structure needs to meet guidelines; in addition to age, it needs to have enough integrity of the historical architecture, and have historical significance from its past residents or events.
The project presented on the application was questioned. It was characterized as vague, too open ended. Mr. Spitz said the idea still has to go before the Historic Commission but he needed to meet the CPC application funding deadline. Mr. Spitz was requested to provide more detail, the sooner the better.
R10 - Nantucket Sound Artificial Reef, submitted by the Harwich Conservation Commission, presented by project manager Harwich Town Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski and Brad Chase of the Harwich Conservation Commission. Requesting $70,000. This is a joint project with the town and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. This project began 3 to 4 years ago with the permitting process, at no cost to the town. The plan is to create an artificial reef about 2 ½ miles off Saquatucket Harbor to attract fish for recreational fishing (non-commercial). The six foot high reef is planned to be located in thirty feet of water, with a 24 feet of clearance. The reef will be using the old high schools’ clean concrete. A contractor will need to be hired to transport the concrete. A reef would create a marine habitat, inviting the fish of all kinds to the area. Many migrating fish search for food and shelter. Fish like structure for shelter. This project fits the cultural heritage of Harwich and environmental quality of water. The permits are very restrictive. They plan to buoy the area for navigation.
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Non-commercial fishing is a nice fit for recreation. Creating a commercial operation does not meet CPA funding guidelines. Banning commercial fishing may be hard to enforce. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will have to develop something to make the reef unattractive to commercial fishing. Preventative ideas included:
buoy nets can be seen and monitored, ticket fines can be issued, and recreational users may self-police and report commercial fishermen.
MDFF will want to monitor the site to see how it works out. Once it is installed, the reef may be enlarged. The reef’s benefits will be seen the first season; fish will come and marine life will grow. The reef could attract larger marine creatures. Seals could move there from Monomoy, but the area is not as attractive as where they are now.
It was suggested that they should investigate the high school demo contractor contract. Did the contract include transportation of the concrete off Cape? Since the concrete is still on Cape, funds may still available. As barges are not local to our area, the cost of using them to transport the concrete out and back will be expensive. There are other sources of funding. They are looking at planning a local benefit. The Board of Selectmen has O.K.’s a gift account. The board of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is seriously interested in it.
Chair MacCready did investigate if this project meets the CPA guidelines. Noting this project has recreational properties and water is defined as open space. He has not heard back from the Alliance yet.
R12 - Thompson's Field Dog Park, submitted by the Harwich Conservation Commission, presented by project manager Harwich Town Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski. Requesting $52,000 to cover the cost for creating two off-leash areas by installing 4-foot high black chain link fencing and providing water service. One area is for large dogs, the other for small dogs. Thompson’s Field Conservation Area is some 57 acres. The design area is about 2 1/2 acres, off Route 39, where there is parking, and the open land has good visibility, and is considered to hold less environmental diversity. The fence will be visible from the road, but the dark 4-foot high fence is considered to not have a high impact.
Dog leash laws in neighboring towns have caused an increase in the number of dogs visiting Thompson’s Field. Many people have complained they feel less safe in Thompson’s and this is forcing Harwich to consider off-leash areas. Over the last several years public input has been sought. A public hearing on the off-leash areas will be held Nov. 12th at the Harwich Community Center. It was questioned what the result was of the Harwich Trails Committee meeting that was mentioned in the application. Ms. Usowski reported the mood was mixed, but fairly positive. The HTC sees the impact the dogs have on the trails and beyond with the dog waste, etc.
The cost estimates are based on the town’s prevailing wage. A breakdown includes the cost of fencing @ $1,700 for per acre plus the water line piping materials @ $3,500, and $2,000 as an outer liner cushion. Water will be piped from Route 39. It was questioned if there were any plans to charge a fee? Maybe a donation box? Other sources of funding are being sought. The HCC has been working with the Barnstable County Resource Development Office on the grant writing.
How would the off-leash areas be maintained? Would the Highway Department or the Recreation Department take of them? It is not known at this time.
Chair MacCready reported the Alliance said the project meets the CPA funding guidelines. The CPA supports habitat restoration for recreational uses. Creating fenced off-leash areas would have an indirect impact on Thompson’s Fields, taking more traffic off the trails, etc. allowing more plant growth, thus habitat restoration.
Adjournment 8:39 PM.