Town Meeting to consider spending CPA funds
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

Hudson - The May 2008 Town Meeting Warrant includes an article in which the newly appointed Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is proposing its first two funding recommendations.

The CPC was established in November 2007, after the com- munity voted in May 2007 to adopt the Community Preservation Act, a piece of state legislation allowing towns to accept a property tax surcharge of 1 percent that is then matched with state funds to preserve open space, create recreational opportunities, increase affordable housing, and preserve historical buildings and artifacts.

The allocations of CPA funds, which will be used to purchase a parcel of land and to preserve town artifacts, are supported by both the Finance Committee and the selectmen. Both requests will come before voters at the Monday May 5 Town Meeting.

The CPC is asking the town to consider purchasing a 6.63-acre property located in 43 Brigham St. The purchase price of $350,000 for the property, which is currently owned by Spoonhill Realty Trust, is the fair market value price.

Town Planner and CPC Chair Jennifer Burke explained that the town has been looking to obtain the property for a while.

"We have been negotiating with seven different owners for this property," Burke said.

The property, if purchased, will be controlled by the Hudson Park Commission and will be used for recreational purposes, with areas of open space to protect the wetlands on it. The property, which is sandwiched between Hudson High School and the Elks Club, will give the town continuous ownership along the river from the High School to Wood Park.

The project will give the town the opportunity to expand the High School's soccer fields and to install a River Walk sometime in the future.

In addition, the CPC is asking for the town to support the spending of $23,000 from the Historic Resource Reserve for the Historical Society's Inventory Project. The money will be used to purchase equipment, like computers and cameras, to create a digitized online database of the town's artifacts. That would allow historians and students all over the country to access the database.

Burke said that off ering people the opportunity to view the artifacts digitally will limit the amount of handling of the items, helping to preserve them.

The digital inventory will also address the insurance concern that the Historical Society was facing in its move to new quarters at the Hudson Business Mill Center at 43 Broad St.

Burke is hopeful that the community will support the spending on the recommended projects.

"We all think that this is an excellent project," Burke said. "It is exactly what the funds should be used for."

For more information about upcoming Town Meeting, election or the CPC, visit the town's website at www.townofhudson.org.