Board will act on bylaw at next meeting
By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Selectmen discussed the make-up of the soon-to-be-formed Community Preservation Committee at a meeting, March 9.
The conversation followed a previous discussion, sparked last month, when Assistant Town Manager Kristen Las presented a draft of the new Community Preservation Act (CPA) bylaw at a separate meeting.
The CPA will enable Shrewsbury to establish, via a surcharge on the real estate tax bill, a dedicated funding source for maintaining open spaces and preserving historic properties. It will also create low- and moderate-income housing for individuals and families, including low- or moderate-income senior housing.
Voters approved the CPA in last November’s election. By doing so, they also qualified Shrewsbury to receive funding from the larger state-level Community Preservation Trust Fund.
The next step in actually finalizing access to that money involves setting up a town CPA committee.
Las presented a bylaw to do just that, March 9.
The Community Preservation Committee must have one member from the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission, the Planning Board, the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commissions and the Housing Authority, respectively.
Shrewsbury Selectmen also want to add four at-large members to the body. Those members would have to live in Shrewsbury and be appointed for staggered terms by the Board.
“I think the bylaw is in fine shape and if the body approves it this evening, I would also make a motion that at the appropriate time we advertise for those four positions,” Selectman James Kane said, March 9.
As discussion continued, Selectmen didn’t actually approve their bylaw. Instead, they agreed to vote at their March 23 meeting for placement on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting to be held Saturday, May 22.
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