CPA Update - August 4th, 2016
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Hello ,
With 16 communities working on CPA adoption for this fall, an important lawsuit to follow, and passage of legislation that affects CPA, there's no "CPA Summer Doldrums" this year!
In this issue of your CPA Update:
Also we have our Featured CPA Project covering the transformation currently underway at the Boxford Common, involving construction for new recreational fields, open space hiking trails, and a turtle habitat.
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 Lawsuit Filed Against Acton's Use of CPA Funds on Historic Religious Buildings
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The town of Acton has recently been sued by thirteen local taxpayers in an attempt to stop the town from using their Community Preservation Act funds on projects for local historic church buildings. The taxpayers are working with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington D.C. based organization that focuses on church-state separation activism, and two law firms hired by the organization.
The lawsuit claims that Acton's Town Meeting approval of CPA grants to preserve stained glass windows and prepare a preservation master plan at Acton Congregational Church, as well as a roof rehabilitation at South Acton Congregational Church, violates the Anti-Aid Amendment of the Massachusetts constitution. AUSCS and the local taxpayers have asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction to stop Acton from issuing CPA funding for these projects. Acton filed their response to the lawsuit at the end of July and now a hearing on the injunction will likely be held in September.
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Legislation Passes that Affects CPA Transfers to Housing Trusts and CPA Exemption Deadlines |
Legislation was passed at the end of last month that includes two amendments that will affect the Community Preservation Act.
An Act Modernizing Municipal Finance and Government (H.4565) will change the ways in which CPA funds are transferred and used by Municipal Affordable Housing Trusts and also clarifies the procedure municipalities use to issue the CPA exemptions for low income households and low/moderate income seniors in communities that have adopted those two exemptions.
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CPA Adoption Update:
Nine on the Ballot and More on the Way
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Our CPA Election map is lighting up this summer as nine communities have now placed the question of CPA adoption on the ballot for this fall. The legislative body in the towns of Rockland, Hull, Norwood and Danvers, as well as the cities of Boston, Chelsea, Holyoke, and Springfield have all placed CPA on the November 8th ballot. In addition, South Hadley became the ninth community to add CPA adoption to the ballot after collecting signatures of 5% of their registered voters. This will be the town's second attempt at adoption this year after an incredibly narrow defeat in April.
Seven other communities are in the final stages of deciding whether to vote to adopt this year, including Pittsfield, Amesbury, Palmer, Wrentham, Billerica, Watertown, and East Bridgewater. Be sure to check the Upcoming CPA Adoption Elections page of our website for CPA adoption updates as the September 8th filing deadline approaches.
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CP-3 Reminder
FY2016 Project Entries Due by September 15th
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Close to 50 communities have already submitted their Community Preservation Projects Report (CP-3) to the state. For those that have not, we wanted to remind you that the September 15th deadline to report FY16 CPA projects is quickly approaching. If you miss this state-mandated deadline, there will be a delay in receiving your community's CPA trust fund disbursement from the Department of Revenue (DOR).
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MHP Hosting Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Training
Friday, September 16th in Taunton, MA
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Join Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) for a daylong training seminar on eligible activities for housing trusts, the importance of fair housing, legal and operational considerations for trusts, and strategies to build support for affordable housing. The workshop will be held on Friday, September 16th from 9:30am to 3:30pm in Taunton. Registration is $25 and coffee/tea and lunch will be provided.
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F eatured Project: Boxford Common
A transformative recreation project raises the bar
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A transformative recreation project is under construction this summer in the Town of Boxford, known as the Boxford Common, that ultimately will serve three of the four CPA purposes. In 2007 the town acquired 75 acres of woodland in the center of town for $3.25 million. Following this purchase, a land use committee was formed and recommended constructing a recreational facility, including an artificial turf athletic field, on on a portion of the land, setting aside approximately 10 acres for future affordable housing and leaving the remaining land undisturbed for hiking, running, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding.
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