Community Preservation Committee Meeting - April 14, 2026

We should get started. We have a quorum.

Um, and just a reminder, the our meeting is being recorded by DCTV and the microphones are on, so please mind your side conversations.

Um, and let's see.

I was gonna I'm gonna wear my hat through the meeting because I had a run in with a dermatologist about two weeks ago and and so it's very Frankensteinish up around here.

So I have my stitches out tomorrow. Um though I'm I'm curious if they'll be able to to even find them. So anyway, that's just my opinion. Um, so it's less distracting if I wear the Orioles hat than to You can see all my uh Frankensteinish thing going on. You'll see that next month, I'm sure.

Okay, great. So, um, minutes. We do not have minutes. Um, I apologize.

We do have an apology.

Move to accept.

Move to accept.

have a motion to uh accept the apology in lie of the minutes.

All right. I I do think that that was unanimous.

Oh, good. Thank you.

Had me up at night, but And we have some invoices.

Quite a few.

And we'll we'll take up our minutes um at our next meeting.

Yes, absolutely.

Okay.

That I will be up. All right.

We'll talk about that.

Okay. So, we have a invoice in the amount of $10,945.

It's for the Cornell Pond U project. And um Michelle was nice enough to go and run this off. uh the in the invoices for the remaining balance uh because the project has been completed uh in terms of the design uh consultation engineering consultation.

Um so the total amount uh is $13,345.50.

However, um we hold back 10% of our um dispersements until we everything is received for a project. So that means we'll get a closeout report and then the remaining 2400 when we accept the closeout report. Um so take a look at that.

We have an invoice for $2,53841.

Um this is for the um um DAS landing expansion. Um and these are the the remaining floats um that were installed and the project status report speaks to that which we will take a look at um shortly.

that jump.

And we will turn that off.

And we have um $725.

Um and this is for Oh, that's um Oh, this is a personal thing of No, I put them all together. Yep. Can I have that one?

Oh, yeah. You can have that one. You want this one?

No, that one's ours.

Oh, you sure it's more expensive?

Yeah.

Okay.

Oh, that one's mine.

There you go.

I got all my bills done today at your All right. I think that's all catch.

Okay.

You have so many.

Um Okay. And this is for uh $8,650.

Um and this is um mobilized through the bridge. This is related to the expansion uh the das landing expansion um believe that is correct right?

Yeah.

Let me just check this against um let's see hold on a sec.

I want this.

Yeah.

Check this against the outstanding.

So, Das Okay. So, Dus uh

the de That's the master plan.

Okay. So, there's All right. Yep.

There's a balance of 19,176.

All right. Just want to make sure the money was there. Okay. So, this is for the DA landing. Yeah.

So, buddy, I'm confused about this one.

Sure.

Which one is that?

Uh, this is the Yeah, comprehensive.

So, there's two two of the same invoices, both for 13345.

Where does the 10 I see the 10 on here, but what is that for? It says that we're paying a total of 10495, right?

But the invoices are for 13345, but that 10% doesn't equate to the difference between the two. the the 10% is 10% of the total grant amount which was 24,000.

Okay.

Yeah. So, uh that still doesn't make sense.

So, we take the 13 something that they invoicing and then we because it's the last of the project funds, we hold back 10 the 10% amount of the project which is $2,400. So, we're subtracting the 2400 from the 13. And that should be the Okay. I can't do math in my head.

Neither can I. Neither can I.

Oh, it's still not right.

Oh, what should it What do you have?

11. Oh, good call.

Yeah, you did it too fast.

I can do math in my head.

11:05.

No, 10 945.

What do I have?

10495.

Oh, I transposed.

Bring that one back.

Okay.

You know, you may earn a permanent seat.

Yeah.

Uh, no, that doesn't happen very often.

A numbers person.

Not numbers.

Yeah, that's that's good. My daughter can do that.

I'll fix that. How the heck?

Yeah.

Why do I have this in my pocket?

Yeah, it should be 10 94550.

comfortable 94550.

Yep.

That's what I have.

You have No, you've got 495 right on the Oh, you know what? It didn't transmos.

So, I'll fix that.

I was just looking at the bottom.

Okay.

So, we could do the motion for the 10,000 945 and 50 cents. Yes.

I'd like to make a motion to pay I don't have in front of me. Yep.

Comprehensive Environmental Incorporated.

Comprehensive Environmental Incorporated $10,945.50.

A second.

Second.

Second. All in favor?

I.

Great. Thank you.

Um I make a motion to pay Fitzgerald Metal Works, Inc. $8,650.

And a second.

That was Chris.

Any um questions, discussion? All in favor?

I. That was unanimous.

We brought it back. She had she had to fix the voucher.

Nobody ready.

Beautiful.

And do we have any other Oh, yeah. We have we have that seven something right?

No, it's three something, but it No, never mind.

JK.

Um, so I make a motion to pay Pioneer Moing and Doc LLC $3,51248.

Second.

Second, Mike. A second. And any questions or discussion? All in favor?

I.

And on the first one we did when you stepped out, um, Susan made the motion and Michael Okay.

was the second and it was unanimous.

Well, thank you for the work down that end.

Glad I got out of bed this morning.

Yeah, me too.

Me, too. I'm glad you're 2 minutes late.

Okay. I for one of the things that um did not get you up, but I did forward to you just shortly um I didn't get it to you, John. Um are the project status reports, which we have several. And so I can go over these. Um you may if you have it on your laptop or phone you could look at them.

Do anybody want my set to share?

Look at it.

Yeah.

I got it on the phone, but thank you.

You guys, you want to I read them right before I came.

You did? I didn't.

All right.

I read them.

All right. Um, so yours back down.

We have several.

Um, first I have here is the DAS landing pier extension and marina.

Um and what is described I'll try to um kind of summarize in the current status um the remaining um um last four dock floats and dock piles were to be installed. Um the plan was to have them installed by the end of the calendar year 2025, but there were delays. um with the the contractor. Winter set in, there was harbor freezing um and so that work did not get done. Um the water waste commission um found

another um contractor to complete the work. Um and that has looks like that has been done.

Um I think they're still um expecting a completion of the last float and pile installation um with the idea that this would um project would be done by the end of April.

They provided a little map of where the floats were to be installed.

Um the dinghy storage improvements.

Um we have been previously notified that the SEC grant uh was not approved but um subsequent to that the waterways commission um decided that they there were sufficient retained earnings um to make up for the uh anticipated state um funds and they were moving forward with a contractor um to replace the dinging racks. Um the contractor withdrew um and now they uh have identified another uh uh vendor to um um do the

work and they are anticipating the work to be done by the end of June.

Um, and no changes to the budget or anything of that noted in this.

We received the project status report from the Northern Scenic Greenway.

And as folks know, the Greenway project did receive the Mass Trails Grant in the amount of $285,000.

um that amount uh the the state they had anticipated um making awards in June of 2025 but the state um delayed their award um about 3 months. Um and so a request for proposals for engineering firms for the project uh was put out on March 23rd, 2026 and they have um they had about 20 firms express interest. So hopefully they're they're um they will get proposals um and they're looking forward to um um

moving forward with the project. Um they expect the contractor to begin work in late May. Um and so that's doing the the more detailed design and engineering for the path that would basically parallels Old Fall River Road through the north end of town.

We received uh the project status report from the Joseph Davis Cemetery Restoration.

Um they um were able to um repair 17 gravestones, which is about 23% of what the uh goal was before winter then set in. The winter is kind of the theme of these uh status reports.

Um and so they have about 58 more to do.

They need to wait until the uh temperature um is sustained. The sustained temperature is above 45°.

Um so they are expect to be back at it.

Um and um they are projecting to have 50% of the repairs done by the end of April. Um weather permitting. So that's moving forward.

Um again, no uh no issues around budget or the scope of work noted.

We received a um status report on the Aken house, the water mit and moisture mitigation.

um the due to the inclement weather um in March and early April um the progress with the work has been delayed some uh that in part is they've u discovered that the um and this is something that had been dis um mentioned I it's part of the application process there the site sits on a very high water table um what they have discovered is that not two about two feet under the cellar floor is clay

and so um the property really doesn't um drain um so that made it hard to with all the rain made it hard to do the work that will help it drain but they have moved forward um the French drain system has been installed as well as the um on April 9th, the new flooring. So, it's a was a dirt floor.

So, now there's this um uh concrete flooring that um um is pitched towards a sump pump. Um and they're looking forward to that making a big difference.

And then um they will be doing the um water resistance on the interior walls, but they they can't do it when the walls are damp. So the weather kind of affects the ability to do that. Um but they are looking forward to having the project completed by the end of April.

Uh let's see.

Um they also experienced some um issues with water in the chimney which I think as I recall I think we noted that that was already kind of highlighted as another problem area. Um and that was a problem with this heavy rains and the snow melt and all that kind of stuff. So they um are um recognize that they need to put a chimney cap um and um that is something that DHP is doing

with their own funds. So they're going to address that issue with their own funds.

And then we have um from the Cornell Pond Trail Design um all of the work in the scope of work for the um the consultant has been completed. Um and so they've got a base plan and an um alternatives analysis and a site survey that has been completed. I think the town's hope is then to with better information proceed to find maybe do better in the another round of state funding. Um so I think

that's my that's my impression is that would be the next thing is all right we've got we've worked it out to this level and can we get additional support from the state? uh they uh did not get their mass trails grant. So I think that's where let's see and those are the project status reports that we have received.

You didn't get the um affordable housing trust.

We're going to talk about that now. Yep.

Yep.

Um no, you're right on it. Right on it.

Um we do not have any closeout reports. Um so we can move on to the housing trust.

So the um affordable housing trust um and home re home rehab loan program.

Um start with the loan program.

So, we have a project status report in the town. Um, and I think as we know some time ago, probably a year ago, maybe a little more than a year ago, if we really kind of think about it, um, the town was re revamping its paperwork, both to make the process work a little more easily for interested parties, as well as to make sure it aligned with what the state requirements were to be

able to use CPA funds for um a rehab loan program. And council um did complete that work in the fall. Um and let's see.

Yep, that is complete. Everything's been updated. Um the program is on hold until a new assistant town administrator can be hired because there just isn't sufficient staff to actually launch and administer the program. So um it's ready to go um once they have a person who they can give it to to uh to handle

no other particular issues um raised. Um but they are hoping by the end of the fiscal year um that they'll be able to have this program launched um and marketed.

And we have the affordable housing trust.

Um and that is the housing trust is um the administered by the select board.

Select board I think basically is the housing trust. Um but we many years ago um capitalized um the housing trust. It's primarily been used for um uh homeowner buyown program. So um the for eligible income eligible buyers, the town uses this fund to um basically buy down the price of the house so that the person the can afford to um take a mortgage out on the remaining um balance to purchase that property. Um,

so that program has been on hold for a while and partly because the changes in the real estate market has made it not really feasible um program to do um with the um increase in the housing values and the mortgage rates. it was it was very hard to buy it down to an affordable mortgage uh for a single family home. Um but they've also kind of looked at the and revamped the documents. The state

has reviewed and approved the program documents so they're ready to go out and do this again. Um and um I think they're going to be I think in the coming months I don't see exact date. Well, we will begin advertising later this spring. So, they'll advertise for interest eligible um um people who want to buy a home in Dartmouth and they will be income eligible.

what what how large a sum can they kick in for the purchase of you know I don't know what um it doesn't mention it here uh I know they've I think they have successfully done one house maybe two but I think years ago they did one house I believe then the buy down was they they had a limit of about 250 50,000 for the buy down. Yeah.

I'm sorry, Jim.

And and what I don't know what it would be today.

Their capital what is their capital level now? What?

Yeah. So, I don't know what it would be now, but um before then I can go over some of the finances Donna sent. But Michael, you had a my only and I can I'll go online and take a look specifically because I'm not as familiar, but it just seems like you get more bang for your buck if you had like a down payment assistance program.

You know what I mean? So, if home, you know, eligible home buyers were looking for assistance with coming up with a down payment rather than buy down the house.

Yeah. I wonder give them assistance with it a down payment to buy their own home.

Yeah, that's what I think that's what it is.

No, I was it sounded like until I heard $250,000 that's beyond down payment assistance.

I can recall at the clothing closing and then brings I recall when I way back when I think when this started I was on the finance committee. I think the the the uh the concept was to allow elderly to stay in their homes. So that was almost like almost like a reverse type mortgage.

So that was the initial program was so and that those numbers could be counted in a numbers for affordable so the percentage of affordable housing. So that's when the program, you know, initiated that was to help senior citizens be able to remain in their homes. So that's why it didn't go for the down payment. It went as a as a buyout. And of course, rates were much lower then. And you know, I think this

was like in the late 90s if I can recall. Yeah, the late 90s when this was initiated. So it was so I don't think it's really with the fluctuation in mortgage the values of the homes and the mortgage rates increase I think it's kind of not been effective in that way. So maybe something like that would be more effective and that's totally up to the trust obviously but I'm just saying like it

Yeah. I don't they cycle through the money quicker which means that they'd come back to us for more assistance because we were talking before the meeting Jim and I about how you know all the proposals we got this year were all non-housing you know I mean it was all everything but housing essentially.

Um so anyway just thought it was just the obvious thing.

Is there is there a question I could asking it a little more that I will I think you just answered my question. Thank you so much. I I just was curious about how the program was designed because one home at 250,000 sounded like not that impactful.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

I I'm I'm confused. Um uh I mean I remember two or three years ago Cody was in this room talking to us about this loan program and that that seems right there's the rehab loan program that seemed to be targeted on targeted on on seniors who need a boiler or a roof or yes that kind of thing. So existing situations where a a resident is right owns a home and needs needs some money

to maintain or improve it.

Yes. Which sounds very elderly particularly than a purchase buy down program which I think you started to describe buddy.

They are two different things.

Yeah. So the down primarily for first-time home buyers.

Yeah. Um and the loan program both were initiated at the same time. The loan program is um is has been mostly marketed and effectively used by um older folks um who have like uh title five uh kind of work that has to be done and allows them is as Jim was saying stay in their home because now they have this basically deferred loan kind of arrangement um that um helps pay for for

that kind of work and stuff. Yes, Susan.

Uh two questions. Um one, what is that uh restriction that goes on the house that keeps it affordable? What is that called and what is that mechanism?

Michael has most experience with it.

I mean, usually the affordable housing restriction would just that's what it's generally called and it would be from the um the town and I'm not familiar enough specifically with this program. I just know from my other experience that the that restriction gets recorded um when you do your closing and it can stay in place for depending on the funding source, you know, 30 to 50 years.

Oh, it's not permanent. No, I mean, well, again, the ones that I'm I do, uh, generally 30 to 50 years, you know, affordability and they they in a in a ownership kind of setting, they caps the resale value, right? And it caps the resale.

Yeah. I mean, or does it I mean, I remember another elsewhere knowing of another situation where basically if the home is is sold, it has to be somebody who is qu income qualified.

Um and um and I'm not sure how how money flows on those trans transactions or yeah when the program was designed I'm sure they came up with some uh you know income guidelines um based on percentage of area med income probably like 80% is typical um or less 80 or less but I don't know I'm kind of just you know I haven't seen the the guidelines myself, but I'm sure that there's

there was some thought put into that.

you know, it had to have been well, you know, why don't we um ask Cody to come when the program's launched because then all of those kind of details will have have to have been finalized and are out there and then I think he he could have kind of described both how it works, you know, and what's the what's the long-term commitment um and is that is that all CPA funds in that or is there

the housing trust and also accept other funds. Um so um Donna Fernandez had um so we have contributed um in three different installments 2014 2018 2019 we've contributed $799,700.

um and other sources have contributed $300,000 to the trust. Um the expenditures to date um so 2015 through 2016 has been 614,580 bucks.

Um,

so it sounds like they've done a couple then.

Yeah, if the max is 250.

Yeah, that sounds more like two. Close to two. Yeah.

Yeah. So, do a little very rough subtraction that they may have seven several hundred,000 in the till.

They got about 400 and Yeah, they got about 600,000.

About 614,580 is what I'm remembering the wrong one.

I I'm failing my math now. It was a one time fluke.

We're depending on you.

We're all sunk then.

But I can invite Cody to come once the program's launched is then it really is just then describing what all the details are. It it'll all be kind of Yeah.

It may be something that we want to get or continue to be involved in.

Yeah. In terms of the CPA balance of that, um, the CPA balance is 494,000.

No, let's see. Right here. 485,119.

So that's the CPA part of it.

Still a good chunk.

And when was the last time we gave the money? You said 19. 2019.

Uh 2019.

Yeah.

Seven years ago. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

And it's been dormant pretty much since that time. Since probably since probably that time. Wow. Um, I think some of that was COVID. It probably made a lot of things dormant.

And then COVID and and job vacancies.

Job vacancies, interest rates, cost of housing, a lot of that stuff.

Yeah, that really um Yeah, it all makes sense. Yeah.

Yeah.

Next on agenda is the June town meeting warrant recommendations. Um, and I'm happy to say that we had a really good meeting with Tincom to go over the warrant articles. Um, we've got a lot of projects, a lot of big dollar amounts. So, I had asked if the sponsors would be willing to come to FINCOM in case there were um, more detailed questions. And uh I think there was they found it. Fin comp found it

extremely helpful. Um and actually had questions for all of the sponsors. So I just happily sacheted left of the podium and um people came up and you know answer the questions and stuff like that. So, um, they take their vote later, so I have no idea, you know, what the finan vote was, but there was very positive kind of, I think, um, uh, questions and comments that were that were made, uh, that evening. Um, so

typically um we typically go to the select board as well. So, I haven't heard about that. um if we're going to do that this year, but I'll let folks know because I think again it's going to be helpful to have sponsors because it's just a lot of projects and a lot of big dollar kind of amounts. Um, one, uh, a couple of things I've learned um uh, that are, I think, gerine to, um,

our interest is one is, um, the DYA, um, got a one-year extension um, of their lease, and that was going to be important factor in being able to do the project because really can't give them give them money if they don't have site control through a lease but they the town has ex given them a one-year extension. Um so that is squared away.

Um and the Buzzard Bay Coalition um has submitted the the application to have the historical commission look at their proposal to um either move or tear down the house at uh Tannery Lane. So I don't know if Chris if that's come to It's not us because it's Russell's Mills district.

Oh. Oh. Oh really? So I always thought it was just the town historical commission. So they would go to Russell Mills. Oh, fascinating. I don't think I ever understood that within their district.

Okay.

All right. Great. So um so that's good because I think that question of is that going to be an issue um will get squared away uh well before town meeting. So I'll check in with uh uh Buzzards Bay and just see if that they any further update they can u give me but I know that the process has been initiated um and at the fincom uh Mr. Ras Mason from the buzzard debate did say that they

were willing if if somebody wanted to move it, you know, they you know, they weren't they didn't have to tear it down. If somebody wanted to move it, they'd be happy to have them take it away. So,

okay. So, I thought it probably would be a good time just take a quick look at going into fiscal 27 what it looks like thus far.

And I'm saving the one that has a little bit of my dinner on it. You guys all get to clean one.

Here we go.

I'm a terribly messy eater. So I I really really don't understand the the physics of what's happening. These are just my wife actually.

Always crumbs everywhere wherever wherever I am eating. That's funny. Um that's what bibs are for.

Yeah, there could be worse problems, I guess.

Um, so um looking at this um projecting um a 15% state match do is currently um projecting 15.5%.

So, we're kind of right around there. Um projecting um a 2% increase over um what we expect in fiscal 26.

Um it looks like we are going to be looking at revenue of about 1,113,27 somewhere in that ballpark.

We do not have any debt service. Um, our administrative budget is 35,000. So, the net revenue would be a little just about a million dollars. A little bit over a million dollars is what's we're projecting.

We went into fiscal uh we are expect to go into uh fiscal 27 with a $4.6 million in reserves.

Um, so if you put the reserves together with another million in revenue for fiscal 27, you know, we're somewhere in the ballpark of $5.7 million available for projects.

And we have on the board um moving towards town meeting in June 3.6 million If we had no other projects in for the June or October town meeting, then we'd be looking at um going into um ending an ending balance of $2 million going into fiscal 28.

So that's kind of what we're looking at.

One thing I did, we had I loved that conversation we had at our last meeting and I think it was um I think it was John was like, "Well, what's the big view?" I was like, "That's a f that's a perfect question for us." So, I I really really liked going around and everybody kind of have the big view of what do what do you think we're doing here? Um, which is super helpful and probably

something that we should go back to every so often anyway. Um, but it made me really think um I follow this stuff probably more closely than you do and I f followed it for years.

So, I have this this spreadsheet that has stuff all over it. Um, and it occurred to me like, you know, I have more intuitive sense about our finances and the trends than um most anyone else because I'm always looking at this stuff. So, it was really helpful. So when I went to Fincom, I put together some I pulled some of these projections that I'm always looking at and I thought, you know, uh it was a

really healthy conversation to have in our committee and it was really helpful to anticipate that basic question of can we do this?

$3.6 million is a lot of money. Can we do it? What does it mean for the future?

So, these are a couple things that I shared with uh Fincom I'm going to share with you and none of them have food on them. So, all of them are clean.

I'm hungry.

Um the first one is just um how are how are we doing with our projections?

Um and so this chart basically when we have like a projected and then ultimately we do get actuals like the the state does actually give us a match at some point. Um the books are closed on the annual search charge revenue so that becomes an actual etc. Um, so in looking at this, that chart shows where the actuals are landing versus where our projections were landing.

So, one thing that seems pretty consistent is in terms of searchcharge revenue, basically 2% year-over-year.

very steady um trend there. Um I you know I imagine if something like the Dartmouth Mall closed we would see something different and you know uh something big like that that you know took the bottom out of uh the the tax base that could be really different but um this 2% year-over-year um seems to hold. And then um we're doing pretty you know not too far off in terms of where the state lands

and I think that's because the do is pretty good about um the last several years particularly of um projecting and uh um and giving their projections you know in the spring uh about what they think the match is going to look like in November. So that's super helpful. Um but I think that for me um um there's confidence in the in our projections. Mhm.

The second thing is just what

our fund what we start with um or sort of what projects funds are available. So if you see like um um like when we looked at 27, you know, we have you have reserve balances and then you've got revenue which is which is the state match and the searchcharge revenue. So in terms of what's available for projects in any given year, there's three sources.

Our savings plus the match from the state plus searchcharge revenue.

And this is kind of what it has been looking at looking like. So up through 25 are actuals.

Um and then 26 is uh the fund and fund balances and actual.

The searchcharge revenue is still coming in. So that's the one number that can can maybe change a little bit. The green part, the state match, that's already in. So that's an actual for 26.

Um and so going into 27 this is what we project for um our revenue and etc etc. So that's gets us up into that 5.7 million. Um so what I did is I took some trends in um for finance committee I looked at okay so how you know what's the threeyear fiveyear and 10year average for um the amount of awards that are given in a year and then given in since we do two

sessions a year you know what does that average out and then say, okay, well, let's take the worst case and the most expensive case, whichever average was the higher number. Um, then kind of projecting that out. Okay, so let's just say that that's we're going to get at least that much um I think the higher number was like 600,000. We're going to get at least that much um in the ensuing years. what

would happen where we start off etc etc.

So 28 and 29 I think looks a little bit like this kind of conservative I think 29 is probably not really going to drop any further um because our revenue our searchcharge revenue continues to climb.

Um so based on some conservative estimates of kind of flatlining with the state match um we probably will do a little bit better than 29 than this shows because I think um our 2% search charge revenue is going to make up a little bit more difference there.

Um so that's kind of projections what would happen if we on average continued to get kind of the higher amount on average uh in the next couple years kind of look like this. So for me the comfort level is you know compared to where we were in you know from fiscal FY10 through 21 we're still in a much better we're still much more flush than um a long period of time that we've gone

through in which we can we continue to support projects.

Um, so it looked very sustainable to me to I mean we may find that you know we had an application withdrawn for that was worth a million dollars.

Maybe everybody kind of figures out what they want to do with that project and and we might see that million-doll request um for October town meeting.

um it can still be done.

Okay. So, that's kind of where I'm where I'm at in terms of what I think's going on. Um we've you know there are some years where we've been um under two million for probably what 11 years. We've been under $2 million for 11 years in a row in terms of available funds.

Um the part I didn't show um probably been useful just for like oh that's cool kind of thing but um our debt service is now zero but back in you know 2006 um it was probably 60% of the annual revenue was debt service.

There was long before I think before any of us were on on this committee. What kind of projects were large enough to to need that kind of debt service? What's the history? the um so the first few years so like 2002 through like 2006 um were um land acquisitions farm preservation Soua Lagassi Scoffield um Dutch Belt and so what happens is there you know there were not reserves built up because that you know they only

started the revenue big numbers Yeah. And those are big numbers all at once, you know. Uh um and so um so we borrowed um and I think um the last I think it was maybe 2008 2008 or 2009 was the last project that was there was any borrowing for something like that.

So buddy, I just have a quick yes question on so on your bar chart here.

Yeah.

Because for fiscal 27, which is the year we're heading into now, Yeah.

I see you have the fund balance, the blue at the 4.6 million level. Yeah.

Which is accurate, right?

Um but the but next year we're going down our fund balance is going to be just, you know, over 2 million.

And yeah, it'll be Yeah. What about 2.8 million or something like that?

Yeah.

Where's the 8 million come or the 800,000 come from?

Well, that's three. It's just uh for fiscal 28. It's just under the blue is just under the 3 million mark, right? And I'm wondering shouldn't it be 2 million because our projected balance is 2 million, not 2.8. I thought according to your other oh according to u the schedule that we were just looking at.

Yes. 2 million,000.

So again, maybe I don't know. I mean that's interesting. Right. Right.

I think it should be I'll have to look at that.

Yeah. Just No, that's right. Right. Right. I will take a look at that.

Yeah.

Yep. Yeah.

Just in terms of projecting availability.

Exactly. Exactly. We'll still get this sir charge revenue and we'll still get the state match, but it'll be from a at a lower starting point. That's all.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that that's a great I did not notice that this is correct.

All right. So I'm going to make a note.

I'll revise that.

So, actually that's the one that's probably the one that's off is it'll look more like 29, which would make sense, right? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Okay. Great.

Yes. Exactly. It'll look like 29. Yep.

Right.

Thank you for that.

Well, that end of the table is just all over the numbers tonight. I'm loving this. I am loving this. I you know.

No, this is teamwork if I ever saw it. This is great. Why we look at things together right?

Yep. Exactly. Why we look at things together. Perfect. Thank you very much.

If anyone wants to write an essay, I could probably help.

Okay, perfect.

Word is never the two shall not meet.

Um okay, so every April we consider um a chair and vice chair for the coming year. And so we need to take nominations and vote. If there's we need time for campaigns, we could take a few minutes.

I nominate Buddy Baker Smith for chair.

Second.

On discussion, I'll just say you've proven yourself. Oh, beyond capable. I think I was up $800,000 off among friends.

Well, I would be happy to continue.

This is a job that other people can do because we got a whole like game plan through the year and I would definitely help somebody with that. Um, so keep that in mind. Keep that in mind. you know, I you know, I'm happy to be the other the other at large person too, but keep it in mind.

Okay. Um is there um a motion on the chair then?

So moved. Oh, yep. And second.

Oh, you it was a motion in second.

Never mind.

Further conversation.

Oh, thank you, buddy.

You are accepting the nomination.

You are welcome. Um, all right. All in favor?

I I'll abstain just because it seems like a conflict of interest somewhere in the state walls.

Um, great. Well, thank you. Um, this is an enjoyable committee. Let me just say that. Um, and I do appreciate the thoughtfulness that and the that everybody brings to the table and and the expertise, you know, Michael, you know, I always appreciate you can talk about the housing piece. Um, the agriculture piece has been super important. John can talk about lumens and, you know, in a way that

it was illuminating. It was illuminating. Abs. Absolutely. Um so I definitely appreciate it. Um vice chair, we have a nomination for vice chair and the vice chair steps in when the chair is not around.

Jim is currently the vice chair. Would you like to continue?

If anybody else says I um I I I applaud, buddy, the the the enormous amount of work that you do in our behalf in conducting the business of the committee and you know I I I I don't feel I' I've pulled my way put my weight as as well as I would like to. If somebody else has is is willing to under to undertake it, I um endorse that, but I'm willing certainly willing to do it.

Okay.

I make a motion to nominate Jim for vice chair.

Second.

All right. Any discussion?

All right. We'll try to make it harder harder on you. I mean, okay.

All right. All All in favor?

I very good.

Thanks, Jim.

Jim, thank you. Thank you very much. Um, meeting that took 9 minutes and 15 seconds.

I remember that one.

Yeah.

On second thought, why can't we get Jim as the gym? I'm kidding.

Yes. I have a question on behalf of the park department. I'm I'm just, you know, I don't she uh there was a regarding a sign for the dog park. There was some controversy on the sign. I'm not aware, you know, I'm just coming into it. I don't know this uh I've got a copy of what uh uh superintendent, I don't know if this is what's acceptable or what what has been said before me, but I'm

going to Oh, okay. So, is there did I already know this and just forget this? She said there was an email, but I don't Oh, man. Okay. Um, it went with mine.

What's the controversy?

What's the controversy?

There's a controversy where I don't know. There this She said that CPC wanted a specific type of wording on the sign and she's asking if that Okay. So I don't know controversial according to the person who had the appointment prior to me. He said that this it was discussed in an earlier meeting.

Okay.

So I don't know.

So who would have sent me this? I'm going to do a little quick Rebecca Amarol.

Okay. Oh man.

All right.

So I don't know if anyone recalls that discussion about the sign for the dog park. I mean, this this is about a sign at the dog park that says uh uh lavish funding through the good offices of I think that's the the language that she put in the dog bone there. So, I'm okay. Oh, man. You know, I had this nagging nagging feeling that there was something there was someone and something else on this

agenda. U I'm really glad you brought that up. So, if you all want to rethink the chairperson, this might be the moment to rethink it.

It was Becky. Okay. So, um Becky had asked about the sign. We have in our grant agreements, we have sign requirement to acknowledge that the that the community preservation funds were used for this project.

It's really helpful to remind town folks about where their search charge revenue goes.

Um um and we have very specific um uh guidelines um 4 feet by 5 foot sign, you know, that kind of stuff. And then the caveat is um but if it's if this isn't appropriate for your site, propose something else, basically. And so we've considered different kinds of signs and sizes and things like that. Um but what Becky's um has sent us a few weeks ago. Mwah. Um

is this is a sign size will be 4x5 with the green border and CPC lettering as listed in your rules. Um and then this is the sign. I'm so glad. I would have felt horrible. Becky would have said, "How'd that go?" And I was like, "Um, welcome to Barks and Tails Dog Park.

Please, dogs and humans allowed. Leave only paw prints. Be mindful of your dog's behavior.

Save food and treats for after playtime in the park. Rabies/doglic license tags must be visible on collar. leashes must be in handler's possession at all times.

And then there's this big dog bone thing um in which there that says this off leash recreation area project sponsored by Dartmouth Parks and Recreation was supported by funds from the Community Preservation Committee um Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Um I think it's the I think it's the community preservation act.

Okay.

Not the not this committee. It's really town meetings. Those wonderful people reference the funds.

Yes.

Through the act, not the committee.

Yes.

So it be the funds from the community preservation act. Would it be the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act to in make clear that it's a statewide program?

Yeah, be that you want Massachusetts preservation act.

It is a regional the it is located on the regional park.

The Fall River the one all Fall River road is a regional park. So Fall River didn't put any CPA funds in.

No, not Fall River. Old Fall River.

No, no, not Fall River.

Why don't you pass that up to folks to take a look? So with that, I think that it definitely needs to be the Community Preservation Act. Um and not the not the committee.

Okay.

Um and and I'm fine with that. That makes sense. to be clear the Massachusetts community.

I just heard about this for the first time to tonight at the so didn't know I heard about it and then forgot. So this is really this is really important.

Very easy for me not to forget from downstairs to upstairs. So that was I was lucky.

The fonts I mean again I don't know if they'll have someone at the sign company look at it but the font does seem a little small to be inside that dog bone.

It kind of gets cut off a little bit. So I think she just Right. I think she just did it in on and there does need to be a apostrophe on dogs.

Apostrophe in dogs.

Yeah.

Okay.

Oh, good. Some good editors here.

Yeah. There you go. There it is.

Possessor. There it is.

The behavior of the dog.

So, do you think it should say Massachusetts community? Well, should have a bigger dog bone at the bottom.

Yeah, that Yeah, that might make that might be tough for the dog bone. Oh, I is that is that the image that's for the dog bone we're going to use?

That's I'm I guess they I can I turn this off. It's a little It could be perceived a little Yeah, that phallic.

Okay. You don't like the dog bone because it looks like a phallic symbol.

I don't you I'll leave it to you to describe that to Becky.

That's the controversy.

I'm okay.

I'm I'm a little surprised.

Take a little abstract view at it. It's I thought it too, but I didn't. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm not afraid to say it. I mean, that's the last thing you want, right?

Is that signs up there for a long time.

So, I think Jim, if you're okay, I think person with a Sharpie.

Massachusetts would be hard to to fit on the bone there.

And I'm a little surprised Community Preservation Act. that there is not I'm a little surprised that there is not some authority in town hall that uh is interested in consistency of all town uh signage.

I I look at the signs in front of various town buildings and they're all over the place in terms of their design.

Yeah. And um not I don't think and uh at minimum I would think that there would be somebody in town hall with the one the one person design review board tried to encourage consistency that's above our pay.

I I it is I think Michelle should do it. She doesn't have anything.

So yeah. Whoever does maybe whoever does the website.

Um, I have a motion to uh approve the sign with those amendments that we offer back to um motion to approve.

Sign with amendments noted.

And Joan, you have those amendments?

Yes, I do.

Great.

Yes.

All right. A second.

Second.

All right. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I vote on that.

Oh man, that's great because I know Becky really wants to get that done. And there's a look for different.

Yeah, that's about the only ones. They all look the same. If I look at dog bone picture that they all Well, I mean the sign maker might be doing the edges.

Not a dog house.

That's all I leave the leave the bone to them. But duly noted. Okay, we're go Canva.

Canva's wonderful.

Um for next meeting uh is going to be what? May 12th.

May 12th.

I cannot attend. Okay.

And the parking lot will be packed. It's a concert night.

Oh.

Oh, really? All right.

I can attend either and we also have a party be meeting that night. So, it could be very packed around.

Okay.

Well, let's have it on the books. I will pay attention to the agenda and if I think that we can skate to June, I'll put out a notice like I think we're good.

Um the um one thing I do want us to I want to bring to the committee for approval um is um a letter of appreciation for Joe Vieira's service on the committee.

So, I want to get the numbers right and then I'll draft something and bring it to one of our future meetings. Um, and uh I believe Margaret has now has developed an um a standing conflict with our meeting.

So, I think she was going to talk to the planning board about another rep, I believe.

Yes, that's been in discussion. Yeah. So maybe somebody new because she has this other obligation that is literally the same schedule that we're on and stuff.

Um if that were to be the case, I would um if that's confirmed, I'll draft one for Margaret as well at one of our So we'll take that up in a future meeting.

Okay. So May 12th, um unless you hear otherwise and um if we do in May 12th, just come around 3 or 3:30 and to get a parking space and hang out till 6:30.

All right.

It's going to be a doozy.

Yeah.

There's so many orchestra kids that there are two concerts. Sixth graders Wow.

at six and orchestra.

I know. Sixth graders at at seven.

Seventh and eighth graders at 8.

Oh, that's very cool.

That's great.

That's very cool.

Wow.

So, a motion to adjurnn.

A motion made.

All right. A second. All right. Jo second. And all in favor? That is unanimous. All right.

Thank you all.