Framingham Community Preservation Commitee Holds Community Forum

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Framingham’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is holding a public information forum on Wednesday to explain the Community Preservation Act funding process to and seek input for initiatives from residents.

The hybrid meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Blumer Room on the lower level in City Hall, located at 150 Concord St.

"The purpose of the forum is to present a draft Community Preservation Plan for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and to get feedback and input from residents before the plan is made final," according to committee Chair Thomas Mahoney.

The meeting will also be viewable via Zoom at this link.

Framingham adopted the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act, known as the CPA, in November 2020 by voter referendum. In adopting the Act, voters agreed that property owners would pay a 1% annual surcharge on local property taxes that can be used solely for City quality-of-life projects, as defined by the Act. Adoption of CPA also made Framingham eligible to receive matching funds from a state CPA Trust Fund.

Projects eligible for funding with surcharge revenues are classified under three categories: open space protection and expanded outdoor recreation; preservation of historic buildings and resources; and increasing housing affordability.

Because Framingham did not vote to be included in the CPA program when it was previously a town, Mahoney said that the community had some "missed opportunities." At that time, the initiative called for a 3% surcharge, whereas the version approved in 2020 specifies a 1% surcharge.

He noted that a golf course had previously been for sale, but the town could not afford to purchase it for public use, opening it up to development.

"Village Hall was just renovated," he continued. "If the town/city had previously adopted the CPA, that money could have been used toward funding it."

Mahoney also explained how the funding is derived.

"If your home is worth $500,000, they give you a $100,000 exemption," he explained. "They CPA bases the amount on 1% of the $400,000, so you would pay a surcharge of $55 for the year, which can be broken into four installments."

An appointed Community Preservation Committee has been working over the past year to develop an initial plan for spending the Community Preservation Fund that has been created using the surcharge revenue. This plan will be reviewed and updated annually as the city’s Community Preservation program continues and new project needs and opportunities emerge.

Because the fiscal year ends June 30, the CPC will know how much it will be able to allocate toward projects.

The committee is made up of representatives from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Housing Authority, Planning Board, and Park & Recreation Commission, along with four at-large representatives appointed by City Council.

Committee members will outline at the forum the process by which it will solicit and evaluate grant applications from the community for projects that are eligible for awards under the Community Preservation Act guidelines.

"The forum will give the public an opportunity to both learn about the application process which will kick off in August," Mahoney said, "and comment on Framingham’s needs, opportunities and resources with respect to community housing, historic preservation, and open space and outdoor recreation."

Project applications will be accepted through mid-October, with the committee making funding recommendations to City Council in January 2023.

View a link to the plan here.