East Longmeadow Community Preservation Committee

Minutes December 6, 2006

Present: William Speight (Historical Commission), Carol Johnston (Housing Authority), Timothy Seeley (At-Large), Michael Perkins (Board of Public Works), George Kingston (Conservation Commission), Louis Calabrese (Planning Board)
Absent: Michael Salvon (Recreation Commission), William Fonseca (At-Large)

Chairman Seeley called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

The membership list and contact information were distributed.

The minutes of the November 1, 2006 meeting were presented by Carol Johnston and approved.

Mr. Perkins reported that the Board of Public Works had a joint meeting with the Recreation Commission and agreed to support the rehabilitation and improvement of Pineknoll.

Dr. Kingston proposed that each board prepare specific, written proposals for project funding, including budget and justification, so that all the proposals can be judged on a common basis.

The Committee discussed Pineknoll.  The facility needs to be upgraded to meet accessibility standards and several derelict buildings need to be removed.  Money is needed to develop a plan.

A letter has been sent to the selectmen to ask for a 3rd at-large member of the Committee.

The Committee agreed to hold a public hearing at the next meeting.

The Committee discussed options for the railroad station.  The Historical Commission needs to declare the railroad station, the Grange Hall, and Pineknoll as being "historically significant" to the town to be eligible to spend CPA funds on them.

The Committee will need to present a detailed budget to Town Meeting in May for operating funds for the next fiscal year.

The Committee agreed to meet again on January 17, 2007, at which time a public hearing will be held.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
George Kingston, Secretary