There is hereby established a Community Preservation Committee
in accordance with Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2000, the Massachusetts
Community Preservation Act, consisting of nine voting members pursuant
to MGL Chapter 44B.
The Community Preservation Committee shall study the needs,
possibilities and resources of the City regarding community preservation.
The Committee shall consult with existing municipal boards, including
the Mayor, City Council, Conservation Commission, the Historic District
Commission, Agricultural Commission, Housing Authority, Youth Commission,
Council on Aging, Public Shade Tree Commission, the Planning Board,
the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Housing Partnership and the
Department of Public Works, or persons acting in those capacities
or performing like duties, in conducting such studies. As part of
its study, the Committee shall hold one or more public informational
hearings on the needs, possibilities and resources of the City of
Northampton regarding community preservation possibilities and resources,
notice of which shall be posted publicly and published for each of
two weeks preceding a hearing in a newspaper of general circulation
in the City.
A. The Community
Preservation Committee shall make recommendations to the City Council
for the acquisition and preservation of open space which includes
parks, conservation land, wildlife preserves, public drinking water
supplies and scenic areas, farmland and forests; for the acquisition
and restoration of historic buildings and sites; and for the creation
and preservation of affordable housing. At least 10% of the funds
for each fiscal year will be spent, or reserved for later spending,
on each of the three community preservation purposes; open space,
historic resources and affordable housing.
B. The Community
Preservation Committee may include in its recommendation to the City
Council a recommendation to set aside for later spending funds for
specific purposes that are consistent with community preservation
but for which sufficient revenues are not then available in the Community
Preservation Fund to accomplish that specific purpose or to set aside
for later spending funds for general purposes that are consistent
with community preservation.