[Adopted 2-6-2017]
There shall be a Community Preservation Committee in accordance with Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2000, the Community Preservation Act, which shall consist of nine members.
The Committee shall be composed of:
A.
One member of the Conservation Commission as designated by the Commission.
B.
One member of the Historical Commission as designated by the Commission.
C.
One member of the Housing Authority as designated by the Authority.
D.
One member of the Park Commission as designated by the Commission.
E.
One member of the Planning Board as designated by the Board.
F.
One member of the Springfield Preservation Trust as designated by the Trust.
G.
Three Springfield residents, who do not hold elected or appointed office, as appointed by the City Council President from recommendations submitted by neighborhood councils and associations. The City Council President shall contact in writing all neighborhood councils and associations to request a recommendation from each and choose three residents from names submitted by 30 days of the written request.
A.
The term of office shall be for three years. No member shall serve more than two full terms. To stagger members, initially members from the Planning Board, Housing Authority, and Park Commission shall serve for one year; and members from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, and Springfield Preservation Trust shall serve for two years.
B.
In the event that a designee of a governmental board no longer serves on the board he/she represents, that position shall be vacant and filled by the appropriate body for the remainder of the term.
C.
Each member shall continue in office after the expiration of their term until a successor is duly appointed and qualified, provided the person remains a member of the body they represent.
[Added 12-18-2023]
A.
The Committee shall study the needs, possibilities, and resources of the City regarding community preservation. The Committee shall consult with the Mayor, City Council, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Park Commission, Housing Authority, and Planning Board, and may consult with other agencies.
B.
As part of its study, the Committee shall annually hold one or more information hearings on the needs, possibilities, and resources of the City regarding community preservation. Notice of such hearing(s) shall be posted publicly and published for each of two weeks preceding the hearing(s) in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. Notice of such hearing(s) shall also be sent to all neighborhood councils and associations no less than three weeks prior to the hearing(s).
A.
The Committee shall review and recommend proposals to the City Council for approval of appropriations by the City Council. Recommendations may be for:
(1)
Acquisition, creation, and preservation of open space and rehabilitation or restoration of open space acquired or created by this section;
(2)
Acquisition, creation, rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation of land for recreational use;
(3)
Acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic resources;
(4)
Acquisition, creation, preservation, and support for community housing; and rehabilitation or restoration of community housing acquired or created by this section; and
(5)
With respect to community housing, the Committee shall recommend, wherever possible, the reuse of existing buildings or the construction of new buildings on previously developed sites.
B.
The Committee shall submit its budget to the City Council. The budget may include recommendations 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.
C.
For each fiscal year, at least 10% of the estimated annual Community Preservation Fund revenues must be appropriated or reserved for initiatives in each of the categories of open space and recreational space, community housing, and historic resources.
D.
Annual appropriations for administrative and operating expenses of the Committee may not exceed 5% of the year's estimated annual Community Preservation Fund resources.
E.
The Committee shall keep a full and accurate account of all of its actions, including its recommendations and action taken by the City Council on the recommendations. The Committee shall also keep records of all appropriations or expenditures made from the Community Preservation Fund. Records shall also be kept by the Committee of any real property interests acquired, real property disposed of or real property improved by the City based upon the Committee's recommendation. These records shall include the names and addresses of grantors and grantees and the nature of the consideration.
