A clerical oversight involving two distinct projects at Jenny Pond has prompted the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to pull a debt pay-down article from the upcoming Spring Town Meeting warrant. Finance Director Lynn informed the committee that while members had intended to allocate funds to pay down debt for the Jenny Pond dredging project, the warrant mistakenly referenced the Town Brook project. I realized it when we were looking at the Town Meeting book because I was referencing paying down a different project than what was referenced in the warrant, Lynn explained, suggesting that the committee request a status of no motion, no action to effectively withdraw the item. Lynn noted that because the town has already borrowed the money, the delay will not cause a timing issue, as the payment can be authorized during the Fall Town Meeting instead.

CPC Coordinator Kristen Ford accepted responsibility for the mix-up during the Tuesday evening session. I apologize for that, guys. That's totally my fault. It's a stupid error, Ford said. Committee members agreed that seeking a withdrawal was the most transparent course of action for voters. Chair Edward Bradley noted the importance of accuracy in the materials already provided to residents. All the booklets have gone out and everybody's looked at it one way. To show up at Town Meeting and tell them we made a mistake would probably be best to withdraw it and do it in the fall, Bradley said. Motion Made by L. Levin to request "No Motion, No Action" on Article 27 at the Spring Town Meeting. Motion Passed (3-0-0). Member Mike Tubin provided the second for the motion, while Member Paul Churchill joined the majority in the roll call.

The committee also reviewed significant financial distributions for local affordable housing, including two recent payments to Habitat for Humanity totaling $199,182.06. Ford reported that the town is currently finalizing paperwork with Town Counsel to ensure three Habitat units are officially recognized on the state’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). Member Bill Keohan emphasized that tracking these figures is a priority for the town, noting that a formal update on SHI numbers is scheduled for an upcoming Select Board meeting. I'll forward that time and date to everyone so people know that's coming down the road because we've got to pay attention to that, Keohan said.

In a milestone for another housing initiative, Ford announced that the Cranberry Club Commons project was scheduled to close on the day of the meeting. Cranberry Club Commons is set to close today. I think it will go on record tomorrow, Ford told the committee, confirming that funds from both the CPC and the Affordable Housing Trust had been successfully wired. Looking ahead, the committee began early planning for a 10-year retrospective book documenting Community Preservation Act projects from 2017 through 2027. Keohan, who assisted with the previous volume covering 2002-2016, expressed interest in leading the new effort. I was thinking 2027 would be the year to release it. So yeah, I'm interested in that, Keohan noted.

The committee received several updates on ongoing preservation efforts, including the completion of work by the Coalition for the Homeless. Regarding the Pilgrim Hall project, Member Len Levin reported that the scope of his involvement is winding down. The stuff they're doing now was outside the scope of this CPC grant. They're getting pretty close. They have a fairly elaborate lighting system they're trying to get set up, Levin said. Additionally, the Plymouth Center for the Arts is expected to complete its remaining paperwork and billing by the end of April, with a historic restriction amendment currently under review by Town Counsel.