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Correct me if I'm wrong, but didnt we, the taxpayers vote yes on providing a certain percentage of our taxes to be directed to historical preservation, affordable housing, and open land?
At tonights Selectmans meeting it was mentioned that $1.2 Million is earmarked for a two year project to make Town Hall, the Water Sewer building, and Town Hall Mall look pretty by landscaping the area.
My question right now is....Can we the taxpayers vote to cut down some of that money and direct it towards the things this town really needs?
I dont have a problem with keeping our historical sites nice, but $1.2 million for landscaping makes me want to puke. In theses hard times, I would rather see them keep banking this money from year to year (like the peterson pool circus), than spend it wastefully under our noses, while all the other financial woes in town get worse.
By Correct me if I'm wrong
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That's what the CPA money is for
To enhance and restore open space, housing and historic buildings. I think the town could change the percentage by a vote in April.
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Town Hall Mall
The Selectmen only voted on the conceptual plan, which is a very first step. This project is the beginning of the restoration of the mall, the town hall and the water and sewer building, which are located in the Historic District. No actual monies were voted tonight. The Community Preservation Funds can only be used for affordable housing, historic preservation and open space. The Mall fits both the categories of historic preservation and open space. No additional monies will be spent without Town Meeting approval, and the funds would come from the CPA funds, which have been matched 100% for the past two years by the State, bringing in an additonal $800,000. By granting conceptual approval, the committee can begin the process of applying for additional State and Federal grants, that can only be used for HISTORIC preservation. This is a multi year project, which will hopefully be using CPA money as seed money to get additional grant money. It is not a simple landscaping plan. We are banking several hundred thousand dollars to purchase land - not an easy process - but 10% must be used for historic preservation and affordable housing. The Town has already allocated nearly 200,000 from this fund for affordable housing improvements; and historical improvements through the Historical Society, as well as some restoration at the Hollis School. The concept behind doing the Mall and eventually the Town Hall, was to use a portion of the funds in an area that every resident has a stake in; and to be able to readily have potential access to other sources of funding, which is not the case in every project. Please come to the CPC meetings, which are posted and are held on either the first or second Wed. of each month. The next is Wed. Dec. 8th, 7:15, Fletcher Hall. We welcome input from everyone.
By Donna O'Sullican, CPC chair
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Assinine Timing
Yes, I agree the timing of this opulent landscape plan for town hall restoration couldn't be worse. What are our town fathers (?) thinking about. Community Preservation Funds are there appropriately for this type of project - no argument there, but Braintree's town hall exterior is pathetic. That should be first with new doors, new insullated windows, the cupola restored and stairways into the building brought up to snuff. The mall committee wants $600,000 of our CPA dollars for this premature landscaping - can't wait until that comes up at town meeting. Dumb and dumber for allowing this to proceed at this time with all the things this town needs. Wake up, folks. This plan has about as much a chance of passage at town meeting as Kokoros did winning the Rep race. Landscaping is the LAST thing done after restoring the buildings, not BEFORE. Particularly in front of a building that will be unnocupied come January with the move to the Torrey building.
Geeze, what a waste of money and people's time.
By Wally
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