2026-07-21 - Community Preservation Committee

Summary

Built from the official minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

In person; called to order at 6:37 PM by Chair Ramage, adjourned at about 8:55 PM.
Members present: Downey, Evans, Evers, Hanna (Clerk), Hiller, Kadden, Krentzman (Vice Chair), Montemayor (Financial Advisor). Also present: Loomis, Director of Community and Economic Development.
No public speak at the start. Minutes of May 12, 2026 accepted, 9-0-0.
Public hearings on four 2026 Community Preservation Act applications; all four were continued to August 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM, with no funding votes taken.

Application CPA-26-1, Natick Historical Society, $37,500 ($25,000 digitization, $12,500 temporary digital archivist). Lefebvre presented: more than 12,000 photographs, 1870 to 1970 focus, 12 to 16 months, NEDCC as digitizer, hoping for about 1,000 photographs in the first year.
Questions: Kadden on fit with the 10-year plan; Hanna on selection order; Krentzman on yearly funding and CPA signage (the Society is open to signage); Montemayor on no competitive bids and public access; Hiller on letters of support; Ramage on volume; Downey on the increase from the $15,000 letter of interest and intern turnover; Evans on a typo in the application (non-CPA funds statement). Evers said he has used the collection for decades.
Public: Ciosi supported the project and noted text-to-speech for access. Ramage asked for letters of support and continued the hearing.

Application CPA-26-2, Friends of Natick Trails, $42,375, for a connector between the Cochituate Rail Trail and Modera plus a seating area and native garden. Ostroff, Henderson, Pletz and landscape architect Landgren (donating services) presented; the path would cross Town-owned land, with review by Community and Economic Development and the Conservation Commission (Rundelli on invasives). Modera would maintain the connector under an agreement with Public Works; construction next spring, completion next summer.
Questions: Montemayor on using the front sidewalk, cut-through use and e-bikes, and priority versus a restroom; Krentzman on cost overruns and survey bias (30 responses); Hanna on whether Modera will honor maintenance and on grading; Downey on Town Counsel drafting. Ramage said a Modera letter that week said it is willing to enter an agreement.
Public: Ciosi spoke in favor, citing disability and ice. Doran objected to paying the fiscal sponsor $4,000 and urged forming a nonprofit.

Application CPA-26-3, Town of Natick (Community Services), $1,243,500 for Grove Park and the Multipurpose Area. Snell presented: total estimated cost $1,343,313, with $96,813 already appropriated as match for a pending state MVP grant; the CPA request would shrink if the grant arrives. Work would begin in January if funded.
Questions: Montemayor on skating and basketball; Krentzman on the no-grant scenario and the timing of the grant application; Ramage on the risk of applying to both and the state's slipping timeline; Hiller on delay and concurrent savings; Evers on Old Town Park (separate; federal earmark requested).
Public: Ciosi asked about a town-wide parks plan and a skate park elsewhere.

Application CPA-26-4, Town of Natick (Community Services), $150,000 to develop a scope of work. Meyer presented: $33,000 for conceptual design and public meetings, $117,000 for detailed drawings and permitting start; last updated 2001; the 2016 master plan includes a splash pad; construction grants to be sought next year.
Questions: Krentzman on alternatives and outreach; Montemayor on acquiring adjacent land; Evers on environmental justice zones and paving; Ramage on the budget and prospect of further CPA requests; Downey on phasing design separately. No public comment.