Community Preservation Act Committee Recommends Funding for 11 Projects

Report on the Meeting of the Community Preservation Act Committee, December 19, 2024

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Present
Sam MacLeod (Chair), Robin Fordham, David Williams, Matt Cain, Jason Dorney, Tim Neale, Bob Saul, and Katie Zobel.

Staff: Holly Drake (Comptroller) and Dave Ziomek (Assistant Town Manager)

The Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) recommended at their December 19 meeting, funding all 11 projects that applied for CPA funds for FY2026. The total cost of the projects is $1,653,520. The addition of $638,550 in debt service for previous projects, brings the total CPA expenditure to $2,292,070. The town raised $1.1 million from the three percent CPA property tax levy and received $275,000 from a state match. $919,609 remained from FY2025. CPA funds must be spent on historical preservation, community housing, and open space and recreation. All CPAC recommendations must be approved by the Town Council

Projects funded include $300,000 for the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, $15,000 for the Amherst Historical Commission to conduct a survey of modern architecture in town, $210,000 to repair the stained glass windows at the Jewish Community of Amherst, $88,520 to repair the Dickinson Farmhouse at the Wildwood Cemetery, $40,000 to replace the fence at the North Cemetery, $100,000 for standardized signs and kiosks at conservation areas, $80,000 for the Mill River baseball fields, $500,000 for the bathhouse at the War Memorial pool, $130,000 for trail and footbridge maintenance, $100,000 to improve accessibility at Groff Park, and $90,000 for parks equipment. The committee’s votes were unanimous, except for the conservation area signs that received a no vote from Jason Dorney, because he wished that an additional $10,000 be devoted to trails and footbridges. 

The debt service includes $74,740 for purchase of the Belchertown Road property for affordable apartments (year 4 of 10), $36,050 for the last of five payments for the Kendrick Park playground, $66,250 for the studio apartment building at 132 Northampton Road (year 4 of 10), $112,000 x 2 for the high school track and field project (year 1 of 10—a second tranche of $800,000 borrowing is set to be voted on by the Town Council in January), $140,000 for the Jones Library expansion project (year 1 of 10, estimated to start in FY2026), and $98,000 for the playing fields at the new Fort River elementary school (year 1 of 10).

Details of the new projects approved are listed below:

1. Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust: AMAHT requested $500,000 to help finance two or three affordable housing projects and the planned year-round shelter at the former VFW site. The trust was recommended to receive $300,000.
   
2. Amherst Historical Commission survey of modern architecture: The AHC requested and was recommended to receive $15,000 for a trained historic architect to create an inventory of structures built between 1935 and 1975, when many of Amherst’s neighborhoods were built. The information will be stored in the state data base.
   
3. Dickinson Farmhouse restoration at Wildwood Cemetery: The 1790 Dickinson Farmhouse serves as the central meeting space for public events at the cemetery. The Amherst Cemetery Association requested $102,500 to repoint the masonry, repair the four chimneys, and repair and repaint the windows and shutters. The group was recommended to receive $88,500 due to supplementation with internal fundraising.
   
4. Stained glass window restoration at the Jewish Community of Amherst (JCA): Seven stained glass windows at the JCA dating from the 1890s are badly deteriorated and present a danger to worshipers in the synagogue. The $210,000 requested and awarded by CPAC will be augmented by $35,000 from the JCA capital budget.
   
5. North Cemetery fence: The town requested and was recommended to receive $40,000 to replace the rotting 20-year-old picket fence at the North Amherst Cemetery on East Pleasant Street with a white vinyl fence in the same style.
   
6. Standardized signs and kiosks for conservation areas: The town of Amherst requested and was recommended to receive $100,000 for the fabrication of signs at many of our most visited recreation and conservation properties including Puffer’s Pond, Amethyst Brook, Mill River, Groff Park, Plum Brook, Community Field, Wentworth Farm and many more. Each sign would include information about who maintains the property and who to call for information/questions/concerns and would be in the style of the Kendrick playground signs.
   
7. Mill River baseball fields: The town of Amherst requested $120,000 to complete the improvements to the baseball fields at the Mill River Recreation area by adding electrical service and dugouts (shade structures). The CPAC recommended $80,000 for this project.
   
8. War Memorial bathhouse improvements: The Town of Amherst sought $750,000 as a local match to augment grants to replace the 75-year-old bathhouse at the War Memorial pool. The entire project is estimated to cost $4 million. CPAC recommended $500,000 for the project.
   
9. Trail and footbridge improvements: The Amherst Conservation Department manages approximately 2,400 acres of Conservation Land, and more than 140 miles of trails. Annual improvement and enhancement of trails is critically important to maintain safety and accessibility of the town’s trail systems, footbridges, wetland and stream crossings for public use. Some potential projects include Hickory Ridge bridges (191 West Pomeroy Lane), Robert Frost Trail re-route (between Atkins Flats and Station Road), Tucker Trail construction (from public parking area on Vista Terrace connecting to Sweet Alice Conservation Area), Sweet Alice footbridge and bog bridging (Bay Road), Podick Conservation Area stream crossing (Rt 116/Sunderland Road), Fort River Farm Conservation Area footbridge over the Fearing Brook connecting to Fort River School (Belchertown Road), as well as other similar projects. The town requested $120,000 and was recommended to receive $130,000.
   
10. Improved accessibility at Groff Park: The town of Amherst requested and was recommended to receive $100,000 to survey and design a sidewalk along the parking lot at Groff Park and a walkway extending down to the pavilion on the lower level.
    
11. Parks equipment purchases: The town requested and was recommended to receive $90,000 to replace or add trash cans, grills, benches, tables and planters strategically at town-owned spaces. The equipment is tentatively proposed to be
    installed as follows: Groff Park – trash cans, grills, tables; Mill River Recreation Area – trash cans, grills, benches, tables; Kendrick Park – trash cans, tables; Switzer Park – trash cans; Dog Park – benches, planters; and Main Town Common – benches.

Approximately $2,500 remains in the CPA funds to be used in future projects. The town has met the state regulations for CPA funds that stipulate that at least 10% be devoted to community housing and at least 10% to open space and recreation.