Community Preservation Act Progress

Fresh on the heels of the majority YES for CPA (Question 4) vote on the ballot on November 6^th, Community Preservation Beverly, City Council President Paul Guanci and Mayor Bill Scanlon have taken the first steps toward shaping both the local community preservation ordinance and the permanent Beverly Community Preservation Committee (CPC).

The group agreed Tuesday, November 20, 2012 to form a temporary ad hoc implementation group to work with the Council and City Solicitor to seek broad public input on the scope and composition of the CPC and to draft the formation ordinance for discussion and adoption by the City Council. The working group will consist of three representatives appointed by the City Council, three appointed by the Mayor, and three from Community Preservation Beverly, the original ballot question proponents. Council President Paul Guanci will formally announce formation of the working group at the City Council meeting on December 3^rd, seeking interest from the general public in serving on this project prior to formation of the actual Community Preservation Committee. Mayor Scanlon is also seeking expressions of interest in serving on this initial group.

The aim is to make appointments to the working group by mid-December so that the real work of soliciting public interest and drafting the ordinance can begin at the start of the year.  All parties hope to have the ordinance drafted, discussed and adopted, and the CPC itself formed, by the end of March, so that the CPC can then begin seeking suggestions for specific CPA projects, developing a process for discussion and review, and developing a long term Community Preservation Plan with broadly accepted goals and practices.  Collection of the 1% surcharge, with its various exemptions and allowances, will begin with the tax bills for fiscal year 2014, which begins on July 1, 2013.

The original proponents group, Community Preservation Beverly, will be dissolved by year end, as required by State law for all ballot question committees.  The new working group will also be dissolved once the permanent Beverly Community Preservation Committee is established.

Those with interest in serving on either the working group or the permanent Community Preservation Committee are encouraged to contact Mayor Scanlon or City Councilors.

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For further information, contact Peter Johnson, Treasurer, Community Preservation Beverly at 978-927-8829 or peter.johnson@pointedfirpartners.com