Danvers to Vote on Question 5: CPA fund for parks, open space, historic preservation and community housing

Question 5 on the ballot in Danvers asks voters whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA). A Yes vote on Question 5 creates a Danvers fund for acquiring and protecting open space and outdoor recreation (parks, playgrounds, fields, gardens and trails, for example), preserving historic structures and artifacts (including cemeteries), and preserving existing affordable housing and creating homes that veterans, seniors and working people can afford. The fund would be established through a modest surcharge on property tax bills at 1.5% of the bill with exemptions. The first $100,0000 of all properties is exempt; moderate and low-income seniors are exempt, and property owners with earnings below $62,784 (family of two) are exempt. The average homeowner will pay $16.00/quarter (residents can estimate their CPA amount by visiting the Town of Danvers website and clicking on The Assessor's Tool).

In addition, CPA communities receive funds from the statewide Community Preservation Trust. Those funds are generated by fees at the Registry of Deeds and by additional legislative appropriations. If Danvers had been a CPA community last year, the town would have generated $800,000 and received approximately $200,000 from the state for community preservation needs.

All five Danvers Selectmen have endorsed the measure.

Proposed projects or allocations of funding would be reviewed by a nine-member Community Preservation Committee with representation from the town's open space, historic preservation and affordable housing areas as well as a number of residents with no specific affiliation. The Committee will operate under the Open Meeting Law and its recommendations for funding would have to be approved ultimately by Town Meeting.

Several North Shore communities have enhanced their communities with CPA funds, including Peabody, Salem, Beverly, Middleton and Hamilton. Danvers is one of 14 communities with CPA on their ballot Nov. 8. It is the very last question on the back of the ballot.

With early voting now concluded, all Danvers residents who vote on Election Day will vote at Danvers High School, 60 Cabot Road. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Questions about voting can be answered by The Town of Danvers Clerk's office, 978-777-0001. More info at community preservation danvers dot org.