05:51During the meeting, a steering committee update revealed that several state house bills related to the Community Preservation Act (CPA) were being prepared for submission. The committee members were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the content of these bills, as they could have significant impacts on local CPA funding and project categories. There was a proposal for the committee to draft letters of support for bills deemed beneficial. However, it was noted that some bills would be heard before the committee’s next meeting in August, urging members to individually reach out to state representatives if immediate action was necessary.

Committee members also discussed the need for a spreadsheet to track the progress and hearing dates of these bills. Members were reminded of the broader implications of these legislative changes, which could affect areas such as ADA compliance and tax bill percentages at the state level, with local adoption required subsequently.

02:16In other matters, a proposal from Dery Block was withdrawn, and the review of the Community Preservation Committee plan was tabled until August. This plan serves as a working document outlining the committee’s priorities for the fiscal year and requires public input and approval by the city council. The necessity of making this plan accessible and useful to both the committee and the public was emphasized during the discussion.