The Fall River Community Preservation Committee met on January 10, 2019, to address several administrative and project matters, primarily focusing on an emergency funding application for the Fall River Public Library roof. Director of Facilities Chris Gallagher and City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros presented the severe water leak situation affecting the historic library building. Viveiros detailed the city’s broader capital planning and fiscal challenges, explaining why municipal stabilization funds could not be used and why the city was seeking CPA funding rather than waiting for future fiscal year borrowing cycles. The committee discussed historic preservation standards, noting the proposed EPDM membrane roof did not meet Secretary of the Interior standards, and voted unanimously to grant Gallagher an extension to revise the application to include historic slate and copper restoration elements before returning on January 28.
In other business, the committee affirmed the project description for the FY19 Quequechan River Rail Trail easement acquisition and discussed the production, sizing, and placement of Community Preservation Act informational signs across city projects. Members also completed a review of ongoing and completed CPA projects, dividing oversight and liaison responsibilities among committee members to obtain status updates on construction and outstanding deed restrictions. Finally, the committee created a working group consisting of John Franco, Tony Dias, and Jim Sousa to explore hiring a preservation consultant rather than a lawyer to resolve long-standing deed and preservation restrictions on funded properties.
Topics discussed
- 1:02 · Approval of Minutes — approved
Approval of the meeting minutes from November 26, 2018. - 1:23 · Fall River Public Library Roof Emergency Funding and Standards
Discussion of emergency roof replacement for Fall River Public Library, the city’s financial condition and reserves, and adherence to Secretary of the Interior historic standards. - 50:44 · Quequechan River Rail Trail Award Agreement — passed
Clarification of the scope of the FY19 Quequechan River Rail Trail application regarding easement acquisition. - 1:01:34 · Community Preservation Act Promotional Signs
Review of sign dimensions, current sign locations, and photo requirements for newly produced CPA signs. - 1:03:00 · Project Oversight and Status Assignments
Assignment of committee members to monitor specific CPA-funded projects and verify completion and compliance. - 1:22:11 · Deed Restrictions and Preservation Consultant — passed
Discussion on engaging a historic preservation consultant to manage outstanding deed restrictions on past projects.