West Tisbury Community Preservation Committee

CPA Funded Projects 2007-2012

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) specifies that at least 10% of the funds each year must be allocated for each of the following: open space (excluding recreational uses), historic resources, and community housing. Up to 5% may be used for administering these funds. The balance may be appropriated for any of these three purposes, including the recreational use of open space.

In 2005, the Town of West Tisbury voted to approve participation in the CPA, to be funded by a 3% surcharge on property taxes plus supplementation (recently about 44%) from a state trust fund. In 2006, the Town’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) established a process whereby agencies, groups, and individuals could apply for funding. Since then, the CPC has received over 60 applications, most of which were judged to be eligible, 31 were recommended for funding, and 28 were approved at Annual Town Meetings from 2007 to 2011. A summary of approved projects and their current status follows.

Open Space:

Mill Pond Studies:  Approved $20,000 in 2008, completed 2011.

Old County Road path project: Approved $80,000 in 2007, expended $2,156 on planning. Further expenditures were postponed indefinitely in 2008, and the balance of the path project funds were returned to the CPA undesignated reserve in 2009.

Field Gallery: Approved $310,000 from funds available in FY 2011, plus $40,000 in Open Space funds available in FY 2012, and a commitment to provide $40,000 per year in Open Space funds for four additional years to support debt service.

Total CPA funds allocated for Open Space: $537,156, including $160,000 obligated for future debt service.

Mill Pond Studies	Field Gallery

Town Hall renovation, debt service on bond issue: Approved $500,000 in 2008, with $100,000 to be expended annually beginning in 2009.

First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, engineering and architectural studies to prepare for historic preservation and restoration work: Approved $30,000 in 2009, completed 2011; $150,000 toward preservation of the church's structural integrity, approved 2010, in progress.

Cemetery records,collect and organize records for the town’s cemeteries: Approved $10,000 in 2009; in progress.

Replacement of windows in historic County Courthouse, approved $8,150 in 2010, in progress.

Historic resources inventory, to develop a comprehensive data base of the town's historic resources. Supported by CPA administrative funds: $5700 in 2007, $13,000 in 2008, and $13,000 in 2009; completed in FY 2010.

Martha's Vineyard Museum, approved $27,038 to catalog and preserve historic material in the collection of the Martha’s Vineyard museum.

Total CPA funds allocated for Historic Resources: $761,888, including $500,000 total for Town Hall debt service and $5,000 for Mill Pond Studies.

Martha's Vineyard Museum Collections	First Congregational Church of West Tisbury	Cemetery Records

Community Housing:

Sepiessa expansion, to add three rental units: Approved $29,500 for predevelopment costs, 2007; approved $250,000 for construction, 2008; project is out for bids.

Rental subsidies for Dukes County Regional Housing Authority ongoing rental assistance program: Approved $18,000 in 2007, $30,000 in 2008, $66,000 in 2009, $104,000 in 2010, and $104,000 in 2011.

Affordable housing, Bailey Park: Approved $45,000 in 2008 to fund access and electricity rights for three affordable single-family homes on Bailey Park Road. In 2010, the West Tisbury Affordable Housing Trust Fund was granted $225,000 in CPA funds toward completion of this and other affordable housing projects. In 2011, an additional $80,000 was approved to support construction of House #2.

Affordable housing, 250 State Road, renamed Eliakim’s Way: Approved $400,000 in 2008 and $170,000 in 2009 to support affordability of six new homes; in progress. In Spring 2010, seven homes were awarded to eligible buyers by lottery; Habitat for Humanity has designated a recipient for the eighth home. All homes have been completed and are occupied by eligible families.

Second mortgage loans: A fund administered by the Martha's Vineyard Housing Fund to assist qualified buyers of affordable housing. Approved $50,000 in 2008, loans awarded in 2008-9. Approved $70,000 in 2010; in progress.

Energy-efficient construction: A fund administered by the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Fund to support energy efficiency in affordable housing. Approved $50,000 in 2009; in progress.

Total CPA funds allocated for Community Housing: $1,691,500

Total CPA funds allocated for all projects, 2007-2011: $3,090,544.

Eliakim's Way (250 State Road)	Bailey Park House # 1 "Bank House"