Community Preservation Committee

About the Committee

The CPC meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:15 pm at the lower level of Town Hall.

The CPC is comprised of nine (9) members. Four (4) seats are At-Large members appointed by the Select Board per the recommendation of the CPC. The remaining five (5) seats are filled per state CPA statute by representatives from the following town boards: Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Housing Authority, Open Space & Recreation Committee, and Planning Board.

The Community Preservation Act, “CPA”, MGL Chapter 44B, adopted by the Town of Ashland in 2002, is statewide enabling legislation allowing cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to adopt a property tax surcharge which, along with state matching funds, will be used for open space preservation, creation of community housing, preservation of historic buildings and landscapes, and creation of recreation opportunities.

Consistent with the requirements of the CPA, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) was formed to study the needs, possibilities, and resources of the town regarding community preservation.

The CPC meets monthly to discuss its role as a facilitator to promote community preservation in Ashland and strives to:

• Meet multiple Community Preservation goals in each project

• Be a catalyst for projects

• Be a funding source, not a Developer

• Communicate the CPA mission and goals to the residents of the Town

• Seek input and project ideas from the community

• Utilize community goals articulated in other public documents that have received wide scrutiny and public input