Community Preservation Committee funding wins for tennis courts, library skylight and First Parish steeple

Town Meeting approved a slate of Community Preservation Committee projects after extended floor debate over spending priorities and the scope of community use for eligible projects.

The meeting approved $63,000 for Rodenbush tennis court replacement, a proposal supporters said fixes courts that are "in major disrepair" and will add pickleball striping and improved accessibility; opponents urged conserving CPA funds for affordable housing and open-space opportunities. The Rodenbush project passed 262 yes to 96 no when voted separately.

The JB Fletcher Library requested $60,000 from CPC to restore a historic triangular skylight on the east wing; library officials said the skylight is part of the promised funding plan for the larger renovation and that the work would use historic-preservation-appropriate materials. The skylight appropriation passed 266 yes to 75 no.

A larger contested item was a $591,000 request for Phase One of the First Parish Church United Meeting House historic preservation project. Speakers debated whether CPA funds could be spent on a church building; Town Counsel Greg Corbo advised that CPA funding is allowable for historic preservation when the predominant purpose is preserving historic fabric and the building serves broad civic uses. Multiple community organizations and users testified to the building's community function. The appropriation passed 284 yes to 54 no.

The CPC chair reminded voters that CPC revenues come from deed transfer fees and matching state funds, that the committee scores and vets projects, and that this year's cycle funded projects across historic preservation, open space, recreation and affordable housing.