CPA Committee




Formal Name Position Term Expires
David Robert Barrett
(Town Appointee by BOS)		 Member 1 YR 6/30/2012
David C. Foster
(Planning Board)		 Member 1 YR 6/30/2012
Vacancy
 (Housing Authority)		 Member 1 YR 6/30/2012
Steven H. Greenberg (Affordable Housing) Member 1 YR 6/30/2012
Glenn Rigby
(Historical)		 Member 1 YR 6/30/2012
Beth C. Rosenblum
(Open Space)		 Vice Chair 1 YR 6/30/2012
Cheri L. Vallone (Conservation) Chair 1 YR 6/30/2012



More details about our mission statement, goals, and project criteria guidelines can be found here.

The Community Preservation Act, “CPA”, MGL Chapter 44B, which has been adopted by the Town of Ashland, 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 Act Committee (“CPAC”) was formed to study the needs, possibilities and resources of the town regarding community preservation. The CPAC includes representatives of the town’s Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Planning Board, Open Space Committee, Affordable Housing, and citizen members appointed by the Selectmen.

The CPAC meets to discuss its role as a facilitator for community preservation in Ashland and strives to:

· Be a catalyst for projects
· Be a funding source, not a developer
· Utilize community goals previously set forth in other public documents that have received wide scrutiny and public input
· Attempt to meet multiple community preservation goals in each project
· Communicate its mission and goals to the general public

The Community Preservation Act Committee welcomes project proposals that contribute to community preservation in Ashland. The Committee conducts public hearings to review and accept proposals prior to all Town Meetings. Anyone with an idea for a project is encouraged to attend a CPA public hearing and complete the Project Submission form, which can be downloaded here. 

All Community Preservation Act funding requests require the recommendation of the project by the CPAC to Town Meeting, and a majority vote at Town Meeting to appropriate the funds.

Project Eligibility and Funding:

The Community Preservation Act Committee requires that all proposed projects be eligible for CPA funding according to the requirements described in the legislation. Funds collected under the CPA can only be spent for community preservation purposes:

· Acquisition or preservation of open space
· Preservation or creation of recreation resources
· Acquisition, restoration or preservation of historic resources
· Creation or support of affordable housing

In addition, 10% of the funds received in any fiscal year must be reserved for each of the three areas: open space, historic preservation and affordable community housing. Recreational resources must be funded from the CPA undesignated account. The remaining 70% of each year's funds may be allocated to any one or a combination of the three main uses, including public recreational purposes. However, these funds cannot be spent on maintenance or used to supplement funds being used for existing community preservation purposes.

Since its enactment in 2002, Ashland received 100% of its local receipts in state matching funds every year through fiscal year 2008. Through December, 2009, Ashland received a total of $3,650,738 in state matching funds. A partial list of the CPA projects approved for funding by Ashland Town Meeting includes:

  • Town Hall and Public Library historic renovations
  • Creation of an Affordable Housing Plan and Trust Fund 
  • Creation of a pre-school playground at the Warren School 
  • Hydrology study of the land surrounding the town's sole drinking water source 
  • Preservation of the town's historic records
  • Purchase of property at 125 Front Street
  • Rehabilitation of the Stone Park Pavilion 
  • Lake Waushakum stormwater study
  • Enhancements to Marathon Park
  • Community Center Pavilion 
  • Weston Nurseries land acquisition
  • Addition of land to the Town Forest
  • Sibson parcel acquisition
  • Town Hall asset restoration
  • Community Garden Pilot at Stone Park
  • Athletic Fields Master Plan
  • Weston Nursery and Sibson property topograghy


The 2008 and 2009 CPA Committee Annual Reports include more details about the committee, the articles passed at the Spring and Fall Town Meetings, projects completed, and open project balances.

Subpages (1): CPA Projects