MEMBERS SOUGHT FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

Somerville voters overwhelmingly approved adoption of
the CPA in November 2012. The act will raise an estimated $1.5 million in
funding annually via a tax surcharge and state funds that are designated for major
public investments in open space and outdoor recreation, affordable housing,
and historic preservation. The Community Preservation Committee, required by
the CPA, is tasked with evaluating Somerville's needs in those three specific
areas and making recommendations to the Board of Alderman on how CPA funding
should be spent.

The committee consists of nine volunteers, including
four members from the general public and a member from each of the following
bodies: the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, the Historical
Preservation Commission, the Parks and Open Space Department, and the Housing
Authority. The City is currently looking to fill the four general public positions.
To ensure the most qualified applicants are selected, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone
has formed a planning team of City experts and community members to review
applications, conduct interviews, and consider public feedback on candidates.
From the group of applicants, they will nominate candidates for appointment for
the Mayor to review. The Mayor will then submit candidate finalists to the
Board of Aldermen for approval.

"The diversity of expertise of Somerville residents is
one of the greatest strengths of our city, as is our residents' passion. The
Community Preservation Committee will leverage those strengths to guide CPA
funds towards the best possible uses," Mayor Curtatone said. "Somerville works
best when we involve the community in shaping our vision for the future and in
our decision making process, from our long-term SomerVision comprehensive plan
to our grassroots-oriented Somerville by Design neighborhood planning sessions.
The Community Preservation Committee will once again tap the wisdom of our
community, match with our City experts' know-how, and build a better city for
all."

Committee members serve three-year terms, but initial
appointments to the committee have been staggered, so therefore the City seeks to
fill two one-year term positions, one two-year term position, and one three-year
term position. Though it is ultimately the decision of the Community
Preservation Committee to decide when and how often to meet, the City expects
that it will meet one to two times each month in the evening. The inaugural
meeting of the committee will likely take place in December 2013 or January
2014.

Being an effective committee member will require that
you:

• Familiarize yourself
  with Somerville's affordable housing, historic preservation, and open
  space/outdoor recreation policies and needs

• Familiarize yourself
  with the law (Community Preservation Act, MGL Chapter 44B) that governs the committee

• Attend meetings
  regularly

• Foster good relations
  with other city departments, boards, and commissions

• Listen to and be
  responsive to community feedback

• Use fairness and
  objectivity when making decisions

The planning team is seeking candidates who:

• Are supportive of all
  three programmatic areas of the CPA: affordable housing, historic
  preservation, and open space and outdoor recreation AND

• Have demonstrated a
  commitment to at least one of these areas.

In addition, the goal of the planning team is to
create a balanced committee that includes members who:

• Come from diverse
  demographic backgrounds

• Represent all
  geographic areas of the City

• Have financial
  expertise

• Have project
  management experience

• Are actively
  involved in the community

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested residents should complete the application available on the City's website at http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/CPC%20application_8%2026%2013.pdf
or outside the SomerStat Office at City Hall, 93
Highland Ave. Completed applications should be sent to Candace Cooper (ccooper@somervillema.gov or 617.625.6600 ext. 3306) by September 22, 2013. All
residents are welcome to apply. No nomination is required to submit an
application.

To find out more about serving as a CPC member, please
visit the following websites:

http://www.somervillema.gov/cpa

http://www.communitypreservation.org/