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Labor of Love Is No Labor at All Land conservation is only a part of the game
by Robert Falcione April 5, 2009 — John Coolidge whizzes by the HopNews office, beeping and waving with the ever-present enthusiasm that fuels his multiple volunteer efforts, from the driver's side of his 48 mpg Honda Civic, an apt metaphor for the conservationist causes he embraces. After he finds a parking space, he walks into the HopNews office carrying his signature stack of paperwork.
Mr. Coolidge, who claims a blood relationship "somewhere along the line" to President Calvin Coolidge, grew up in the oldest house in Brookline, the former home of John Goddard, a wagon master to George Washington, and is — or has been — an elected member, or a volunteer, on several Town of Hopkinton boards, committees or commissions.
Two main labors of love for Mr. Coolidge are the OSPC (Open
It gets a little confusing, so please pay strict attention.
The OSPC is a Town commission that is tasked with identifying and proposing to Town Meeting the purchase of parcels of Open Space for the Town. But at first, it was the body that funded the purchases, or at least parts of them.
CPC is where the money comes from now.
"The OSPC was in existence before the CPC. It was formed by the town from $350,000 from the stabilization fund and a one-time override," Mr. Coolidge said.
But once the state's (Community Preservation Act) was signed onto by the town, the CPC instead became the main funding mechanism for the OSPC, as well as for other uses.
The CPA act from which the CPC draws its authority is funded by 2% of the towns tax revenue. The funds that a town sets aside qualify for a state contribution as well. In the heyday, the match was 100%, but now, it is somewhere near 39%. The funds are set aside for the various functions that the CPC purposes allow.
"We raised over $1 million in OSPC for the 130 acre Cameron Property. (CLICK ON MAP FOR LARGER VERSION)
"The
Whitehall property was partly OSPC money with the difference made up
with CPC money," he said. Mr. Coolidge also serves on the Planning Board.
These days, the money comes mostly from the CPC, which is the funding mechanism. OSPC just identifies parcels and brings the ideas to Town Meeting.
"The CPC funds OSPC, Parks and Recreation, Historical Commission, Historical Society, Affordable Housing Task Force — in reality, anyone who comes forward with a worthwhile project, we could fund it through an Article at Town meeting.
"The old graveyard Downtown needed a fence and gate (file photo), one resident told us. The Cemetery Commission came to us with a formal request for funding it, and it got approved," he said.
"One category the CPC deals with is Affordable Housing. It becomes very expensive when you add in the cost of the land, especially if the land is Downtown. By using CPC funds, we can purchase the land, keeping the ultimate cost of the units down. The way to do it is to lease the land, and have a developer build the units. That way, the cost of the land is not factored in," he said.
"The CPC money can be used for affordable housing, recreation, historic preservation, open space."
He rattles off more successes.
"We put up $1 million of the $3 million for the Fruit Street fields. CPC put $2 million toward the acquisition of the $7 million Fruit Street purchase."
"The Gate House [at Lake Whitehall Dam] got a $25,000 grant for re-pointing and preservation.
"The Dempsey House was a collaboration with the developer.
"We paid for a study of Hopkinton historic structures. The Woodville sign, the CAA Barn, the Historical Society Building, rails to trails.
"The EMC House was a CPC project in conjunction with EMC Corp., and a whole bunch of volunteers."
There's more.
"Reed Park. We put $30,000 for soccer fields. We put money toward the historic preservation of the dam at Blood's Pond on South Mill Street."
And more...
"Demolition of the Shepard House on the Lake Whitehall property, a kiosk and park benches at Sandy Beach. We paid for some ADA stuff at Town Hall and the Library."
The records at Town Hall have been preserved on microfiche, as well as rebound on placed on larger file drawers, he said. There's more. The Railroad Depot, historical signs in Woodville, the cemeteries. The list actually goes on.
The future?
"We are looking to acquire a couple of parcels of land that abut town or state land, and are in negotiations. And there are a number of historic projects — the fountain on the Common is one of them," he concluded.
Were you involved in the Veterans Gazebo, he was asked?
"No," he answered. "It's not historic," he said.
The gazebo that was demolished last fall was only 20 years old, having been dedicated in 1988.
"I'll get you a copy of the Trails Guide [OSPC funded]," he says, zipping out the door, on his way to another project, or his job with Mass Audubon.
In his 48 mpg Honda Civic.
With his signature stack of paperwork. |
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