In addition to the request for $1.5 million for the O’Neil farm (see related story), the board discussed each article, including a unanimous vote to recommend the funding of $33,000 in Community Preservation Act funding for a historical preservation and architectural assessment study of the Tarkiln Building.

The committee received a funding request from the Historical Commission’s Martha Himes with a history of the community center, which dates back to 1871, as well as information from prior consultants’ reviews and benefits of the structure to the town of Duxbury.

After a brief discussion on the values of the building and its benefit to nearly 400 people a week, the group voted to endorse the study similar to the one being conducted on the Wright building on St. George Street.

That structure will occupy two warrant articles in June: one to discuss potential uses for the building and a second to fund the development of construction plans for its restoration.

On Thursday, CPC Chairwoman Holly Morris said she spoke with one of the architects from the firm of Feingold, Alexander and Associates who said that drawings will arrive in the conservation office this week on suggested uses.  Morris also said that a presentation by the town-hired firm is scheduled before the Board of Selectmen to discuss their findings on May 10.{sidebar id=1}

CPC member Tony Kelso advised getting the town committee who was working on such uses for the building together before meeting with selectmen to get their input as well, which Morris said she would organize.

The CPC also received an update on the sale of the 10.38-acre Jaycox property, better known as the Christmas Tree Farm, on West Street.  At the committee’s last meeting, Nancy Reed of the West Street Family Trust presented a plan of letting her group buy the land for the purchase and sale price of $600,000 and then the trust would sell the town the tree farm property for $100,000 to preserve its use and its location to other town-owned wetlands.  In addition to the sale, the trust would grant a conservation easement to the town over the land abutting West Brook.

Duxbury currently has first right of refusal on the $600,00 sale because the property is Chapter 61 forestry, which gives the town this right in return for a tax break to the owner.

Reed said that engineering work to determine the exact number of lots on the property is underway as their agreement is contingent on two buildable lots where they plan to place two “downsized” homes.  She expected the work would be ready for the CPC’s next meeting on May 13.

Morris said she and Warren Jaycox spoke recently and he expressed his wish that the property remain as a tree farm and also stated that he would be willing to extend payments on the land to the town so they did not have to present the entire payment up front.

Another payment plan that was supposed to be discussed at the Annual Town Meeting in March, but was indefinitely postponed is a plan for the water department to transfer $117,000 from their enterprise account for a portion of the Delano land reserved for a new well site. The CPC has taken out an article on the June warrant to finally get the transaction completed.

In March, the CPC was looking for the transfer to repay CPA funds used to buy the land and since not all Duxbury residents pay for town water, the rate payers should be funding the purchase.

Selectmen did not to see this the same way and voted in February to oppose the move which was later shelved at Town Meeting.

Thursday’s discussion centered around putting a conservation restriction on the land meant for the well and if so, who would hold it.  Conservation Agent Joe Grady said that whether the water department pays for the land or not, the land should be deeded to them to have it under their control.  He added that the town would not be the holder of the conservation restriction, but that they would have to find a watershed agency to assume that role.

The group decided to wait on a formal vote on the issue until the Water Advisory Board met with selectmen to discuss the issue further.

Also discussed at Thursday’s meeting were the other two articles sponsored by the CPC which would involve Community Preservation Act funding: $70,000 more for difficulties encountered in renovating the Keene Street fields and $40,000 to $70,000 to help restore the Island Creek fish ladder, a plan presented by Grady on behalf of the Conservation Commission and the Duxbury Bay Management Study Committee.