The September 21 meeting of the Springfield City Council concluded a lingering drama that had split the body for weeks. By a 9-2 vote, councilors finally approved a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant for a housing subsidiary of the New North Citizens Council (NNCC).
The September 8 Springfield City Council agenda was straightforward. There were grants. The body took initial steps on several ordinances. Things were moving along swimmingly. The only odd thing about the meeting was it was on Tuesday, thanks to Labor Day. Then an item that had been languishing in committee was summoned.
The Springfield City Council’s July 27 meeting looked back. While the procedural posture remain cloudy, the body revisit the new food truck ordinance that became law this year.
Also before councilors was an order seeking an outside ethics opinion on a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant.
Since the Springfield City Council initiated the city’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the body has been widely supportive of it and the Community Preservation Committee created to identify projects to fund. By no means have councilors turned their back on the CPA or CPC, but the tension over an allocation at the December 1 meeting was notable.
SPRINGFIELD—The Community Preservation Committee’s (CPC) recommendations for the coming year constituted much of the City Council agenda on June 10. However, consideration of the projects did not invite the rancor the other items before the Council did.
A transfer of free cash to reserves veered off-topic and became heated. By contrast, the sale of a city-owned railroad parcel prompted a barrage of accusations and nonplussed the chamber.
SPRINGFIELD—Alongside normal business at its June 10 meeting, the City Council greenlighted a list of projects that received funding under the Community Preservation Act (CPA). In 2016, voters authorized a 1.5% surcharge on tax bills.
The Committee’s chair, Robert McCarroll, announced nearly $3 million in projects for fiscal year 2025.
With $3 million on offer this year, the Springfield Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has released its recommendations for fiscal year 2024. The nine-member CPC reviews proposals for funds the city raises from a property tax surcharge and state disbursements.
SPRINGFIELD—For only the third time since the city adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the City Council here thumbed through and approved the recommendations. Councilors love the program as it lets them approve projects beyond the ambit of mayor. Meanwhile anybody—including some city organs—can suggest
SPRINGFIELD—The City Council virtually returned from August’s semi-recess Monday to find a massive pile of fresh items on the floor requiring attention. The vast majority were financial, but several were also complex. Others fell under the Community Preservation Act (CPA) demanding more scrutiny than the
SPRINGFIELD—Once again, the City Council logged some mileage to get through the agenda. This past Monday, it was worth it. More than a dozen items were approvals of recommendations from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), the panel that develops spending plans under the state Community