GREENFIELD — All 10 of the projects recommended for Community Preservation Act funding will continue on to City Council on Wednesday for a final stamp of approval. 

The Ways & Means Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to support the projects earlier recommended by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). They were among 14 projects initially proposed for funding this grant cycle.

“What this committee is doing right now is a formality in the process,” said At-Large Councilor Christine Forgey. “The Community Preservation Committee made recommendations and it’s their money to spend. Because it involves money, it has to come through the [City Council] for approval, but this committee is made up of citizens; they work independently from us. I would be very hard-pressed to offer a decision that went against what they thought they want to do with their money.”

The 14 project requests totaled $972,821, according to CPC Chairman Travis Drury. Of the applications, $100,000 was for housing, $96,345 for historical preservation and $776,476 for recreation and open space. Greenfield has $335,000 to award for the 2022-2023 grant cycle. 

The funds — generated through the city’s participation in a state program that allows a 1% surcharge on property taxes — can be allocated to support projects submitted by individuals, community groups, nonprofits and government bodies that enhance affordable housing, historic preservation and outdoor recreation/open space. Greenfield voters adopted the Community Preservation Act in November 2020.

Among the biggest projects approved on Tuesday were a $100,000 request from Clinical & Support Options (CSO) to go toward the $23 million renovation and expansion of the Wells Street homeless shelter, a $75,000 request for Beacon Park improvements and a $50,000 request for a pickleball park expansion project.

During public comment, resident Stephanie Duclos asked councilors to reconsider the CSO request, arguing it could be better spent elsewhere. She suggested the money be used to address shortfalls in the fiscal year 2024 operating budget, particularly in ways that would abide by the requirements of the Community Preservation Act.

“There are requirements ... that so much is supposed to go in for housing, so much is supposed to go in for open space and so much for historical,” said Precinct 3 Councilor Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher. “When it was adopted, one of the biggest selling points was that … people were concerned about housing. That was one of the bigger things.” 

The other seven projects approved for funding were a barn rehabilitation project at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, historical document preservation, equipment restoration at the Museum of our Industrial Heritage, Highland Park/Temple Woods trail restoration, accessibility improvements at the Greenfield High School track, installation of a fitness cluster at Shattuck Park, adding site amenities to Recreation Department land. 

An earlier version of this article had the incorrect date for when City Council would give the final stamp of approval on the projects. City Council approved the projects on Wednesday.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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