Community Preservation Committee

Mission

The Community Preservation Committee enacts the regulations of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) (MGL Chapter 44B), which allows communities in Massachusetts to place a surcharge of up to 3% on property taxes. Plymouth residents adopted the statute at only 1.5% to make it affordable. These funds are matched by the State with proceeds from the Registry of Deeds. The Act mandates that a committee be formed to oversee these funds and create an application procedure to determine which applications for funding will be brought to Town Meeting for approval. 

  • A minimum of 10% of the funds must be allocated to affordable housing.
  • A minimum of 10% to historic preservation.
  • A minimum of 10% to land conservation.
  • An additional 5% can be set aside each year for administrative costs. The Plymouth Community Preservation Committee (CPC) requests only 4% for its administrative activities, legal work, appraisals, signage, and creating access to Community Preservation Act (CPA) acquisitions. 
  • The remaining 66% may be allocated to one or more of the three general purposes in accordance with local priorities.

The Town of Plymouth voted to accept the CPA on May 11, 2002, with a 1.5% surcharge on property taxes. Yet even with the smaller taxpayer surcharge, the Town has benefitted greatly from this legislation. Plymouth was one of the earliest towns to vote in the CPA, and the CPC was able to take advantage of the 100% match from the state for the first five years. Last year an addendum was attached to the CPA legislation that allows towns to use CPA funding for the renewal of already existing town-owned parks and open spaces. The Plymouth CPC is careful in its deliberations with this potential use of funds to be sure that the Town does not depend on CPA funding for work that previously was in the Department of Public Works budget.

Appointed Members

  • William Keohan, Chair
    Term expires: 2024
  • Betty A. Cavacco 
    Term expires: 2026
  • Allen Hemberger, Clerk
    Term expires: 2024
  • Karen Buechs, Conservation Commission
    Term expires: 2025
  • Birgitta Kuehn, Planning Board
    Term expires: 2025
  • John T. Mahoney, Select Board
    Term expires: 2024
  • Russel Shirley, Housing Authority
    Term expires: 2024
  • Michael Tubin, Historic District Commission
    Term expires: