Following approval, supporters plan more engagement

Friday
Posted Nov 25, 2016 at 6:30 AM

By Sabrina Polindedham@wickedlocal.com

Selectman Dennis Teehan hopes to rally residents behind the Community Preservation Act in the
coming months, now that voters have approved adding it to the Town Election ballot.

Last Monday, Article 12 of the Fall Town Meeting was passed, putting a proposal to adopt the CPA
on the ballot in April. According to Teehan, the proposal passed "with flying colors," an
enthusiasm he hopes will persevere until the election. He plans to continue informational meetings
and to educate the public on the implications of passing the act, something that he said could
benefit Dedham in the long run.

"Dedham is going to be much better place 20 or 30 years from now," said Teehan, on if the act
passes. "It's a way to bring a lot of financial stability back to the town and to utilize resources from
the state."

Education and engagement on the act is what Teehan will be working on. He said that he and
fellow selectmen aim to aggressively involve the community in order to be transparent and clear on
what the CPA means for Dedham. In the months before the Fall Town Meeting, a number of
forums were held explaining what the CPA is, how it works, and the potential benefit.

The CPA would elicit funding from the state to support open space projects, housing and
recreational developments, and preservation of specific historical sites. According to the
Community Preservation Coalition, 172 Massachusetts communities have adopted the CPA so far
49 percent of the state's municipalities including Norwood, Needham, Canton, and Newton.
The local CPA tax is set between 1 and 3 percent. The surcharge is set against real property and
does not raise the tax rate for the adopting community, though it still means some extra money
depending on what the home is assessed at.

There are some who have opposed the act's adoption. Though the "nay" votes at Town Meeting
were few, some saw it as another tax on a community facing too much of that. Another issue that
people took was that it wouldn't be a flat cost, as the surcharge associated with the CPA is based on
home values.

Town Meeting Representative Charles Krueger was one of the more outspoken opponents of the
act's adoption. He said it was something that could have benefitted Dedham significantly had it
been adopted years ago, before projects like the revitalization of Dedham Square was done.

"If we had accepted this years ago, we would have benefitted big," he said at the meeting. "But we
didn't, and those projects are done and being paid for."

In general, challengers are interpreting the CPA as just another tax one they don't feel is
necessary. Teehan is trying to bring a different light to their perspective.

"When people take the time to learn about why and how this works, for taxpayers and the town,
they realize that it's not just 'another tax,'" said Teehan. "When people understand the commitment
we've made to Dedham and realize that we're passing money up, they're on board with the idea."

Following approval, supporters plan more engagement

Friday
Posted Nov 25, 2016 at 6:30 AM

By Sabrina Polindedham@wickedlocal.com

Selectman Dennis Teehan hopes to rally residents behind the Community Preservation Act in the
coming months, now that voters have approved adding it to the Town Election ballot.

Last Monday, Article 12 of the Fall Town Meeting was passed, putting a proposal to adopt the CPA
on the ballot in April. According to Teehan, the proposal passed "with flying colors," an
enthusiasm he hopes will persevere until the election. He plans to continue informational meetings
 and to educate the public on the implications of passing the act, something that he said could
benefit Dedham in the long run.

"Dedham is going to be much better place 20 or 30 years from now," said Teehan, on if the act
passes. "It's a way to bring a lot of financial stability back to the town and to utilize resources from
the state."

Education and engagement on the act is what Teehan will be working on. He said that he and
fellow selectmen aim to aggressively involve the community in order to be transparent and clear on
what the CPA means for Dedham. In the months before the Fall Town Meeting, a number of
forums were held explaining what the CPA is, how it works, and the potential benefit.

The CPA would elicit funding from the state to support open space projects, housing and
recreational developments, and preservation of specific historical sites. According to the
Community Preservation Coalition, 172 Massachusetts communities have adopted the CPA so far
49 percent of the state's municipalities including Norwood, Needham, Canton, and Newton.
The local CPA tax is set between 1 and 3 percent. The surcharge is set against real property and
does not raise the tax rate for the adopting community, though it still means some extra money
depending on what the home is assessed at.

There are some who have opposed the act's adoption. Though the "nay" votes at Town Meeting
were few, some saw it as another tax on a community facing too much of that. Another issue that
people took was that it wouldn't be a flat cost, as the surcharge associated with the CPA is based on
home values.

Town Meeting Representative Charles Krueger was one of the more outspoken opponents of the
act's adoption. He said it was something that could have benefitted Dedham significantly had it
been adopted years ago, before projects like the revitalization of Dedham Square was done.

"If we had accepted this years ago, we would have benefitted big," he said at the meeting. "But we
didn't, and those projects are done and being paid for."

In general, challengers are interpreting the CPA as just another tax one they don't feel is
necessary. Teehan is trying to bring a different light to their perspective.

false
"When people take the time to learn about why and how this works, for taxpayers and the town,
they realize that it's not just 'another tax,'" said Teehan. "When people understand the commitment
we've made to Dedham and realize that we're passing money up, they're on board with the idea."