Community Preservation Committee

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Community Preservation Committee is to study the needs, resources and possibilities of Dighton. In cooperation with various town boards, organizations, and citizens, the committee will evaluate proposals for the use of CPA funds for the maximum benefit to the Town of Dighton. As per the Community Preservation Act, it is our mandate to create and maintain a Community Preservation Plan that will protect, expand or enhance open space, historic resources, affordable housing and outdoor recreation.

The committee is to accept project proposals from the community, and conduct a thorough review of them, with the aim of selecting the most compelling projects. The CPC will then recommend to the Town Meeting those projects which it feels will best achieve the purpose of the Community Preservation act legislation. The committee strives and takes pride in being open, transparent and fair. Please email the Chairman or clerk for further questions or requests.

Administrative Staff Title email
Elizabeth Moreira (Term exp. 2025) Clerk emoreira@dighton-ma.gov

Members

  • Kevin Smith, Jr., Chairman
    Term expires: 2024
  • Allisha Wilson, Vice Chairman
  • Patricia Gailes, Historic Commission Representative
    Term expires: 2026
  • David Eckerson, Financial Clerk
    Term expires: 2024
  • Jonathan Gale, At-Large Member
    Term expires: 2025
  • Daniel Higgins, Planning Board Representative
    Term expires: 2024
  • Paul Reynolds, Conservation Commission Representative
    Term expires
  • Open, Housing Authority Representative
    Term expires
  • Brand Cedrone, At-Large Member 

Meetings

  • 5:30 PM
  • Monthly meetings held on third Thursday
  • Prime Time, 1059 Somerset Ave. Dighton, MA 02715 (subject to change, see agenda)

What is the CPA?


The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. CPA also helps strengthen the state and local economies by expanding housing opportunities and construction jobs for the Commonwealth's workforce, and by supporting the tourism industry through preservation of the Commonwealth’s historic and natural resources.  

CPA allows communities to create a local Community Preservation Fund for open space protection, historic preservation, affordable housing and outdoor recreation. Community preservation monies are raised locally through the imposition of a surcharge of not more than 3% of the tax levy against real property, and municipalities must adopt CPA by ballot referendum. To date, 189 municipalities in the state have adopted CPA.

The CPA statute also creates a statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund, administered by the Department of Revenue (DOR), which provides distributions each year to communities that have adopted CPA. These annual disbursements serve as an incentive for communities to pass CPA.

Each CPA community creates a local Community Preservation Committee (CPC) upon adoption of the Act, and this five-to-nine member board makes recommendations on CPA projects to the community’s legislative body.  

Property taxes traditionally fund the day-to-day operating needs of safety, health, schools, roads, maintenance, and more. But until CPA was enacted, there was no steady funding source for preserving and improving a community's character and quality of life. The Community Preservation Act gives a community the funds needed to control its future.

Community Preservation Coalition
6 Beacon Street, Suite 615
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 367-8998

www.communitypreservation.org

Have A Specific Question?
Click here for the Coalition's CPA Project Reference Guide

CPC Dighton 5