Middleboro town meeting to vote on CPA funds
Officials want to purchase Lion’s Head property along Nemasket River
MIDDLEBORO —
When special town meeting meets on Oct. 7, voters will be asked to approve Community Preservation Funds for the preservation of the historic Oliver Homestead, the purchase of the 103-acre Lion’s Head property, preservation of historic town records and to provide climate control for two Historical Museum buildings.
The Oliver Homestead on Plymouth Street, an 18th-century estate associated with the historic Oliver Mill Park on Route 44 in Middleboro, is for sale and the town hopes to entice a perspective buyer to preserve it.
“It is one of the most significant private homes in town,” CPA Chairwoman Jane Lopes told selectmen this week.
The Oliver Homestead was built by Judge Oliver for his son ,who was married to the colonial governor’s daughter. It is situated on a sprawling 50 acres which abuts the Nemasket River, explained Lopes.
“We would like, as a town, to help preserve this property,” said Lopes noting that the current owners who are selling the property are descendants of Judge Oliver.
Town meeting will also be asked to appropriate $15,000 from the Community Preservation Fund for a historic and archeological inventory of the Oliver house, grounds and outbuildings.
Once the inventory is complete, the CPA would then seek additional funding to help determine a value for placing conservation and preservation restrictions on the property.
The purchase price of the property would be reduced by the value of these restrictions if the new owners agreed to preserve the property, Lopes said.
Articles 19, 20, and 21 seek $435,000 to purchase 103 acres on the Nemasket River referred to as “Lion’s Head.” The land would be purchased for open space and is contingent upon the Wild Lands Trusts and Land Grant funding.
“This is exactly why I supported the CPA,” said selectmen Vice-chairman Allin Frawley, who described Lion’s Head as a ‘fantastic’ property for the town to preserve with its walking trails, horseback riding and access to the Nemasket River.
The special town meeting will be asked to appropriate $156,600 from the CPA toward the purchase of Lion’s Head..
Article 17 seeks $68,509 to begin Phase II of the town’s historic and vital records preservation.
Town Clerk Alison Ferreira said many historic documents dating back to 1669 are stored in the basement and are subject to water damage and mold.
The CPA funding would provide adequate climate control, filing, storage and microfilm or digital formatting of the records for easier access.
Article 16 seeks $91,050 from CPA funds for climate control measures in two buildings owned by the Middleboro Historical Museum that contain historic town records and artifacts.
The CPA fund has a balance of $441,000, Lopes told the selectmen. The funds are obtained through a 1 percent surcharge on property taxes, with the first $100,000 value exempt.
The state matches 27 percent of the funds. Awarding of the funds requires a vote of town meeting.
The selectmen voted unanimously to support each of the CPA warrant articles.
http://www.tauntongazette.com/newsnow/x574273121/Middleboro-town-meeting-to-vote-on-CPA-funds
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