Clarksburg Holds Information Session CPA Warrant Article

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CLARKSBURG, Mass. — An informational meeting on the Community Preservation Act will be held on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at the Clarksburg Elementary School.
 
Voters at the annual town meeting on May 29 will be asked to approve adoption of the state law which will allow the town to collect a 3 percent surcharge on property taxes for use for affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation. A percentage of the funds collected by the town are matched by the state.
 
The Historical Commission requested the question be placed on the town meeting warrant. Passage at town meeting would put the CPA on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. 
 
The slide presentation by commissioners will cover what the act is and what adopting it would mean to residents and the community. This will be followed by Q&A.
 

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Clarksburg Applies for Home Rehab Program, Continues Budget Talks

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is applying with New Ashford for $1.1 million that would allow for 14 homes to be rehabilitated. 
 
Brett Roberts, a senior planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, updated the Select Board on Monday about the application for the federal Community Development Block Grant. 
 
"The home rehab program has been going on in Berkshire County for around 15 years," he said. "We do all sorts of housing rehab trying to bring homes up to code. And so we do new roofs, new septic, new wells, lots of new windows, basically anything that a homeowner might need to bring their home up to code."
 
He estimated that there would be about $70,000 available per home to cover 10 homes in Clarksburg and four in New Ashford.
 
The loans would mean a 15-year lien on the property, which would depreciate each year until it falls off. Anyone selling the property before the 15-year term would have to repay the balance at that time. 
 
"This is a really important way to keep low- to moderate-income households in their homes and to stay in community that they love," he said.
 
The board also reviewed budget issues with the Finance Committee. The town budget draft is just under $1.9 million, up about 2.3-2.4 percent. 
 
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