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Middleboro's wishes for 2025 Community Preservation Act Funds
MIDDLEBORO — A disc golf course. A new playground. A town beach. All of these are ideas Middleboro residents have to add value to their town and hope to receive funding for.
They were pitched at the Community Preservation Committee’s annual meeting held Wednesday, July 17 to discuss how to use Community Preservation Act Funds in upcoming years.
The Community Preservation Act enables towns to add a local surcharge of up to 3% on property taxes for projects that preserve the character and history of the community, according to Middleboro’s Community Preservation Committee.
The town’s Community Preservation Committee is in charge of managing local funds and approving grants for projects that fall under the Act’s mandates.
The Committee receives approximately $500,000 a year that can be used to fund projects in three categories: open space and recreation, historic preservation and community housing, said CPC chair Kimberly French.
However half of that money is already being spent on long-term open space projects such as the purchase of Piccone Farm over a year ago, French said.
Resident Kevin Quackenbush inquired about using funds to create a disc golf course on town lands.
Quackenbush said that ballfields make up a good portion of the recreational areas in Middleboro. He brought forth the idea of creating a public disc golf course, an activity that’s accessible to all ages and has very little environmental impact, he said.
There are several parcels of land that would make “real good candidates for such a recreational endeavor,” he noted.
Parent Teacher Association members Erica Adler and Tanya Rahwan asked if CPC funds could be used to help pay for the construction of a new playground at Henry B. Burkland Elementary School.
French explained that CPC money cannot be used to pay for items that a government entity, such as a public school, is required to provide.
However, Committee member Tracie Craig-McGee said she didn’t believe the school department is required to cover playground expenses in its budget. CAN TRACIE CRAIG MCGEE inform herself before speculating?
“I think this would be a unique opportunity to consider something like this,” she said. She encouraged Adler and Rahwan to submit an application for preliminary review.
Residents also inquired if funds could be used to remove sediment buildup that’s impeding the flow of the Nemasket River, build a town splash pad or for artwork restoration.
To determine a project’s eligibility for CPC funding, applications must be submitted to the committee by Sunday, Sept. 15, French explained.
If the committee approves a project, applicants must submit additional documentation showing it meets state law and local eligibility requirements.
Approved projects will then be presented to voters at the 2025 Spring Town Meeting, she said.
Man dies after he suspectedly (??) drowned in Long Pond, police say
This story will be updated once more information becomes available.
LAKEVILLE — A Middleboro man has died after police suspect he drowned in Long Pond in Lakeville on Saturday afternoon, the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office has announced.
Lakeville public safety officials and the Massachusetts Environmental Police found the missing man, identified as 68-year-old Todd Page of Middleboro, at 5:43 p.m. on Saturday, July 20.
Page did not survive despite attempts made by medical personnel at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford to save his life, Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins reported.
Massachusetts Environmental Police received a report of a missing person at 5:14 p.m. while conducting routine patrols on Long Pond. Lakeville police and fire departments were called in to assist in the search.
Page was found 50-75 meters off the shoreline, according to the District Attorney’s Office report.
He was not a participant in the Lakeville Eagles Club Pond-A-Palooza event that was going on near where he was found, said Lakeville Eagles President Carl Mason.
Mason said according to reports and video footage, Page had dove off a nearby boat, was seen swimming and then disappeared.
Page’s wife approached the Eagles clubhouse asking for help when Page didn’t return to the boat, he said.
The Eagles immediately turned down the music and coordinated efforts to look for Page, according to Mason.
State police with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office are investigating the incident.
The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
NEMASKET NEWS
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