Community Preservation Committee

Important Dates

June 1, 2018   New Round of Funding Begins - Grant Applications Available
Aug 24, 2018   Preliminary Application Due - Part 1 (2-step process)
Oct 12, 2018   Final Application Due - Part 2 (2-step process)
April 22, 2019   Annual Town Meeting approval

Members - updated Sept 2018 (effective thru 6-30-19)

Names Appointed By Term Expires
Kevin M. Burke Historical Commission Representative 2019
Vicki Donlan Recreation Commission Representative 2019
Jennifer M. Gay Smith Planning Board Representative 2020
William Harrington Selectmen 2020
Larry Lindner, Vice Chair Selectmen 2019
Robert Mosher Conservation Commission Representative 2019
Carol B. Pyles, Chair Town Moderator 2021
James R. Watson Housing Authority 2019
Daniel White Town Moderator 2020
Carol Costello - Administrator Committee N/A
Roger Fernandes - Town Engineer Committee N/A

Appointed Members


Nine members comprise the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for the Town of Hingham – one each appointed by and from the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, the Historical Commission, the Housing Authority, Recreation Commission and the Board of Selectmen, and three citizens at large, one appointed by the Board of Selectmen and two by the Moderator.

About the Committee


The Community Preservation Committee reviews applications submitted by Town bodies and citizens at large for funding projects involving the acquisition of open space/recreation, preservation of historic resources, and the support of low and moderate income housing, and makes recommendations to Town Meeting regarding the use of the Town's Community Preservation Fund for those purposes. That fund is composed of a 1.5% surtax on Town real estate taxes and state matching grants payable each Fall based on the surtax revenues for the fiscal year ending the prior June 30th, and interest on the accumulated funds.

Community Preservation Act


The Community Preservation Act (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44B) (“CPA”) is a local option statute enacted by the State Legislature in 2000 and adopted by the Town in 2001.  It enables towns to collect and expend funds (including matching funds from the Commonwealth) to maintain their character by supporting open space, affordable housing, recreation lands, and historic preservation initiatives specifically defined by the CPA.  The current Hingham CPA surcharge rate is 1.5% of real property taxes.   

The Community Preservation Act requires that at least 10% of each year's Community Preservation revenues be spent or set aside for each of the three Community Preservation categories. The remaining 70% is available for spending on any one or more of the categories as the Committee and Town Meeting see fit.

Our Mission


We invest in community housing, historic resources, open space and recreation land to preserve, restore, and enhance Hingham's character as a community.

Our Purpose


The Community Preservation Committee reviews applications submitted by Town bodies and citizens at large for funding projects involving the acquisition of open space/recreation, preservation of historic resources, and the support of low and moderate income housing, and makes recommendations to Town Meeting regarding the use of the Town's Community Preservation Fund for those purposes.

Fund Grant Steps


Under the Community Preservation Act, funds are granted through two steps:
  1. The CPC recommends an amount of funding for a project
  2. The local legislature at Annual Town Meeting in April votes to appropriate up to the recommended amount of funding.
The CPC may not appropriate funds directly, but the legislature may not appropriate CPA funds without a CPC recommendation.