The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has submitted eleven articles, articles 39 through 50, to the Town Meeting warrant. However, it is possible that Articles 39 and 40 may be pulled and action postponed until a later date, and Articles 41 and 42 are "housekeeping" articles. Most discussion is likely to focus on the remaining articles, which seek voter permission to use funds from the Community Preservation Act (CPA), a 3-percent surcharge on the assessed value of property and a surcharge on real-estate transactions, that must be dedicated to affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation projects.

Articles 43 through 45 focus on affordable housing.

Article 43 will seek to use CPA funds to hire a consultant to help the Wareham Housing Authority apply for a state grant to construct new units and rehabilitate Agawam Village. According to CPC Chair Nancy Miller, the housing authority did a study three years ago to renovate the units, and this money will facilitate the next step in the process.

Article 44 would allow the CPC to dedicate $60,000 to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund so that the committee can react to affordable housing needs as they arise. The money is not dedicated to a specific project. Miller said that a motion to amend the article to ensure that the funds are used according to CPA guidelines will be presented.

Miller said she was "really excited" about Article 45, which will ask to use funds for purchasing affordable-housing restrictions on derelict properties that a local contractor is buying and rehabilitating.

"Last year, the Finance Committee said they would prefer to see houses being rehabbed rather than new houses being built," Miller said. "This is the first time we had an article about this."

Articles 46 through 47 involve historic preservation.

The American Legion Hall #220, across from Decas School is the focus of Article 46. If approved, the funds will be used to repair the roof of the circa-1912 building, which was originally one of Wareham's one-room schoolhouses. The CPC will place a historic restriction on the building.

Miller said that the upkeep is necessary. She said that the building, "believe it or not, has bats in the belfry."

"When you have these unique structures in town, you hope you have ways to preserve them," Miller said. "Also, these are veterans, and most of these guys are quite elderly. They've done what they can to protect the building...I think it's great CPA can come in and help. That's what you do for your veterans."

Miller anticipates debate on Article 47, which would dedicate money to reroofing the main Factory Building and the Freight Building at Tremont Nail.  Miller said that she understands that people have disagreements about what to do with the project, but that asking a potential developer to stabilize the building before redeveloping the project is too much.

"By doing this, it will be a much better sell to a developer," Miller said.

Articles 48 and 49 involve land acquisition in collaboration with the Wareham Land Trust and the Wareham Fire District.

Miller said It is quite possible that Article 49 may be postponed, as the property in question may not have clear title, and the Wareham Land Trust is negotiating with the owners.

Article 49 seeks to fund the acquisition of a 110-acre parcel in collaboration with the Wareham Fire District and several other organizations to provide a buffer around the Maple Park well. The land has been subdivided from an 180-acre parcel; the district voted to purchase the remaining 70 acres immediately surrounding the well at their annual meeting last week.