General outline for the CPA

FREETOWN — Voters will decide at a fall election whether to adopt the Community Preservation Act after residents at Monday's Town Meeting approved a general outline for the CPA.

Selectman Jean Fox gave a brief informational presentation on CPA and the costs and benefits. Residents asked several questions before passing the article with the specifics of a 1 percent surcharge on tax bills, which translates to an annual increase of about $22 for the average homeowner in Freetown.

There would also be three exemptions — low-income households and low- and moderate-income senior households won't be charged, the first $100,000 of taxable value of residential real estate is excluded from taxation and commercial and industrial properties will not be charged.

"I am psyched this went through," Fox said after the meeting. "People asked excellent questions and there was very little debate — all good things." She said the next step for CPA will be continuing to educate people before the fall balloting; a date for the election has not been set.

The CPA would provide the town with a financial mechanism to protect open space and historical resources and provide affordable housing by using a surcharge on real estate transactions, officials said.

Also at the 28-article annual Town Meeting, voters approved an $18.7 million for fiscal 2012, down from 2011's $19.6 million, including estimated 3 percent raises for a number of town employees.

In addition, they voted to establish a housing authority to pave the way for construction of senior housing in town. Selectmen will appoint four members.

Former selectman John Ashley spoke of the need for such housing, noting his many interactions with senior residents who had no place to go when they could no longer afford or maintain their homes.

The senior housing would be one-bedroom apartments with a cost based on what each resident is able to afford. After Ashley spoke, four more residents stood to state how much Freetown needs this type of housing. The article was then passed unanimously to much applause.

The seven articles on a special Town Meeting warrant were passed quickly and with minimal debate. Among them, voters approved giving selectmen the right to lease parcels allowing for installation of solar panels at the town landfill on Howland Road for an estimated annual net profit of $200,000 to $300,000, according to Town Administrator Jack Healey.