Preserve Canton history and save money

Dear Canton voters:

I ask that you support approval of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) on Election Day, April 3. As a member of the Canton Historical Commission, I have a particular interest in using CPA funds to finance historic preservation projects. To be clear, the views expressed in this letter are mine, rather than representing the Historical Commission’s position.

Canton Corner Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains hundreds of historic gravestones and monuments in need of expensive repair and stabilization. Pequitside Farm and the Williams Estate, also on the National Register, are buildings used extensively for town offices, community organizations, recreation and private social events. If Canton had approved the CPA earlier, expensive restoration work done at both properties may well have been eligible for the CPA funding and saved the town thousands of dollars. Both properties will undoubtedly require future preservation work.

Adoption of the CPA will make Canton eligible to apply for state matching funds. A total of 148 cities and towns have already adopted CPA and have received their share of matching funds, which help to stretch their local budgets. The CPA has helped fund 13 historic preservation projects in Randolph, seven in Braintree, and six in Easton. We in Canton have been missing out on our share of these state funds since the law was passed 12 years ago.

Often we delay or fail to protect and preserve our historic properties because the town doesn’t have the money. While this is understandable, it often results in more expensive repairs later — or the loss of a historic building. Please vote for historic preservation and fiscal responsibility on April 3.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Keith

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=12121

Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 7 2012. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion, Town Election. Both comments and pings are currently closed.