Community Preservation Committee

The residents of Newburyport voted to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA) on November 5, 2002. This program creates a 2% surcharge on real estate taxes for all property owners, with exemptions for the first $100,000 of residential property value and property owned by any person who qualifies for low  income housing. The Commonwealth provides matching funds in October, which has resulted in past additional annual receipts of between twenty-six to one hundred percent of local revenue.

On February 24, 2003, the City Council adopted a City Ordinance creating the nine member Newburyport Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The CPC is charged with studying the City's needs, possibilities, and resources with respect to community preservation and making recommendations to the City Council with respect to the allocation and expenditure of CPA funds.

The CPC holds a public informational hearing every fall to hear suggestions and proposals from residents, City Boards, local organizations, and other stakeholders for projects which will best serve the goals of the CPA and the needs and interests of the City. The CPC then entertains project applications each winter and makes recommendations for funding to the City Council in late spring.

Applicants seeking affordable housing funds must first attend a Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust meeting to review and discuss the application.  This review must occur prior to the grant deadline and a letter from the Trust must accompany your application.

Email the CPC

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Katelyn Sullivan Planner (978) 465-4400 ext 2

Committee Members

Name Title
Mike Dissette Chair, Open Space Committee Representative
Jane Healey Vice-Chair, At-Large Member
Charles Griffin Parks Commission Representative
Thomas O'Brien Housing Authority Representative
Biff Bouse Historical Commission Representative
Joe Teixeira Conservation Commission Representative
Jamie Gagnon At-Large Member
Jennifer Bluestein Planning Board Representative
Andrea Weetman At-Large Member