February 22, 2010
Present was James C. Lehan, Robert J. Garrity, James M. Tomaszewski, and Jack Hathaway, Town Administrator.
Jim Lehan opened the meeting at 7 p.m. Jack Hathaway read the agenda.
B1 DISTRICT, ACCESS ROAD
Jim Lehan noted that there were residents in attendance for the discussion on the access road. He said that the Board had a work session on Thursday in which many residents attended. Subject was the access road which is a roadway from Rockwood Road into the school property. This has been a topic of discussion since 1987 and an issue with public safety chiefs.
Jim said that the original proposal was to put a school on the Freeman/Centennial property, and part of the proposal was to put a road onto the Bicentennial Park area to have access to the property. Both Chiefs have had concerns over traffic patterns in that area and a secondary access. Jim said that, as you know, the school was not built on that property, but was what is now known as the H. Olive Day School, so the access road was never developed. Now the new school is being built and the issue of the access road has come up. The access road was in an original proposal by the School Building Committee, but was not funded by the MSBA and was excluded. The Chiefs still had concerns over areas associated with this and with the rec fields being heavily used and they wanted a secondary access.
Jim stressed that at no time was there intent to connect this access with Malcolm and Geneva. He told the residents that we understand their concern for privacy of their neighborhood.
The Board needs to do an updated traffic study which will take time. We found we need information before we can consider the access road. It will be well into the summer months before we receive this information.
Lynn Worley of Malcolm Street asked about comments in the Boomerang about sub-dividing the access road and the costs of the road that would be $500,000 and a cut through to Geneva. They are concerned about their area being a high water level.
Jim Lehan said that there is no intent to connect to Geneva and Malcolm. As he stated, the road is not covered in funding by the MSBA, so we need to come up with funding without incurring further debt to the town. One idea was to sell the land to pay for this. Butch Vito only gave the $500,000 figure as an estimate. If we pursued the access road, we could pay for it by selling lots. Jim said again that this whole topic is tabled, and we have no plans at this time to discuss it.
Jim Tomaszewski reminded the residents that regarding the water level, before anything happens, it still has to go through the approval of the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, etc. like everything else. Jim Lehan said it may not even work. What perked 10 years ago, may not perk now.
Mr. Fenton, Malcolm Street asked where the houses will be located. Jim Lehan said there are no houses. Nothing is planned. It is just a conceptual plan. A “what if”. He said it would be on the Bicentennial Park side, not Geneva.
Paul Muliero, Geneva Avenue said he didn’t understand a conceptual plan. Rob said it is like a daydream. We show the bridge in the plan. But who knows if it will ever happen. Mr. Muliero wanted the Board to commit that nothing will ever happen on their end. Jim L. said that’s impossible. Three years from now, none of them will probably be on the Board, and they will not commit another Board. Things change, and there could be a very valid reason why another Board may have to go the Geneva/Malcolm route.
Richard Morris, Malcolm Street. He read a letter that is part of the record.
Jim Lehan said that this concludes the discussion on the access road.
B1 DISTRICT
Present was Remo Vito, DPW Director.
Jim Lehan said that there are many conceptual plans done on the B1 district. At some point, we need to take these and put them into phases. We need a step-by-step analogy with time frames and deadlines and cost analysis. Jim said he would like it within 30 days, and then start to get other boards and committees involved.
Butch Vito said we have had a short term opportunity to work out. One was the gas. They can give time frames and will talk with business owners.
The Board suspended this discussion to meet with the Energy Committee.
ENERGY COMMITTEE
Present was Rita Advani, Bill Behling, Ray Angelone and Lynn Gilleland. Andy Bakinowski was also present.
Rita discussed work on the landfill project. She said they have met with Community Preservation, Butch Vito and the Advisory Board. Their objective is to put an article on town meeting to let the voters decide on funding this and whether they even want to pursue it.
Ray Angelone discussed staff that would help get them data to assist him. He would need building energy information. Perhaps DPW and facilities. Ray said he would like someone to take ownership of the maintenance of data. He would hope Butch and Bob Bullock would assign someone. He asked if a formal reporting mechanism is premature. Jack said he would like to see training and tools. He said it’s a good foal.
Ray and Rita said they would like to see the vacancy on the School Building Committee filled with someone with an energy background.
B1 DISTRICT (Continued…)
The Board continued the discussion with Butch Vito.
They will meet with the Economic Development Committee to discuss storm water.
Butch wasn’t sure if they need a bylaw to create a district, but will investigate.
They discussed the old town hall area. It is not included and needs to be rezoned. They will work with CPC. They wondered if they could use the funds to build a building. Jim L. said he didn’t think you could build a building on land you own, but could buy land and build on that.
Jack discussed the school building project and said that the people who have an interest in becoming a member all have different agendas. Jack said we already have an energy person in Andy Bakinowski, who is a member.
The Board said they are working with Recreation to address the old town hall issue. In order to utilize the old town hall, they need to find a home for Recreation.
Butch said they need to address zoning, gas and storm water in the B1 district.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Jack discussed budgets briefly. He said we need to get an update from the Planning Board of projects they see on the horizon in the next three years. That way they can get a potential of revenue in the next 3 years. Hopefully, this next fiscal year is the bottom of the barrel.
Action Items
Jim Tomaszewski moved to award a contract to Layne Christensen Company of Dracut, MA for construction services for the Spruce Road Replacement Well Pump and Pitless Adapter. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
Old Business
Jack said that Stop & Shop and Walgreens developer met with the Planning Board and it was a very successful meeting. They will build the road, lights and sidewalk and turn the building over to Walgreens who hopes to open on or about April first.
New Business
Jack told the Board that budgets are due this week from department heads.
He also told them that our “new” ambulance is out of commission temporarily, and we are using ambulance 2 as the main ambulance. We have borrowed one from Franklin as a backup.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Jim Tomaszewski moved to accept the minutes of October 19, 2009; October 22, 2009; October 29, 2009; November 2, 2009; November 16, 2009- regular and executive session; December 7, 2009; December 15, 2009 – two special meetings; December 21, 2009; January 4, 2010; January 11, 2010; and January 25, 2010, regular and executive session. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
At 9:37 p.m., Rob Garrity moved to go into executive session for pending litigation. The Board will not return to open session except to adjourn the meeting. Jim Tomaszewski seconded, and it was a roll call vote: Jim Tomaszewski, aye; Jim Lehan, aye; and Rob Garrity, aye.
At 9:52 p.m., Jim Tomaszewski moved to adjourn the meeting. Rob Garrity seconded, and it was so voted.
This is a true and accurate report of the Selectmen’s Meeting of February 22, 2010.
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James M. Tomaszewski, Clerk
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