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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 01/05/2009 Minutes—Board of Selectmen January 5, 2009 Selectmen Present: Paul Carlson,Acting Chairman Frederick Koed Ralph Dormitzer Karen Quigley Selectman Absent: Edwin G. Carr, Chairman Others Present: William R Griffin,Town Manager Jennifer Oram, Selectmen's Secretary Acting Chairman Paul Carlson called the meeting to order at 7:OOPM Town Manager's Report Town Manager, William Griffin, announced there will be a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen,the School Committee and the Advisory Committee at the library on January 14, 2009 to discuss the budget. Selectmen's Comment Period Selectman Ralph Dormitzer stated that he had received yet another call about dirty tap water. He feels this has become a serious problem and that the Water Department needs to come up with a system where people can be reached after hours to address these issues. Mr. Griffin said there was a water main break on Joy Place and that an Emergency Notification call was eventually sent out to those affected. He added that Water Commissioner Chairman, Glenn Pratt, has also contacted those involved. Minutes—Selectwoman Karen Quigley moved to approve the minutes of December 15, 2008 as amended. Selectman Frederick Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(3-0, Selectman Koed abstained). Federal Stimulus Package—Mr. Griffin said that this was a topic that Chairman Carr was going to review. Mr. Griffin wanted the Board and the community to know that the Town will be submitting many projects for consideration. Pole Hearing—Chief Justice Cushing Highway—Ms. Aileen Darois, a representative of National Grid, addressed the Board. Ms. Darois reviewed the petition for the Board which asks that two poles,#P118 and #P119, be relocated on Chief Justice Cushing Highway to accommodate an entrance to the Old Colony Square Development. Mr. Zachary Baskinski, representing the owners of the development, Connell Cohasset Greenbush, LLC, spoke in favor of the petition and addressed a question. Selectman Dormitzer moved to approve the petition. Selectman Koed seconded the motion,and the vote was unanimous(4-0). Affordable Housing Trust Membership—Mr.Thomas Callahan and Mr. Clark Brewer addressed the Board. Mr. Callahan reviewed the membership that the Housing Partnership Committee would like to recommend for the Affordable Housing Trust. They suggest that one member be a Selectman with an additional six members. Presently the partnership is a nine member committee with 7 active members. They would suggest the six members for the Trust come from the Partnership. Selectwoman Quigley moved to approve the membership as proposed. Selectman Dormitzer seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(4-0). Selectman Koed moved to appoint Selectwoman Quigley as the Board of Selectmen—1.5.09-JBO 1 Minutes—Board of Selectmen January 5, 2009 Selectmen member of the Affordable Housing Trust. Selectman Dormitzer seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(4-0). Open Space Committee—Ms. Deborah Shadd and Mr. Richard Avery came before the Board to express their interests to serve on the Open Space Committee. Ms. Shadd and Mr. Avery both reviewed their backgrounds and interest in open space and conservation. Selectman Dormitzer moved to appoint Ms. Deborah Shadd and Mr. Richard Avery to the Open Space Committee. Selectman Koed seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(4-0). Wilmarc Charles—40B Proposal for 25 Ripley Road—Mr. Charles and his Attorney, Mr. Richard Barrett, addressed the Board. Attorney Barrett briefly reviewed the history of how the project came to be. The project has been filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals and is on the January 61"agenda. Attorney Barrett stated that they are before the Board this evening to gain their support for the project. Selectman Dormitzer stated that he feels the most important factor is that the neighbors are happy. He understands that there are concerns from neighbors about increased traffic, noise etc. Selectman Dormitzer also stated that there are questions about the septic system as well with the additional parking required, the property would trigger the stormwater bylaw. Attorney Barrett stated that he was not aware of a traffic study being done, but that one could certainly be done. Selectwoman Quigley stated that she agreed with Selectman Dormitzer that it is most important to satisfy the neighbors. She added that she relies on [the opinion] of the Housing Partnership Committee and where they have expressed concern over this project,that makes her concerned. Attorney Barrett stated that Mr. Charles is willing to address every reasonable concern. Selectman Koed also agreed that the neighbors concerns are important. Selectman Paul Carlson said that it sounded as if there has not been enough outreach to the neighbors. Mr. Charles said that he invited the neighbors to meet and discuss the project to his home on December 30t". Selectman Carlson asked if anyone from the Housing Partnership would like to speak. Mr. Callahan stated that where this project is not a LIP application,the Partnership would not have a formal role in the process. However, they did give comments to the Board of Selectmen which Mass Housing has incorporated in their site approval letter. He stated at this point they have not made any formal recommendations. He added that they do have concerns that this project will not be able to be completed. He invited Mr. Charles to attend their next meeting on the 22nd of January. Selectman Dormitzer asked to hear from the team working for Mr. Charles. Engineer Neil Murphy addressed the Board. He stated that the soils in that area are excellent and that a septic system could be supported for the property. He said that underground drainage could be done as well. He has not at this point designed the system. Selectman Carlson asked if anyone would like to speak in the audience. Ms. Marjorie Murphy of 31 Cedar Acres Lane expressed her concerns over the financing of the project. Mr. Doug Yeager of 79 Sohier Street stated that the Mass Housing site approval letter is a very preliminary approval and is not a State endorsement per se. Mr. Paul Hart of 63 Sohier Street felt there were too many issues with the project and asked the Board not to approve it. S. Woodworth Chittick, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, addressed the Board. He stated that the Town Boards and Committees are asked for advisory opinions on projects like these, but ultimately it is the ZBA who give the final approval. He stated that the Selectmen did not have to give their opinion until it feels ready. He added that the 40 B process needs to happen under 180 days and the ZBA will be meeting extensively to address all of the issues that arise. In regard to the economic concerns regarding the financial viability of the project, Chairman Chittick explained that economics are not in the ZBA's purview. The Selectmen agreed to not give any recommendation on this project at this time. Trust for Public Lands—Morrissey Property— Ms. Darci Schofield and Mr. Christopher LaPointe of the Trust for Public Lands (TPL) addressed the Board. Mr. LaPointe explained that the mission of TPL is to Selectmen—1.5.09-JBO 2 Minutes—Board of Selectmen January 5, 2009 preserve lands for people. They work with towns like Cohasset and once a parcel has been identified, TPL works with the land owner(s) and they help find funding, pricing,title and environmental information. They then put a financial plan together. He reviewed the many ways funding can be obtained. Sandy Durant and Deborah Shadd of the Open Space Committee reviewed the benefits of the Morrissey property which is 12 acres of land located behind Town Hall. The Open Space Committee is very much in favor of this land being acquired as they feel it will link together many other protected parcels and offer great trails and recreation for the Town. The Board of Selectmen is in favor of this land being acquired, subject to consideration of acquisition cost and the identification of funding sources. Executive Session—To consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property Selectman Dormitzer moved that the Board go into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. The Board will only come out of Executive Session for the purposes of adjourning the meeting. Members of the Open Space Committee and the Trust for Public Lands will be attending the session. Selectwoman Quigley seconded the motion. Selectman Koed—Aye Selectman Dormitzer—Aye Selectwoman Quigley—Aye Acting Chairman Carlson—Aye (4-0) Meeting adjourned at 9:15PM Respectfully submitted, Paul Carlson Acting Chairman Selectmen—1.5.09-JBO 3