Advisory Committee Present: Robert Czekanski
October 12, 2011 Randy Dinjian
Connie Benjamin
Terry Abdalian
Mike Zelenkov
The Advisory Committee met at the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
The Advisory Committee reviewed and voted on their recommendation for the articles on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held on November 7, 2011.
Article 1: Unpaid Bill for Fiscal Year 2011 – On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Abdalian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
Ms. Abdalian departed from the meeting.
Article 2: Senior Tax Rebate program – On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to ask the Board of Selectmen to remove this article from the STM warrant and consider it at the Annual Town Meeting. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes) This will give the Advisory Committee the opportunity to review the language of the article and the consequences of the rebate with respect to the town’s financial obligations.
Article 3: Creation of a Five Member Conservation Commission – On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to disapprove this article. (Czekanski – no, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
Article 4: Amendment to Section 2.5.9 Inclusionary Housing – On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Zelenkov, the Advisory Committee voted to approve this article. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
Article 5: Strong Chief – On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Board of Selectmen voted to approve this article. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
Ms. Abdalian returned to the meeting.
Article 6: Purchase of Smith Property for Affordable Housing and Town Green
Present: Roland Ochsenbein, Dave Wylie, Dick Heaton, Bob Roemer, and Chris Mariano, Licensed Environmental Engineer
The Partner’s for Planning gave a brief presentation regarding the article to purchase of the Smith property and provided the Advisory Committee with the current copy of the pro forma documents.
There has not been any movement on the cleanup of the property since 2008 and the property remains out of compliance with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The two houses included with this property are vacant due to failed septic systems.
The Partners for Planning have received several responses in regards to their request for comment from people with experience in developing small projects as this.
Mr. Mariano provided the Committee with a history of the site related to the contamination of and was available to answer any technical questions. The Phase I and II have been completed although it is his opinion that there are some gaps in the soil testing, and sediment and surface water sampling in the Phase II which needs to be addressed and re-filed with DEP.
The Partners for Planning proposed that the Board of Selectmen establish a Bolton Town Green Development Commission to manage the project, including approving the design of the site, applying for grants, selecting developers and contracts and approving expenditures in a manner similar to that of the Public Safety Building Construction Committee. The Partners for Planning will not be involved in the development.
Bolton is eligible and ranked very high for grants and loans through Mass Development and US EPA Brownfield cleanup grants.
As summarized, the total cost of the project to the town is $565,000 with $125,000 being transferred from the Affordable Housing Trust which results in the request to authorize borrowing up to $440,000 to fund the project. Anticipated grants to clean up the site total $232,400.
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Benjamin, the Advisory Committee voted to give their recommendation on Town Meeting floor. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Abdalian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
On a motion made by Dinjian and seconded by Abdalian, the Advisory Committee adjourned at 10:00 p.m. (Czekanski – yes, Dinjian – yes, Abdalian – yes, Benjamin – yes, Zelenkov – yes)
Respectfully submitted by Linda L. Day
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