The regularly scheduled meeting of the Millbury Planning Board was held on Monday, April 9, 2012, at 7:15 p.m. in the Municipal Office Building, 127 Elm Street, Millbury, MA. Chairman Richard Gosselin presided.
Present: Gary Schold, Paul Piktelis, Anna Lewandowski, Richard Gosselin, Alternate Member Michael Georges
Absent: Jeffrey Markarian
7:15 p.m. 1 – 5 Elm Street Easement and Maintenance Agreements Approvals
Town Planner Laurie Connors advised that the drainage easement agreement was approved by Town Counsel, applicant’s attorney Peter Keenan and the DPW Director. The Maintenance Agreement and the retaining wall have not been resolved. The Conservation Commission easement has not yet been finalized.
Motion by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, to accept the drainage easement agreement for 1-5 Elm Street, as to form, and with the conditions and approval from the Board of Selectmen, motion carried unanimously.
7:30 p.m. Tony J. da Cruz – Tighe & Bond Engineering
Chairman Gosselin advised that the Planning Board is concerned with the number of hours being billed to projects, and he asked if training time was being included. He recognized that the economy is sometimes a contributing factor. In particular the Board questioned recent invoices for the solar project on McGrath Road, the Hampton Street Baptist Church on Dwinell Road and the Dunkin Donuts project on Elm Street.
Mr. da Cruz advised that no training hours would ever be included in the billing statements as the company has its own, separate program. He offered the following information for each of the three projects which were identified:
Dunkin Donuts – Elm Street: 7 reviews were completed, the 8th request came in today, for a total of 102.7 hours or an average of 5.5 hours per review.
Hampton St. Baptist Church – Dwinell Road: 4 reviews, total of 47.5 hours
Solar Farm – McCrath Road: 4 reviews, total of 34 hours. Senior Planner Tracy Adamski was used on this project, in addition to engineering staff.
The two principal engineers for Millbury each have over 8 years of experience. When asked about the professional associations that were listed on the resumes he submitted to the board, Mr. da Cruz responded that the company pays for two memberships per year for each employee.
Mrs. Lewandowski and Mr. Piktelis believe that part of the problem is with the applicant’s engineers not addressing Tighe & Bond’s concerns which cause additional reviews. Travel time was also questioned. Mr. da Cruz stated that travel was charged from Worcester, it was a 7 mile trip.
The Board would like more detail on the bills, Mr. da Cruz will be sure to include this on future invoices.
8:00 p.m. Minor Modification: Shoppes Special Permit Concerning Banners
Ellen Traywick was present on behalf of W/S Development to discuss a proposal for decorative banners on the interior access road, including banner specifications, sample of a Spring image and site plan showing the potential banner locations. 24 – 36 banners are being requested, on 35’ poles, 16’ high from the pavement to the banner.
Motion by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, to approve the minor modification allowing banners as designated on the project overview dated March 27, 2012, as to design specs and locations, motion carried unanimously.
8:10 p.m. Zoning Related Warrant Article Recommendations
Articles 20, 21 and 22 will not be included tonight.
Motion to recommend approval of Warrant Article 19 by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, motion carried unanimously.
Motion to recommend approval of Warrant Article 23 by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, motion carried unanimously.
Motion to recommend approval of Warrant Article 24 by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, motion carried unanimously.
Motion to recommend approval of Warrant Article 25 by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, motion carried unanimously.
Motion to recommend approval of Warrant Article 26, by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, motion carried unanimously.
8:20 p.m. Fee Schedule Discussion
Motion by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis to approve the following revisions to the fee schedule (last revised on 9/28/09):
- Replace “Special Permit” with “Site Plan Review”
- Revise Special Permit (Site Plan Review) Filing Fees by removing reference to “$5/cubic yard of earth removed ($2,000 maximum)”, and by adding “$100/megawatt over 1 megawatt”
- Research fee will be increased to $75 per hour
- Add “or on Municipal website” to Book References for Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land, Zoning Bylaws and Zoning Map
- Add new revision date of 4/9/12
Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes
Motion by Gary Schold, seconded by Paul Piktelis, to approve the minutes of March 26, 2012, motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Paul Piktelis, seconded by Gary Schold, motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan M. Dean
ATTEST:
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