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March 4, 2014
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

In attendance:  Denis F. Keohane, J. Thomas Hurley, Kathleen M. Conlon, Annemarie Fagan, Town Administrator and Paula Rizzi, Executive Secretary

1.      Chairman Keohane convened the meeting at 6:37p.m. in the Cronin Conference Room of the Town Hall.

2.      J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the February 13, 2014 meeting minutes and the February 25, 2014 meeting minutes as written.

3.       The Board confirmed March 11, April 1, 8 and 22, 2014 as future meeting dates.

4.      Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the current payroll/vendor warrants.

5.      Deborah Felton, Executive Director of Fuller Village, addressed the Board regarding the unclean conditions and lack of timely response by the cab companies providing service to Fuller Village.

        Leroy Walker, 452 Truman Parkway, addressed the Board regarding the proposed Milton Falls project off Truman Parkway.  Mr. Walker made the following three requests regarding this project:
 
  • If the project goes forward he asked that the Board keep the lines of communication open with DCR.
  • Articulate some cleanup of the site in light of health concerns regarding pollutants (PCB’s in the river).
  • Solicit input from more than required abutters so as to protect the character of the neighborhood.
Peter Jackson, 14 Capen Street, addressed the Board regarding the proposed Milton Falls  project off Truman Parkway.  Mr. Jackson thanked the Board for scheduling a public discussion on this project.  He also questioned the density of the project and the appropriateness of the location of the project being situated below the level of the road.  Mr. Jackson said it was his understanding that DCR was not in favor of a land swap.

Taber Keally, 674 Brush Hill Road, MAPC representative for the Town and a member of the Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) addressed the Board regarding the proposed Milton Falls project off Truman Parkway.  Mr. Keally stated that he was neither in favor or opposed to the land swap with DCR but rather was concerned with maintaining open access to the river and requested information to take to his board for discussion.

6.      Christopher Zambuto (96 Hilltop Street), Massport Liaison for the town, met with the Board to discuss aviation and other health concerns linked to arrivals and departures to and from Logan Airport.  As the town’s representative to the Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee, Mr. Zambuto has been participating in meetings with this committee since his appointment in October 2013.  Mr. Zambuto and the Board revised a draft letter to the FAA and Massport.   

The Board agreed to revise the letter and consider it at its next meeting.

7.      The Board met with Kenneth Mackin and Anthony Caruso, officers of Milton Group, Inc. and managers of Milton Fall, LLC and developer Paul Sullivan to discuss a proposed land exchange between Milton Falls LLC and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for a residential rental development at this location.

        Milton Falls, LLC currently owns a parcel of land which is located between the Neponset River and the Fairmount Commuter Rail line.  The DCR parcel is located between Truman Parkway and the commuter rail tracks.  Milton Falls is proposing to exchange its property for the small DCR parcel to develop 29 rental units (one-third the number of units as permitted under the “Brownfield Planned Unit Development” zoning that was approved by vote of the 2007 Town Meeting).  

        Mr. Keohane requested  written documentation from DCR regarding its position on the proposed land swap and stressed to Milton Falls, LLC the importance of neighborhood meetings and input for development at this location.  

Selectman Conlon encouraged Milton Falls, LLC to invite Town Meeting members from  members of Precinct 10, the Master Plan Committee and the Planning Board to any neighborhood/abutter meetings.

8.      The Board met with Police Chief Wells to discuss recommended changes to the Traffic Rules and Orders by the Traffic Commission.

        The Board recessed due to a medical emergency and the reconvened.

        After discussion, J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders as follows:

        Article V, Section 7:

Columbine Road – Install “2 Hour Parking” signs on both sides of Columbine Road between the intersection of Eliot Street and Ridge Road.

Oak Road – Install “2 Hour Parking” signs on both sides of Oak Road between the intersections of Eliot Street and Valley Road.

Edge Hill Road – Install “2 Hour Parking” signs on the eastbound side between Plymouth Avenue and Grafton Avenue; and from Bryant Avenue to the United Church of Christ on the library side of Edge Hill Road.

Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders as follows:

Adams Street – Install “2 Hour Parking” signs on Adams Street, abutting the Jesson Building from the Wood Street overpass to the East Milton Deck.

Franklin Street -  Install “2 Hour Parking” signs from Bassett Street to the Starbuck’s Parking lot on the easterly side.

J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders as follows:

Adams Street – In accordance with the Massachusetts Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices, to install a striped crosswalk on Adams Street at the intersection of Granite Place and Foster Lane, subject to approval by the Town Engineer.

9.      J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to appoint the following residents to the PILOT Committee to serve through February 2015:  Robert Gatnik, 251 Canton Avenue, Henry E. Bell, Jr. 60 Sassamon Avenue, James A. Henderson, 121 Atherton Street, Dimitry Petion, 17 Mulberry Road, Denis Keohane, 1035 Brush Hill Road, Peter Healy, Beth Israel Deaconess/Milton Hospital and Steven Paxhia, 1027 Brush Hill Road.

10.     Town Planner William Clark and the Board discussed correspondence from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) requesting comments that will assist MHP in determining project eligibility for the development proposed by 131 Eliot Street, LLC.  As currently proposed, the development will consist of fifty-seven (57) residential rental units, of which fifteen (15) units would be affordable to households at eighty percent (80%) of median income.  The information has been distributed to department heads, Town Counsel, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Conservation Commission, NepRWA and neighborhood associations.   A site walk has been planned for March 13, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend.  It was the consensus of the Board to request a 60 day extension to the comment period.   The Board asked Mr. Clark to prepare correspondence to MHP requesting the extension.

11.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to open and close a special town meeting warrant for a special town meeting that will take place on May 5, 2014 and will include an article that will appropriate funds into the Capital Stabilization Fund as follows:  
          
To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate to the Capital Stabilization Fund, established by vote of the 2004 Annual Town Meeting under Article 7, in addition to the amount appropriated by vote of the 2013 Annual Town Meeting under Article 38, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 5B of the Massachusetts General Laws, to determine how said appropriation shall be raised, whether by transfer from available funds; borrowing or otherwise;
                and to act on anything relating thereto.

12.     Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the display of a banner at Pierce Middle School intersection announcing positive coaching workshops on March 3 and March 12, 2014 for coaches and parents of all student athletes, grades 1-12, town-wide.

13.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request for temporary signage to be displayed at 944 Canton Avenue, Blue Hill Auto Supply Realty Trust/Milton Auto Repair, announcing a grand opening for new management of this business.

14.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request for a one day liquor license from the Fruit Center Marketplace for a wine dinner that will take place on March 14, 2014 at 10 Bassett Street.

        J. Thomas Hurley moved, Kathleen M. Conlon seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve a request for a one day liquor license from St. Agatha School for a school auction that will take place on April 5, 2014 at 440 Adams Street.

15.     Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously to approve the use of the Town’s streets and ways for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Training Day that will take place on April 6, 2014, contingent upon approval by the Police Chief.

16.     Kathleen M. Conlon moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 8:42 p.m. to adjourn.