Newton Planning Board
Work Session
August 22, 2006
1. Call to Order
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM, declaring a quorum of four regular members and one alternate member present. The meeting was posted in three town locations: Rowe’s Market, Newton Post Office, Newton Junction Post Office and Newton Town Hall. There was no challenge to the legality of the meeting.
2. Attendance
The following members were present:
Mary Allen
Deborah Finnegan
Rich LeClaire
Gary Nelson – Selectmen’s ex-officio member
James Doggett – Alternate
3. Submittal Schedule
Mr. Hull said that he would have sample regulations and ordinances ready for the members to review at the September work session. Ms. Allen provided copies of same to him. He said that he and the AA had had a discussion about the number of hearings, submittals and deadlines that were not working. It was their opinion that the TRC should review applications before they were scheduled for public hearing and he provided two sample schedules, using the public hearing date (second Tuesday of the month) as the deadline date followed by the TRC meeting, determining completeness, publication and abutter notices. A copy of the schedule is attached to the minutes. The AA said that it was grossly unfair to all those involved (board, applicant, applicant’s experts, and abutters) to sit through long meetings
without having a specific beginning and end time.
Motion made by Ms. Allen with a second by Mr. LeClaire to limit continued public hearings to no more than 15 minutes duration and for new public hearings will be permitted 30 minutes duration. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion made by Ms. Allen with a second by Mr. Nelson to have no more than six applications heard at the public hearing. The motion failed 2-3.
There was discussion that the number of applications to be heard should be decided on a month-to-month basis.
Motion made by Mr. LeClaire with a second by Mr. Nelson to allow for seven applicants to be heard at the public hearing September 12, (five continued, one new, one compliance) and for this to be reviewed on a month-by-month basis. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion made by Mr. Doggett with a second by Ms. Allen to accept the schedules as presented by Mr. Hull and in the future a the first continuation of a public hearing will be to the second month following the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously.
*****ACTIION ITEM***** for the AA to send out announcements to new and current applicants and their engineers regarding the scheduling changes accepted by the Board.
Motion made by Ms. Allen with a second by Mr. Nelson to change the bond amount required with each application to $5,000.00 for all subdivisions and site plan reviews. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion made by Ms. Allen with a second by Mr. Nelson to require all third parties (attorneys, engineers, applicants and other applicable parties) to include the following information on all correspondence or materials:
Ø Full name of applicant
Ø Full name of property owner (if different)
Ø Full physical address
Ø Full mailing address (if different)
Ø Board’s file number
Ø Tax map information
The motion passed unanimously.
4. Manifest
The manifests for the Operating Budget and for the NPREA account were reviewed.
Motion made by Mr. Doggett with a second by Mr. LeClaire to have the manifests paid as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
5. Board Business
There was some discussion about the improvements at Smith Corner Road and Peaslee Crossing Road and Mr. Nelson asked that the members present take a drive down both roads and offer an opinion to the Selectmen. There has been some conflict about the road level of Peaslee Crossing Road as one approached Smith Corner Road and vice-versa.
A letter was received, today, in hand to the AA from Coleman McDonough requesting that the Board take action to schedule a public hearing based on a letter received Thursday, August 17, 2006.
Motion made by Mr. Nelson with a second by Mr. LeClaire to conduct a compliance hearing for Mr. McDonough on September 12, 2006. The motion passed unanimously.
*****ACTION ITEM***** for the AA to send Mr. McDonough a letter on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 notifying him of the compliance hearing.
Motion made by Ms. Finnigan with a second by Mr. LeClaire to adjourn at 8:20 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally E. Cockerline
Administrative Assistant
Newton Planning Board
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