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August 26, 2015
Rutland Development and Industrial Commission
Meeting Minutes – 8/26/15
Community Hall Annex

Meeting opened at 6:31AM.  Attending:  Mike Sullivan, Doug Briggs, Mark O’Clair, Tom Dufault, Michele Van Reet
Visitors:  Mr. Dick Williams; Thomas Ruchala; Margaret Nardowicz, Town Administrator

  • Review minutes – Minutes from these meetings were discussed:
  •  7/30/15 Michele Van Reet motioned to accept as amended, Mark O’Clair seconded.  Unanimously approved.
  • 8/3/15 Doug Briggs motioned to accept as presented, Michele Van Reet seconded.  Unanimously approved.
  • 8/13/15 Doug Briggs motioned to accept as amended, Tom Dufault seconded.  Prior to voting on the minutes, Mike Sullivan asked if there were any questions regarding the minutes.  Michele Van Reet expressed concern about the issue with Doug Briggs addressing Margaret Nardowicz’ email to Mike Sullivan regarding the source of the value of the projected revenue from the Barton project that was presented at the town meeting.  Concerns:  First, that Doug Briggs spoke to Harold in his (Doug’s) office in Ashburnham prior to the RDIC discussing the concern and how to address it in a meeting.  Second, how did Doug Briggs know about the emails from Margaret to Mike Sullivan when the rest of the RDIC members had not yet been informed about the issues?  Michele raised the concern that only some members seem to have information prior to meetings/between meetings.  Doug stated that there is no conflict in this case because the communication was between Mike and Doug; and they do not make a quorum.  Mike Sullivan stated that there are not side conversations with some members outside of the meetings other than those required to get things done as necessary.
At the conclusion of this discussion, Mike Sullivan requested that Michele distribute meeting minutes prior to the meetings so that all members have a chance to review them and make notes prior to the meetings so that it doesn’t take too much meeting time.
Tom Dufault made a point of order that any further discussion on the minutes should not have taken place before we voted on the last item.  The vote should have been closed, then the discussion.  We returned to Briggs motioned to accept the minutes as amended and Dufault seconded.  Unanimously approved.
  • 7/8/15 – Doug Briggs motioned to accept, Tom Dufault seconded.  Unanimously approved.
  • Barton update – Mike spoke to Rob Indresano and confirmed that Lot 2 is the site they are pursuing.  That afternoon the phase 1 environmental assessment was going to take place by Norver-Armstrong Associates, Inc.  Mike is going to meet them to show them the site and the map to get them started.   Also, Barton asked about the LGR (Limited Group Residence) facility on Maple Ave. near the site because they questioned what type of facility it is.  Mike explained the clients and purpose of the home and Barton was fine with the status.
  • DCAMM clean up document status – No further progress.  Nick Supalis is the person we need to contact and he was on vacation.  Mike will follow-up when he returns.  Tom Dufault suggested that we may be pursuing the wrong agency.  DEP was on-site during the cleanup and they may be able to help us get the certification.  Doug suggested talking to Muriel Stone in Worcester.  
  • Flo-Design status – They are securing bids for the cleanup.  Mike is pushing for a date of completion.
  • Roadway status – Work is progressing on the certification.  
  • HPDD review Board letters – Send letter to Anita regarding the appointments, copy Margaret on the letter.  Sample letter presented and it was fine as written.  Michele will send them out.  
  • TIF update – none.
  • Old business – none.
  • New business –
  • Mike acknowledged Tom Ruchala, who asked what was going in and how the site would be accessed.  We showed Tom Barton’s plan with the map for how the site would be built upon and where roads/parking lots would be located.  
  • Mike received a letter from Andrew Burke, Barton’s attorney, requesting an extension on the Purchase & Sale (P&S) Agreement due to delays in the environmental due diligence.  Mike spoke to Attorney Paul Cranston, who agreed that the request for extension is reasonable.  
  • Tom Ruchala also asked about recreation on the site because the only site that seems reasonable for fields is this location.  Mike told Tom that we have not received any proposals for recreation or anything else other than Barton’s.  The rest of the site is available for recreation if someone wants to make a proposal.  Doug Briggs pointed out that there was a baseball field at the top of the site, so there is a possibility for recreation fields up on the hill.  The right side by Mosio’s is also flat.  Dick Williams pointed out that the town has a lot invested in this property and there should be something set aside for recreation.  Tom Dufault stated that this board made a promise to the town that we would set aside a parcel for recreation and there has been a lot of interest expressed over the years for various fields, but none of the groups has been able to put together a plan to present.  This board made a promise to the town that we would start paying down that note.  When we get some permanent financing in place to start paying down the debt.  This is the first opportunity that has been presented and we hope that this will generate more interest in the property.  Tom Ruchala is concerned that groups may not be coming forward because they are expecting that the town will set aside the property for recreation; they may not realize that we are looking for them to make a proposal.  Mike Sullivan also pointed out that there is a significant expense involved with developing fields and the town can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars at this point for fields.       
  • Margaret Nardowicz will be meeting with representatives from National Grid and asked if we had any questions for them.  Tom suggested asking who the contact would be to work with us/developers to install underground utilities.  They have been unresponsive with our requests in recent years, but they should be aware that development is coming.
  • Tom Ruchala asked about walking trails.  We anticipate there will be trails around the pond.  Tom noted that there was a trail around the perimeter on the inside of the fence where it used to be mowed.  It would be nice to have a full circle trail to make a big loop around the property.  Tom Dufault asked if Tom knew of any organizations or groups would be interested in making and maintaining the trails.  Margaret suggested requesting a recreation easement for walking trails as part of the agreement for the extension of the P&S agreement.  Tom Dufault suggested that we put recreation on our next agenda and plan to invite groups like baseball, softball, and other organizations in town to future meetings.  We didn’t own the property yet the last time we invited different groups.
  • Next meeting:  Wednesday, 9/16/15 at 6:30AM at Community Hall Annex.
  • Mike Sullivan motioned to adjourn.  Michele Van Reet seconded.  Unanimously approved to adjourn at 7:25AM.