MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
September 13, 2005
Present at the meeting that was held at the Stow Town Building were Chairman Edward R. Perry Jr. and Selectmen John Clayton, Stephen Dungan, Carole Makary, and Janet Wheeler.
Also present were Town Administrator William Wrigley and Administrative Assistant Susan Flint Hosier.
Chairman Perry called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m., noting that the meeting was being video recorded for broadcast on Stow TV (Channel 9).
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Wrigley noted two upcoming deadlines for decisions on the Cushing Ch. 61 property, should the Board choose to exercise its right of first refusal: wording of a debt exclusion ballot question must be submitted to the Town Clerk by Sep. 20 (35 days before the election) and the Town’s decision to exercise its right must be submitted to the Registry of Deeds by Oct. 26 (120 days after notice of intent to sell). He recommended that the Board vote on both questions tonight.
He reported that Town Counsel had reviewed the Minute Man Realty Chapter 61 notice, received on Sep. 1, and confirmed that it is a bona fide offer. Also, the Kunelius v. Town of Stow lawsuit regarding Chapter 61 land, received on Aug. 25, was presently being reviewed by Town Counsel and the Town’s insurer, MIIA.
Council on Aging Director Appointment
The Board, accepting the recommendation of the Council on Aging, appointed Suzanne Morin as the Council’s new director. Mr. Clayton moved, Ms. Makary seconded, and all voted in favor.
Ms. Morin, who had been invited to meet the Board, noted the importance of the COA to the seniors and the town. Her qualifications include four years of experience working in the Town Building’s senior center and knowing the clients, process, and what is needed. She also brings management experience from her work at Digital Equipment. Among her goals are to have more of the younger seniors and more men involved with the Council.
Stow Housing Partnership Appointment
Michael Kopczynski of Canterbury Road was appointed to a two-year term on the newly established Housing Partnership, on a motion from Ms. Makary, seconded by Ms. Wheeler, and with all voting in favor.
Mr. Kopczynski, also present to meet the Board, has lived in Stow for 15 years and wants to contribute his skills to the town’s housing needs. He brings research and problem solving skills, is an out-of-the-box thinker, and has 15 years of experience in corporate management. He can make complex problems understandable to non-experts, in this case housing to citizens. Chair of the Housing Partnership Eric Bachtell recommended Mr. Kopczynski’s appointment.
Cultural Council Update
Representatives of the Stow Cultural Council visited the Board to explain a difficult situation they faced and to request support from the Board. Lynne Juster, accompanied by members Betsy Stepp, Catherine Hammill, and Dorothy Sonnichsen and Treasurer Karen Benoit, said the Council had been without a chairman for the past year, with little prospect of someone taking on the chairmanship. Most of the administrative work required for each of the grant cycles had been done by previous chairs but none of the present members had time for it. A second problem was the size of the committee – nine members – made reaching a quorum difficult. Unless the situation is remedied, the upcoming grant cycle will not occur.
Regarding administrative support, Mr. Wrigley offered to help the Council arrange for part-time support, to be funded through several available options, in order to offload the bulk of the paperwork from the Council members and allow them to concentrate on the business of reviewing and approving grant applications. The support would also allow for a more flexible governance arrangement, such as rotating chairs or co-chairs.
Regarding quorums, the Board voted to reduce the number of members from nine to seven, moved by Mr. Clayton, seconded by Ms. Wheeler, and with all in favor.
Applications for the next grant cycle must be submitted by Oct. 15, so support is needed as soon as possible. One member’s term had recently expired, so the vacancy will be posted and the member planned to reapply.
Assabet River EPA Appeals
Due to illness of a scheduled guest, this was postponed to the next meeting.
Cushing Ch. 61 Property Right of First Refusal
Bob Wilber, chairman of the Open Space and Community Preservation committees, opened the discussion by summarizing various groups’ interest in the property. The School Building Committee, Community Preservation Committee, and Housing Partnership were evaluating the site for mixed use. This property could meet three major land needs of the Town: active recreation, open space in the southeast quadrant, and affordable housing sites.
Mr. Wilber said the land – 70 acres for $1.6M – is good value for the price; this was validated by the Town’s appraisal. Stow Conservation Trust has pledged 10 percent of the open space component of purchase price, if the result is a strong conservation component. Money from the sale of several market-rate house lots, Community Preservation funding, and other available grants could be combined to cover the purchase cost.
Mr. Wilber said interested parties hope to provide Town Meeting with detailed conceptual plans and their associated costs, in a package that does not require Town Meeting to raise and appropriate funds, that is, requires no increase in property taxes.
A full discussion ensued on funding alternatives, rights of first refusal and legal implications, and Town Meeting strategy, after which the Board brought the question to a vote.
The full motion, provided by Mr. Wrigley, offered by Ms. Makary, and seconded by Ms. Wheeler, is as follows:
I move that the Selectmen vote to exercise the Town’s option to purchase the Cushing property, so-called, identified in the written notification of intent to sell recreational land, dated June 27, 2005, with the specific conditions that: (1) said purchase be conditioned on the approval and appropriation of one million, six hundred thousand dollars ($1,600,000) by the voters at Town Meeting and by ballot question on October 25th; (2) that this contingency be included in a purchase and sales agreement to be executed by and between Penny Cushing and the Town of Stow within (21) days of this vote; and (3) that the Notice of the Selectmen’s exercise of this option not be recorded at the Registry of Deeds until a date after the execution of the aforementioned purchase and sales agreement.
During discussion on the motion, where Board members shared opposing views, Finance Committee Chairman Jason Robart said he recommended no support of the purchase without a very specific definition of the land’s use, adding that the Town is in no position financially to “land bank” the property.
The motion to exercise the Town’s right carried, with the voting as follows:
Three in favor: Mr. Dungan, Ms. Makary, and Ms. Wheeler;
Two opposed: Mr. Clayton and Mr. Perry.
Minute Man Realty Ch. 61 Discussion
Following the Cushing vote, the Board briefly discussed the Minute Man Realty property on Boxboro Road. Mr. Dungan reported on preliminary discussions and arrangements with property owner Don McPherson, developer Bill Roop, and consultants. He agreed to convene a working group, similar to that for the Cushing property, with a follow-up joint boards meeting.
It was noted that another Special Town Meeting would be needed, should the Town choose to pursue the Minute Man land, the deadline for which is Dec. 30.
Special Town Meeting Ballot Question Approval
The Board approved the Cushing property debt exclusion question for the Special Town Meeting ballot, on a motion from Ms. Makary, seconded by Ms. Wheeler, and with all voting in favor.
The wording of the question will be delivered to the Town Clerk.
Freedom’s Way Request for Support
Karen Gray, representing the Stow Historical Commission, presented a request from Freedom’s Way Heritage Association for a letter from the Town in support of legislation to recognize this historic corridor at the state and national level. The geographic area, running from Arlington to Gardner, is a draw for tourists and good for local business, similar to the Blackstone Corridor to the west. The project for its recognition has been in progress for 10 to 12 years and there are now eight New Hampshire towns and 29 Massachusetts towns in support. Ms. Gray said that no funding is being requested, only the letter of support. Mr. Dungan had learned from Mildred Chandler, one of Freedom’s Way’s founders, that the association’s present funding is limited to membership, gifts, and grants; state and federal
recognition would provide additional sources.
Mr. Clayton moved to send a letter of support for Senate Bill 1882, to designate a Freedom’s Way Heritage Area; Mr. Dungan seconded, and all voted in favor.
Review of Selectmen’s FY 2006 Goals
The review was postponed until the next meeting.
Liaison Reports
Marlboro Road: Ms. Makary reported that she met with Hudson’s DPW manager regarding the traffic island installed by Hudson that continues to be problematic for residents and deliveries. It has been in place for one year now and she asked that Hudson be receptive to altering it. She will follow up by providing information to the Hudson Town committee responsible for traffic management; the Board supported Ms. Makary’s request to send the letter as a member of the Stow Board of Selectmen.
Ms. Makary also said that Superintendent of Streets Mike Clayton and Town Engineer Bruce Fletcher were to provide a plan to reconfigure the intersection of Gleasondale and Marlboro roads. A sketch was done last spring; now measurements will be made for the engineering plans.
Approve Past Minutes
August 23: Mr. Clayton moved, Mr. Dungan seconded, and all voted to accept the minutes, as amended. Ms. Makary, not present on Aug. 23, abstained.
Additional Notes
In response to an offer from the Maynard selectmen to discuss possible areas of collaboration, Mr. Perry agreed to respond in agreement and set a meeting date.
Regarding the possible purchase of the 13 Crescent Street lot for Town parking, Mr. Perry said that Building Inspector Roggeveen’s preliminary plan indicated that the parcel could accommodate 25 parking spaces. The property is currently listed at $210,000. Based on that information, Mr. Perry agreed to develop a plan for the Board’s consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m., on a motion from Ms. Wheeler, seconded by Ms. Makary, and with all voting in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Flint Hosier
Administrative Assistant
Board of Selectmen
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