2009-05-06-STM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Town Meeting ofMay 6, 2009, cont.... 9:30 p.m. Members spoke in support and opposition. Thomas Griffiths,pr7,announced as a member of the Munroe Center for the Arts Board he would recuse himself from voting. 9:42 p.m. Robert Whitman,pr.3,moved the question.The Moderator called for a standing vote,tallied as follows: Precinct Yes No 1 10 6 2 6 2 3 8 4 4 14 2 5 5 9 6 11 6 7 5 5 8 11 2 9 9 3 AL 10 7 TOTAL 89 46 9:45 p.m. With 89 having voted in the affirmative and 46 in the negative, motion to move the question Adopted. 9:47 p.m. Peter Kelley offered closing comments. 9:49 p.m. Vote on Indefinite Postponement of Article 5 Adopted. 9:49 p.m. Presented by Selectman Norman Cohen. ARTICLE 6: LAND PURCHASE—OFF LOWELL STREET MOTION: That: (a)the Selectmen be authorized to purchase or otherwise acquire, or to take by eminent domain, for recreation, and/or affordable housing, and/or open space purposes any fee, easement or other interest in all or any part of land shown as lots 38, 40A and 43 on Assessor's Property Map 20 on such terms and conditions as the Selectmen may determine;that the sum of$4,197,000 be appropriated for such land acquisition, and that to raise such amount,the Treasurer,with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized to borrow$4,197,000 under M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7 (3), as amended, or under M.G.L. Chapter 44B, as amended, or any other enabling authority; (b)$98,000 be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the Community Preservation Fund for debt service and related borrowing costs of the Community Preservation Fund for fiscal year 2010; and(c)the Board of Selectmen be authorized to lease to the seller all or any part of such land for farming purposes for a period not to exceed three years on such terms as the Board of Selectmen shall determine, as part of the consideration for the acquisition. 9:49 p.m. Betsey Weiss moved the Report of the Community Preservation Committee on Articles 6&7 be accepted and placed on file. Unanimously Adopted. Ms. Weiss reported the unanimous support of the Committee on Articles 6&7, with 7-1 in support of financing and covering interest costs. 9:52 p.m. Town Manager Carl Valente presented request. Shirley Stolz reported support of Capital Expenditures Committee. Mollie Garberg reported support of Appropriation Committee. Peter Kelley reported unanimous support of Board of Selectmen. Charles Hornig reported support of Planning Board. 10:00 p.m. Peter Kelley responded to questions on possible property contamination. 10:03 p.m. Neighbors at 60 Lowell Street spoke in support and questioned use options. 10:06 p.m. Members questioned minority vote of Appropriation Committee,to which Richard Eurich explained insufficient time was available to review full information. Selectman Norman Cohen responded to some of Mr.Eurich's comments. Members and neighbors continued to speak in support,questioned tax rollback and likely Community Preservation funding from the Commonwealth. 10:30 p.m. John Bartenstein,pr.1,explained intent to offer a Resolution,and moved: RESOLUTION: AND IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Selectmen form an ad hoc Busa Farm Land Use Committee, made up of five to seven disinterested residents of the Town,to conduct a master planning process for the Busa Farm land that includes public meetings and the solicitation of public input, and to make a recommendation to the next Annual Town Meeting on the use or mix of uses of the land that will best serve the interests of the town. A"disinterested resident"shall mean a person who is not a member of any board, committee, Town department or organization that is advocating for a particular use of land. The ultimate determination of the use of the land and approval of a master plan shall be made by Town Meeting.