By Nicholas Barao, Neighb News Correspondent
The Acushnet Selectboard met on 9/23/22 to discuss warrant articles for the Special Town Meeting on 10/17, and changes in the warrant.
Town Moderator Leslie Dakin said he met with Town Administrator James Kelley to discuss ways to make Town Meeting more enjoyable.
A part of that is making the articles easier to understand. A solution would be to include an explanation somewhere in the article that explains to the average person what the article means.
Mr. Dakin admitted to having to artles several times to figure what they meant.
Mr. Dakin asked the board to “consider placing the explanation right after the article is read.”
He also said that if an explanation is read up front, instead of having to answer a bunch of questions, there may be no questions and the board will be able to move on quicker.
Mr. Dakin suggested that the board encourage town counsel to get the completed articles back to them sooner.
Mr. Kelley responded saying that that wouild not be an issue.
I another matter, board member Kevin Gaspar, asked about funding for fire department gear.
“The turn off-gear for the fire department, the amount of $45,000, why can’t that come from the EMS reserve receipt account instead of taxation,” asked Mr. Gaspar.
Mr. Kelley said the reason they are not using that fund is because they are still are waiting to hear about the grant for the breathing apparatus. If they do not get that grant they will going to use the enterprise fund to pay for the breathing apparatus.
The board discussed pay rates for snow plow drivers, and the need to hire more drivers. Snow plowing is expensive, they noted, because of insurance, maintenance, and blades.
The board decided to give drivers an option of either making five dollars above the state rate, and with good attendance they could get a $1000 bonus; or making $10 above the state rate with no bonus.
The board voted in favor of the two options.
Board Member Robert Hinckley said he had some concern with the Buzzard Bay Coalition land purchase.
“Being the fact that you can’t access this land through Acushnet, you have to go through another town to get there, I don’t know if it’s the appropriate time to allow $85,000 to protect land that is not even being used or being violated,” he said.
He said he felt the money would be better spent elsewhere.
The $85,000 was asking for $85,000 in Community Preservation Act funds under the open space provision of the law. The 77-acre property borders Mattapoisett, where the public access would be.
Mr. Gaspar agreed with Mr. Hinckley, saying he was all about preserving land, but said Acushnet taxpapers should not fund the project because it has no access in Acushnet.
They board voted not to support the article.
Mr. Gaspar took issue with article 8 that would transfer $12,000 in CPC funds for administrative fees.
He said that if the town is going to have that money and spend that money, then all transactions should be approved by the selectboard first. The board voted to approve the change.
Town Planner Doug Pimentel discussed an article regulating solar facilities, including fields, finance, acreage, and the impact on neighboring communities.
He said the state is really pushing for renewable energy, however it is resulting in the clear cutting of trees from acres of land. A solution would be to either replace or move larger trees to somewhere else in town.
Mark Francois from the Zoning Board of Appeals discussed the article on zoning for Bradford Street. The Village District goes right through the center of Bradford Street. They are looking to re-zone the district so it instead goes through the opposite side which will allow for three more lots. The lots will be zoned residential.
The Village District has different regulations associated with building.
Conservation Agent Pat Hannon stated the Environmental Protection Agency has regulations to be enforced regarding storm water for residents, contractors, builders, and developers. The changes will revamp the storm water bylaws set in 2007. The article was struck down, but SB chairperson David Wojnar suggested they create a stormwater advisory group.
The board was scheduled to meet on 9/27 to finalize the warrant.
In other business, the board:
• Hired Firefighter James Guilmette to fill a vacancy created by a departure.
• Appointed Daniel Smith to the Council on Aging.
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Click here to download the entire 9/29/22 issue: 09-29-22 BenoitSq
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