By Beth David, Editor
After some further explanations and assurances by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the Acushnet Selectboard voted to include an article for a land deal by the BBC on the annual town meeting warrant, 2-1, with Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar voting against. The BBC is seeking $35,000 in Community Preservation funds for the project.
The board had previously voted to hold off on a vote when it came to light that the BBC might develop part of the property.
The 32.36 acres, currently owned by Glenn Machado, and known as the “Tripp’s Mill Brook Headwaters,” includes 4.33 acres in Fairhaven.
The cost of the property is $376,000. The BBC is seeking $70,000 from Acushnet, of which $35,000 will be reimbursed by a grant that is already guaranteed.
The BBC will own the property, the Conservation Commission will hold a Conservation Restriction (CR) on most of it. The town had the right of first refusal, because it was 61A property, meaning it got reduced taxes for being farmland. The town signed its right to buy the property to the BBC last year. Fairhaven also assigned its right to the BBC.
Then the board learned that the BBC had carved out a six-acre parcel in Acushnet not to be included in the Conservation Restriction that would be held by the Conservation Commission. Those six acres would be open to development for up to six single-family homes.
Allen Decker of the BBC explained to the board at a previous meeting that the BBC was unsure of its ability to raise all the funds necessary to buy the parcel. At the Acushnet Selectboard meeting on 4/3 Mr. Decker said that six or seven houses would be better than 17, which is what the land can sustain.
On Monday, Mr. Rasmussen assured the board that only one house would be built on the six acres.
He said that the group had raised more funds since the board last spoke with Mr. Decker, and the BBC expects to borrow $190,000 to be able to close in June. Mr. Rasmussen said the BBC still needs to keep the six acres open for sale to cover the costs.
He clarified, however, that the BBC would only build one home that would be “tucked behind a row of 11 existing homes.”
The house would be built on 1 1/2 acres, and a separate conservation restriction would be placed on the rest.
The BBC is “not optimistic” about its ability to raise funds post-closing, said Mr. Rasmussen. He called the development option a “Fall-Back Funding Plan.”
Selectboard Chairperson Michael Cioper said that the board was concerned that six houses could be built on the six acres. He said the board agreed to the deal because they believed the whole parcel would be protected from development.
Mr. Rasmussen said the property is 80% uplands and has the potential for 12-17 house-lots with septic systems, subdivision roads, and stormwater runoff. The BBC felt they had to protect the property from development to protect the Mattapoisett River Valley Drinking Water Supply Protection Area. The parcel is also listed within the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Core Habitat area, and is adjacent to BBC’s existing Tinkham Pond Reserve.
He said 61A property is different, and harder to get funding for, that they cannot negotiate the price, but have to match the offer, and time constraints are different than on other projects.
He went down the list of funding sources to date, and said $190,000 will need to be borrowed. That is the piece that the BBC will want to pay off with the sale of the lot. It is unlikely, however, the lot is worth that much.
“We can’t see a way to the finish line,” without the sale of the lot, said Mr. Rasmussen.
He said it was the BBC’s “commitment” to the board that it would only be one house.
“You’re still short,” said Mr. Cioper.
Mr. Rasmussen agreed, and said he believed the lot would fetch about $150,000. If they deferred the $24,000 in project costs for public access and trails, then the shortfall was only $10–20K.
“We can figure that out over time,” he said.
Selectboard member Roger Cabral said that they held off on the vote because they felt they had not been given all the information. They thought there would be multiple houses built.
“We did not have all the facts up-front,” said Mr. Cabral.
He said he understood that the bigger goal was to preserve the larger parcel.
“So, I’m okay with it,” said Mr. Cabral.
“I’m not that happy at all, but I’m willing to change my mind,” said Mr. Cioper, adding that he wanted to let it go to town meeting and let TM change his mind.
Mr. Cabral said he was okay with it because it was not a “subdivision,” and he believed the project met the goals of the Community Preservation Act funds.
Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar did not say a word until the vote, when he said: “I’m against it.”
After the meeting he said that he had already voiced his disagreement with the proposal in previous meetings and would speak against it at Town Meeting. He said the BBC was not honest in its presentation to the town, and did not make it clear that some land would be open to development. He disagreed with Mr. Rasmussen’s contention that the plan had always been for only one house on the six acres.
In other business, the board heard from town clerk Pamela Labonte on the change to one polling location for the April 2 election. This was the first year that all voters went to the elementary school.
She said there were some minor logistical issues, but she was confident they would be worked out next time.
Ms. Labonte said the cooperation from the School Department, public works, emergency management agency, and police made it all go smoothly.
She said she was “very pleased with the way the day went.”
With only 395 voters, though, it was not a big test. One thing she will want to do is get electrical outlets in the ceiling so that voting machines can be positioned to avoid people crossing by each other.
“That was Mr. Noble’s brilliant idea,” she said, referring to Town Administrator Brian Noble.
She said she will work with other departments on better traffic flow, especially in anticipation of voting on days when school is in session. And they would probably change the entrances and exits.
She had three police officers that day, she said, and knows that some might call it “overkill.”
“But it was very important to me that everything went smoothly,” said Ms. Labonte.
Mr. Cabral admitted that the exit door confused him. He said when he was “sent” out that door, he felt he was in the Twilight Zone.
“I had no idea where I was,” he said, but then quickly realized he was closer to his car.
Ms. Labonte said she would be looking into getting some traffic cones with retractable tape. She used the EMA’s and they were “very helpful,” but she cannot always depend on using their equipment.
If not for the DPW, school department, police and other town departments, it would not have been “nearly as successful as it was,” said Ms. Labonte.
The board also discussed with Ms. Labonte, the complaint by some people that they did not know there was an election.
Mr. Cabral said the signs placed around town were not clear. He also said an earlier start time would be better for people who work full time. The voting hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ms. Labonte said the signs were to notify people of the new polling location. She agreed the signs needed to have less information on them so drivers could read them quickly.
The next test will most likely be state primaries on September 4, and then state elections on November 6 of this year.
Ms. Labonte also announced that Tommy Lipsett was elected Commissioner of Trust Funds with write-in votes. She said she had just certified the results and would be swearing him in that night.
Mr. Noble announced that the town meeting forum would be held on Monday, 4/30, at 7 p.m. in the town hall meeting room. The town moderator will review all TM articles so voters will know what to expect at town meeting on May 14.
The forum will run on government access cable TV channel 18.
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