By Beth David, Editor
The Acushnet Selectboard finalized the contract for new Town Administrator Brian Noble, and also hired Julie Hebert as town accountant. Ms. Hebert’s appointment was announced at the 12/16 meeting.
Mr. Noble, 58, will received $120,000 including stipends. Ms. Hebert will receive $86,000 per year.
The board also decided to hire an independent firm to audit the books.
Selectboard chairperson Garry Rawcliffe said he wanted to use a different firm to “close out the books” for the new accountant coming in.
Mr. Noble, however, questioned the move, saying that the current firm has experience with the town.
The board gave him the task of researching firms and costs and he will report back at a future meeting.
In another matter, the board did not issue a license change for South Main Street Enterprises, 14 So. Main Street, which is seeking an increase in the number of cars they are allowed to have on the lot. The company wants to put 10 cars across the street.
Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar said he was not comfortable increasing the number of cars on the license or with the addition of the lot across the street without more information.
He said the second location is at a three family tenement. He questioned where the tenants will park and where snow would go.
He said the regular license was okay to pas, but not the extra 10 cars.
The board set a public hearing date of January 9, and abutters will be notified.
Allen Decker from the Buzzards Bay Coalition was on hand to get the paperwork signed for the land deal that Town Meeting approved.
The town will use Community Preservation Act funds to help the BBC buy 11 acres on Hamlin Street. The town will own the Conservation Restriction on the property and it will be open to the public.
The BBC plans to make the property a public park, similar to The Sawmill property it also owns.
In other business, the board invited residents to send letters of interest to fill more than one vacancy on the Conservation Commission. The board will accept letters until the end of January. Mail letters to the Selectboard at Town Hall, 122 Main Street, Acushnet, MA 02743
The board also held a moment of silence for all those lost in town in 2016, just days after Joseph “JP” Lopes, 41, and his son Collin, 9, were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in their home on 12/7. Acushnet also lost three-year-old Victoria “Tori” Varieur in a tragic accident when her father’s car rolled down the driveway on October 31.
“We had great tragedies in Acushnet,” said Mr. Rawcliffe.
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