By Jean Perry, Neighb News Correspondent
The Acushnet Selectboard approved some Fiscal Year 2022 budgets, including Fire and Police, after brief presentations during a 3/30 morning meeting (see 4/1/21 issue).
Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly presented her $87,648 FY22 budget reflecting a $12,000 increase in funding for the Town’s contract with a stormwater collaborative.
During Ms. Kelly’s presentation, however, Mr. Gaspar asked whether the stormwater “MS4 permit” budget should be removed from the Conservation Department budget and placed within the Planning Board’s budget since the Planning Board is the authority concerned with stormwater.
Ms. Kelly said that might make more sense, and the board made it part of its motion when approving the conservation budget.
Mr. Gaspar commented that he would like to see the process move forward with establishing a stormwater permit fee schedule and advocated for funding the stormwater agent salary through fee revenue instead of the tax levy.
In other business, the board voted to waive its Right of First Refusal under Chapter 61A for a portion of 540R Main Street. That property is slated for lease to a solar farm developer.
The board approved $8,950 in federal CARES Act funding for the Acushnet Emergency Management Agency to buy a trailer to store and transport COVID-19 testing related equipment.
The board approved an additional $2,500 to supplement last year’s Town Meeting-approved funding for the park commissioner’s pavilion project planned behind the Veterans’ Memorial.
The footprint of the pavilion is being expanded to account for social distancing measures.
The board also approved a Reserve Fund Transfer of $405 for the Planning Board’s advertisement line item, which has dipped into the red. Ms. Gaspar recommended approving the fund transfer but wanted Town Administrator Julie Hebert to look into whether the applicants or the Town should be paying the advertising fees.
The board also approved a Class II license for Rep Weld Corp.
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
Click here to download the entire 4/8/21 issue: 04-08-21 Election
