MEETING POSTED, NO QUORUM

 

 

 

Finance Committee Meeting

Minutes – August 1, 2011

Town Hall, Lower Level Hearing Room, 7:30 P.M.

 

Members Present:  Arnold Cohen, Gordon Gladstone, Joel Lessard, Ira Miller, Jacqueline

                               Modiste (Hamilton)

               Absent:   William Brack, Brian Fitzgerald, Charles Goodman, Alexander

                               Korin, Laura Nelson

 

  1. There was an announcement that the Finance Committee has Josh Kiernan’s resignation.  The committee now has ten members.  There will be discussion whether the committee wants to have another member.  The committee received the vehicle roster update with current mileage.  The committee will meet in two weeks on August 15 with Ira Miller as Chair for the meeting.  Trying to get Peter Kenney with Ben Puritz to attend.

 

  1. The first item on the agenda was an appointment with Susan Price and Eli Hauser of the Planning Board.  Potentially there were six articles.  Four deal with Post Office Square.  They are largely the amendments that were brought last fall.  Now broken into sections.

 

  1. Susan Price stated that so many things have to deal with waste water.  Divided into four potential articles and what people will accept.  Some changes according to comments.  Article for Scenic Roads and Lot Shape and making one section stricter.

 

  1. Susan Price divided previous Warrant Article into four articles.  (1)  Site Plan.  One question was building density of apartments.  Briefly, how density was controlled.  Minimum lot area requirement of 2,000 sq. ft.  21 developments per acre.  Change was to increase to 2,200 sq. ft.  Increase density by 2 units per acre.

 

  1. Eli Hauser stated that the creation of stores at ground level and apartments or offices above to encourage that type of development and allow for grants to state.

 

  1. There was much discussion regarding the Site Plan article.

 

  1. The next article was (2)  Affordable Housing.  Additional standards for Business District A.  That details an inclusionary house.  A minimum of 8 or 12 will be affordable.

 

  1. Eli Hauser stated that if this was in place, it is insurance to keep pace with development.

 

  1. The next article was (3).  Dimensional Standards.  Currently in terms of front yard set back.  An available standard which is supposed to be used in Business District A.  The Planning Board was trying to make that new buildings move forward.  Get away from sidewalk parking lot.  As part of that, the Planning Board had decided not to change maximum building height.  Three stories, 45 ft., allowing architectural.

 

  1. The next article was (4)  Parking.  In terms of fourth article, off-street parking.  Identification of parking.  The current standards are excessive.  Tried to get shared parking with bank, they didn’t want to share.  The same requirement on small property as Shaw’s Plaza.

 

  1. There was considerable discussion on these four articles, especially waste water.

 

  1.  The next article was Lot Shape.  Some lots divided so it ends up with a long skinny tail.  The Planning Board was trying to avoid this.

 

  1. There was some discussion on this article.

 

  1. First four articles and the lot shape article require two-thirds vote.

 

  1. The next article was Scenic Route.  Scenic Route not zoning issue.  Alice Cheyer brought up to be town meeting issue.

 

  1. Susan Price reported that this was contained in general by-laws.  Not listed as section in general by-laws.  Echo state scenic routes.  Someone wants to cut down a tree of certain size or remove historic stone wall.  There is no violation if they don’t have hearing about it.  This contains penalties.  It doesn’t amend scenic road.  It would add in Article 11 details with penalties for violating those regulations.

 

  1. Alice Cheyer stated that the statute says you can have penalties up to $300.  To make penalty have to bring to Town Meeting for violating regulation.

 

  1. There was some discussion on the Scenic Route article.

 

  1. The next meeting will be August 15.

 

  1. A MOTION was made by Arnold Cohen and SECONDED by Ira Miller to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining strategy at the conclusion of which we will adjourn.

 

  1. VOTED:  4-0-0.  For:  Cohen, Lessard, Miller, Modiste.

 

  1. Adjourn Open Session at 9:15 p.m.