HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-21 Board of Selectmen Executive Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN EXECUTIVE MINUTES October 21,2002
EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Executive Session convened at 7:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Smedile, Chairman;Wendy Wakeman; Donald
Stewart; Susan Haltmaier; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli,Assistant Town Manager. James
Xenakis was not present at executive session.
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Susan Haltmaier, to move into Executive Session to
discuss a land acquisition. Vote approved 4-0.
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted unanimously to move into Executive
Session. Vote approved 4-0.
Land Acquisition:
The Town Manager stated that the Department of Public Works recommended that the Town acquire by
eminent domain a parcel of land of 53,250 square feet adjacent to the water treatment plant(WTP)
located on Great Pond Road for future expansion of the WTP to accommodate future growth in the Town.
Acquiring the land now will preclude future development on the land as well as insure against future land
price increases. Efforts to negotiate a sale with the current owner have been unsuccessful. In order to
accomplish this, the Board may want to consider including this in the warrant for a vote at Town Meeting.
The Town previously commissioned two appraisals on the land with a value between$18,000 and
$30,000 if the original parcel was not sub-dividable into two building lots, or$240,000 in the event that the
original parcel was sub-dividable and the Town's taking prevented that from occurring. Should a decision
be made to place this article on the warrant, it should be done in the open portion of the agenda when the
^ Board discusses articles to be placed on the December 9,2002 Special Town Meeting warrant.
Thomas Urbelis,Town Counsel, stated that this land would be priced at the date of the taking, but this
could go to litigation and take up to five years before a settlement in court. Usually, a jury determines the
value of the land taken, and the Town would have to pay that amount plus interest. Another possible
option is that the Town could request an opinion from the Planning Department as to whether this land is
sub-dividable. That would give us insight to its valuation.
Susan Haltmaier made a MOTION,seconded by Donald Stewart, to obtain another opinion whether the
lot can be subdivided to better understand the maximum value of the property. Susan Haltmaier
withdrew her MOTION.
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to put the Land Acquisition article on
the warrant for Special Town Meeting on December 9, 2002. Vote approved 2-1-1. Wendy Wakeman
nay and Donald Stewart abstained.
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to set an amount of Thirty Thousand
Dollars ($30,000)to acquire the land. Vote approved 4-1. Wendy Wakeman nay.
ADJOURNMENT:
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to move out of Executive Session.
Vote approved 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Adele J. Johnson,Administrative Secretary