TOWN OF PALMER
Planning Board Meeting Minutes
November 30, 2009, 7:00 pm,
Town Administration Building, Meeting Room.
Chairman Michael Marciniec called the meeting of the Planning Board to order at
7:00 PM. Present were members Norman Czech, Diane France and Thomas Skowyra. Also present were Town Planner Linda Leduc and Principal Clerk Mary Watson recording the minutes. Member J.Haley, Jr., was absent.
There were no public hearings scheduled.
Subdivision Approval Not Required (SANR)-for the property located at 78 Stimson Street, Thorndike.
Present were the owners Gaston and Donna LaFleur.
G.LaFleur stated that he owns #78 Stimson Street and the adjoining lot #80 Stimson Street and is moving the property line twenty-two feet in order to build a garage.
L.Leduc asked why the Site Plan does not incorporate the adjoining lot into the easement.
G.LaFleur stated that the Site Plan has already been completed. He would have done so had he been advised by his engineer and did not want to pay for a new plan and delay the approval.
A motion was made by N.Czech to approve the SANR for 78 Stimson Street, Thorndike. D.France seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
Meeting Minutes of November 16, 2009-A motion was made by N.Czech to approve the minutes as amended. D.France seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
Conservation Commission Notice of Intent- The Board reviewed the Conservation Commission Notice of Intent for Leon Lambert whose property is located at 232 Flynt Street, Palmer.
T.Skowyra stated that address is incorrect on the cover letter.
A motion was made by N.Czech acknowledging receipt of the Notice of Intent for Leon Lamber of 232 Flynt Street and to have Donald Frydryk of Sherman and Frydryk Land Surveying and Engineering revised the cover letter with the correct address. D.France seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
EECBG application update-L.Leduc provided the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant applications (EECBG) to the Board for their review.
L.Leduc stated that the town is submitting the application with the help from the Energy Committee for approximately $ 144,000.00 and has requested assistance with a new boiler at Converse Middle School, a pool cover at the Palmer High School, a new boiler at the Town Administration Building and a solar hot water project at the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP).
The application deadline is December 7.
The second application requests technical assistance of up to $ 50,000.00. The towns application requests assiatance in the two available categories, specifically an owner’s agent who would assist the town in contract negotiations with an Energy Services Company (ESCo) and engineering technical assistance to assist the town with additional analysis (ie. structural and hydrologic) regarding the Solar Hot Water project on the Waste Water Treatment Plant. There would be no capital investment committed by the town. Additionally, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) has conducted the procurement process, in which L.Leduc was also involved, to choose an ESCo to serve the region, currently consisting of thirteen communities.
L.Leduc stated that if technical assistance is granted and Palmer decides to move forward with a performance contract the town would receive much needed contractual and legal guidance on how to best move forward with an ESCo, first for a Preliminary Audit, and then to an Investment Grade Audit (IGA). The Preliminary Audit is conducted at no cost but signing on to an IGA would involve a contractual obligation and require the payment of a “break-up fee” if the town chooses not to continue with the performance contact after the IGA is performed.
Discussions were held regarding the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code Appendix 120AA. This stretch code was developed in response to the call for improved local building energy efficiency in the state.
L.Leduc stated that one of the benefits to becoming a Green Community is that the town would qualify for future grant rounds of up to $10 Million annually to fund municipal energy efficiency and renewable power projects.
Wireless Shot Clock-L.Leduc provided the Board with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) release of an order establishing a shot clock for zoning authorities to act on wireless facilities siting applications.
Turn Pike Light - M.Marciniec stated he received a call from Michael Mageira regarding the light at the turnpike causing a traffic delay.
M.Marciniec stated he attended the Town Council meeting two weeks ago in which this complaint was discussed. The recommendation from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), who was contracted by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) to do the traffic study, was to change the timing of the traffic light. However, it was discussed at the Town Council meeting that this may cost approximately $ 15,000-$20,000 to delay the traffic light.
A-1 Transmission - L.Leduc discussed A1 Transmission located on Thorndike Street and the recent complaint from Ronald Masnicki of 40 Lawrence Street, Palmer regarding the large piles of earth stockpiled at the site.
Members of the Palmer Conservation Commission recently visited the site since the piles are being stockpiled near the stream in the buffer zone. The PCC witnessed two screeners on the site and processing has been occurring.
A motion was made by N.Czech to send a letter to the Zoning Enforcement Officer and copied to the Town Manager and Ronald Masnicki. T.Skowyra seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
Letter from R.B. Enterprises-was received on November 30 requesting to extend their crushing approval for the gravel pit located on River Street, Palmer.
The Board discussed the letter being received on the day of the meeting and not on the Wednesday before per the new agenda policy.
A motion was made by D.France to allow the letter from R.B. Enterprises to be on the agenda. N.Czech seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
A motion was made by D.France to extend the crushing approval until December 18, 2009 for R.B. Enterprises gravel pit located on River Street, Palmer. T.Skowyra seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
Discussions were held regarding the January meeting dates and the upcoming hearings.
7:53 PM-A motion was made by T.Skowyra to adjourn. D.France seconded. The vote passed (4:0).
James Haley, Jr., Clerk
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