2026-08-11 - Select Board Meeting

Summary

Built from YouTube ASR auto-captions (no speaker labels; names and some details are approximate). Michael Kavorkian read announcements, including the DCRSD school committee's July 29 vote to hold a special district-wide election on September 20 for a capital loan authorization. In open forum, a resident of Brookville Road raised traffic, parking and possible unlicensed-alcohol problems from an August 1 event at 508 International; the board agreed to add it to a future agenda (September, to give time to gather facts) and to send the owners notice. Kathy Jolliker updated the board on the Keep Charlton Beautiful committee: the family that owns Ted's package store will install nip-collection bins at all four Charlton liquor retailers and donate $250 each time a bin fills, up to $10,000 a year; she also confirmed the board had already sent her requested letter on expanding the bottle bill.

The board approved the July 7 minutes, affirmed the highway laborer appointment of Anthony D. Bonaventura (recommended by Nick Peele's interview panel), appointed three traffic constables through June 30, 2027, and accepted a Council on Aging resignation with regret. It held two National Grid/Verizon pole hearings (one joint pole on Bond Road; two midspan poles on Oxbow Road) and approved both unanimously; Karen Spiewak later asked to add shortening the pole-hearing notice text to a future agenda. Three Chapter 61B hearings followed: for St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church parcels on Gould Road (3.04 acres, map 10-B lot 2.7, and 2.77 acres, lot 2.6) the board unanimously voted not to exercise the town's right of first refusal.

The longest item was the Chapter 61 removal for about 77.8 acres on Young Road (Lorazziotis family / trust). Bill Lock of Bay Colony Properties asked the board to assign the town's right of first refusal to Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary, which he would fund in exchange for 30 percent of the land as a buffer for a planned industrial building on his roughly 200 acres in Oxford. David Singer said he would vote an absolute no on that approach (it would deprive the trust of a chance to sell directly and no agreement existed) and another member agreed. The buyer Pete Messier and financial partner Mark Rice described a plan for modest custom homes (perhaps four or five ANR lots on Davidson Road) with a large permanently protected area in partnership with the Charlton Heritage Preservation Trust, and said they have an executed purchase and sale agreement with the trust. The board closed the hearing and unanimously voted not to exercise the right of first refusal, letting the land go back to the trust to sell.

Other action items: awarded the 10 percent asphalt rubber surface treatment bid to All States Construction at $4.70 per square yard (single bid); voted to sell tax-title parcel 22B-A-1 on Hammond Hill Road after foreclosure (notice deadline September 4); approved the October 19, 2026 special town meeting date, opened the warrant and approved the fall town meeting calendar; and approved a letter to the Massachusetts Legislature urging implementation of the voter-approved state audit of the legislature. The Old Home Day committee (chair Kathleen Walker, awards chair Rebecca Burden) presented award nominees and event details for September 6, including the Declaration of Independence presentation. An agenda item on fees (likely David Singer's senior/veteran fee proposal, later taken up August 25) was postponed to the next meeting because its sponsor did not bring the fee list. Andrew Golas also announced job openings, an Eagle Scout Christmas village project, Reynolds Road reclaiming and paving dates, chip sealing roads, and an employee training day. The board set the next meeting for August 25 and voted by roll call to enter executive session (MGL 30A s.21(a)(1), discipline/complaints) with no return to open session expected.

Issues discussed: 508 International Event Complaints, DCRSD $11.1M School Capital Request, Young Road Chapter 61 Right of First Refusal, Gould Road Chapter 61B Removals - St. Mark Coptic Church, Keep Charlton Beautiful Nip Bin Program, Special Town Meeting Warrant - October 19, 2026

Transcript

00:04 | order. Welcome and to the Charlton
00:08 | Select Board meeting August 11th, 2026.
00:11 | The time is 6:30 p.m.
00:14 | 30 on Town Me Town Hall meeting room 1,
00:17 | 37 Main Street, Charlton, Mass. This
00:19 | meeting is being recorded and broadcast
00:21 | live by Charlton Cable Access TV on
00:24 | Spectrum TV channel 191 and recording
00:27 | available on YouTube channel for
00:29 | Charlton TV. Any member of the public
00:32 | who wishes to record this meeting must
00:34 | notify the chair. If we could all rise
00:37 | for pledge of allegiance.
00:42 | I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
00:44 | United States of America and to the
00:47 | republic for which it stands. One nation
00:50 | under God, indivisible, with liberty and
00:53 | justice for all.
00:59 | >> Okay. And
01:02 | Mike for announcements, please.
01:04 | >> Yes. Uh announcements for the select
01:06 | board meeting August 11th, 2026.
01:09 | The town hall will be closed on
01:10 | Thursday, August 13, 2026 for employee
01:14 | professional development and
01:15 | appreciation day. The last day to
01:18 | register to vote for the state primary
01:20 | on September 1st is Saturday, August
01:22 | 22nd from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the
01:24 | town's town clerk's office. Early voting
01:27 | in person hours can be found on the town
01:30 | clerk's website. At the senior center
01:33 | August 17th at 10:30 a.m. Talk on
01:36 | American Revolution part three with
01:38 | professor John Hubris. August 19th is pi
01:42 | the pite
01:44 | podiatry clinic by appointment. August
01:47 | 25th 3:30 monthly grief support group. A
01:51 | virtual design public hearing will be
01:53 | hosted on the Mass DOT website to
01:55 | present the design for the proposed
01:57 | project in Sturbridge and Charlton, Mass
01:59 | for the intersection improvements on
02:01 | Route 49 and Putnham Road, Walker Pond
02:04 | Road, and Route 20 on Wednesday, August
02:07 | 12th, 2026 at 7 p.m. The hearing will be
02:11 | hosted or a cancellation announcement
02:13 | posted at the
02:14 | massgov.org/division/events
02:16 | orgs highwayvents
02:20 | at the library. Summer reading wrapped
02:22 | up on Friday, August 7th. We had over,00
02:25 | participants of all ages this year. From
02:29 | August 24th through September 11th, we
02:31 | will be collecting arts and crafts
02:33 | materials, fabrics, yarn, paper,
02:36 | patterns, tools, beads, etc. for their
02:39 | third annual craft swap. Our very own
02:43 | popular craft supply swap will be back
02:45 | on Saturday, September 12th from 10:00
02:47 | a.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to
02:49 | come and take materials regardless of
02:51 | whether or not they donated. The police
02:53 | department is hosting a dog days of
02:55 | summer event on August 20th at 5:00 p.m.
02:58 | at Bay Path. At the DCRSD school
03:01 | committee meeting held on July 29th,
03:04 | 2026, they voted to hold a special
03:07 | district-wide election on September 20th
03:10 | for towns to consider a loan
03:11 | authorization vote for capital projects.
03:17 | >> Okay. [clears throat] Thank you, Mike.
03:19 | Um, it's time for open form. If anybody
03:22 | is here for open form, come forward.
03:28 | Two seconds.
03:29 | >> It'll be two seconds.
03:31 | >> Good evening.
03:33 | >> On August 1st, Saturday, August 1st, we
03:36 | had an event held at 508 on Brookville
03:38 | Road. That event led to traffic issues
03:41 | for the residents in town, cars parked
03:44 | on both sides of the road, uh numerous
03:47 | people walking to and from causing alarm
03:50 | in the area. I'd like to have a
03:52 | discussion further down the road with
03:54 | 508. an al alcohol may or may not have
03:57 | been served that day according to the
03:58 | website which would require a special
04:00 | alcohol license. So just want to get
04:02 | ahead of this before we have issues so
04:04 | that we did a large event in the future
04:06 | we know how to address it. There's good
04:08 | communication back and forth.
04:10 | >> Thank you for your time.
04:11 | >> What the um we want to request that as
04:14 | an agenda item for
04:15 | >> do we need to
04:18 | >> I think they should be present at least
04:19 | you can hear what happened or what how
04:21 | do we fix it so there's communication on
04:23 | both sides.
04:25 | Yeah, for the next meeting is
04:27 | >> make a motion to add it to the agenda
04:29 | for next meeting
04:30 | >> and send a request to the owners of 508
04:33 | to be present.
04:36 | >> Give them notice.
04:37 | >> Do we want the August meeting or the
04:38 | September meeting?
04:42 | >> If I could just
04:45 | kind of go with Karen on this one only
04:47 | because we also want to make sure and if
04:49 | we if we go to September like Karen
04:51 | mentioned that might give time
04:54 | So we don't meet and we don't have all
04:57 | the answers. Did this happen? Did that
04:59 | happen? Was alpha gives you guys time to
05:00 | get all that information and then we can
05:03 | have the conversation with all the
05:04 | answers in September.
05:06 | >> Do we know if they have more events
05:08 | scheduled between now and September?
05:11 | >> Maybe not to that scale. There's a bunch
05:13 | going on.
05:17 | >> Okay.
05:18 | >> So we also want No, no. We also want to
05:21 | reach out to him and find out when he's
05:22 | available also. Yes. And now so we give
05:24 | him more time.
05:26 | >> Okay.
05:26 | >> So I'll go with
05:30 | >> Thanks, D.
05:33 | >> So Mr. Chair, do we need to Nothing yet,
05:37 | but it'll just be
05:37 | >> just take that as a request.
05:40 | >> Hi, I'm Kathy Jolliker, 67 Sandersdale
05:43 | Road. I um was here in June talking
05:46 | about the Child and Earth Day roadside
05:49 | cleanup. I spoke with you guys and I
05:52 | just wanted to update you on the
05:54 | positive outcome. I'm thrilled and I I
05:57 | TK did not come to a meeting yesterday.
06:00 | I wanted to ask him how to pronounce his
06:01 | last name. So, I'm going to do the best
06:02 | I can. But I was thrilled that the
06:05 | Macowski family who owned Ted's package
06:07 | store was willing to install bin for
06:10 | buyers or roadside cleaners to discard
06:13 | nips at all four liquor retail locations
06:16 | in Charlton. The Macowski family has
06:19 | pledged to give the keep child and
06:20 | beautiful committee $250
06:23 | every time the bin is filled up to
06:26 | $10,000 a year as they had stated also
06:29 | at that um meeting. Um I am just ex
06:33 | that's an extremely generous offer and
06:35 | I'm thrilled. The bins however are just
06:40 | awaiting signage to be installed but
06:43 | their presence and statement are
06:46 | imminent. I will re revisit this board
06:49 | when and also posted on Facebook and you
06:53 | know our page on the town website when
06:56 | the um bins are installed. TK Ted's son
07:01 | also has become a member of the keep
07:02 | child and beautiful committee. Um, I
07:05 | would like to encourage others to become
07:08 | members also. So, we have different
07:10 | voices on that board. We meet once a
07:12 | month. Right now, it's every Tuesday at
07:15 | 4:30. TK is uh great for this committee
07:19 | because he can share his concerns for
07:22 | the earth from a younger viewpoint and
07:25 | has already shared that his three
07:26 | daughters are gung-ho on environmental
07:29 | issues.
07:31 | I had asked this committee when I was
07:34 | last here to send a letter to our state
07:35 | reps to let them know of our interest in
07:38 | bringing the vote to expand the bottle
07:41 | bill to the floor for a vote. I'm happy
07:44 | I was happy that you agreed. I
07:46 | understand that some members did not.
07:48 | They were opposed because they already
07:51 | recycled, I'm sure, through their trash
07:53 | hauler. So, increasing bottled deposits
07:57 | would be a financial hardship. But I do
08:00 | want to make a point.
08:02 | Since June, to make this point, I
08:05 | decided to clean roads that had not been
08:08 | registered to clean at the end of the
08:10 | April roadside cleanup. I cashed in $90
08:16 | from returnables uh and plenty of nips.
08:21 | That is 2,160
08:25 | bottles in litter.
08:27 | There was zero hardship for me. I never
08:30 | paid a nickel for any of those bottles.
08:34 | My point is that people are willing to
08:38 | clean roadside litter, supplementing
08:40 | their income, funding programs,
08:44 | providing scholarships while keeping
08:47 | recyclable materials out of our
08:50 | landfills.
08:51 | Charlton receives funds from various
08:54 | provisions, projects, policies, and
08:58 | events that promote reducing, reusing,
09:02 | and recycling. Those monies along with
09:05 | the generous donations expected from
09:08 | Teds will allow us to expand our efforts
09:12 | at keeping Charlton beautiful.
09:14 | Two projects worth mentioning.
09:17 | The keep beautiful committee has three
09:20 | planters. I don't think I mentioned
09:22 | these before, but I might have. Um, we
09:24 | have three planters that our members
09:26 | take care of. They're on the median
09:28 | across from child and optical and they
09:30 | really look beautiful this year. Um, we
09:33 | wanted to install planters in other
09:34 | areas of town to along with signage
09:38 | perhaps that suggest that passers by
09:40 | would keep our town litter free. We'll
09:43 | decide if that's something that we want
09:45 | to expand on depending on whether or not
09:48 | we have residents willing to care for
09:50 | the planters and if that's what people
09:51 | want with all this money we're going to
09:53 | be getting. Um we've also commissioned
09:57 | two young artists known as the
10:00 | resorcerers apprentice.
10:02 | They're going to be hosting a clothing
10:05 | upycling workshop at the Charlton
10:08 | Library. It's a beginner sewing,
10:11 | fashion, craft, mending themed event.
10:15 | Textile waste is a major environmental
10:19 | issue overfilling our landfills. Please
10:22 | check out the resourcer apprentice
10:25 | workshop on the keep chton beautiful
10:28 | Facebook page or the child earth page to
10:31 | register. as this event is not sponsored
10:34 | by the library but instead by keep
10:36 | challen beautiful. It's not listed on
10:39 | their um official calendar of events. I
10:42 | just want to say thank you again coming
10:44 | here was a really positive um
10:47 | circumstance and positive outcome and
10:50 | thank you.
10:51 | >> No fantastic. Thanks for the update.
10:53 | Yeah, it's really good news. It's such a
10:56 | good collaboration between local
10:58 | business and um I do have a question for
11:00 | you. Do you have a I'm assuming you have
11:03 | a booth at old home day?
11:05 | >> Yes.
11:05 | >> Are you at Old Home Day? We were also at
11:08 | um Blueberry Festival and people were
11:11 | really polite listening to me go off on
11:14 | the TEDs thanking Teds because I'm just
11:16 | so proud of it. Um and everybody that
11:20 | listened is ve very supportive of um
11:23 | this program. I'm hoping actually to
11:27 | present it to the keep Massachusetts
11:29 | Beautiful
11:31 | Alliance to possibly be a showcase for
11:35 | it and maybe get it started in other
11:37 | towns as well because people really and
11:39 | truly support
11:41 | >> especially the NIPS collection.
11:43 | >> Fantastic.
11:43 | >> Yeah.
11:44 | >> Fantastic.
11:45 | >> Thank you. You're the chair.
11:47 | >> Just uh Kathy had mentioned one thing is
11:49 | I don't have a question for you. Okay.
11:51 | Uh I don't recall what we what I thought
11:53 | we took an action to vote. I thought the
11:55 | majority of the board wanted to send the
11:57 | letter but um if we could look up what
11:59 | we decided
12:01 | was sent
12:03 | >> Oh, we did send it. Okay.
12:05 | >> Was a while ago. I just wanted to make
12:06 | sure that was done. Okay, perfect.
12:09 | >> Where where it went.
12:13 | >> All right. Thank you.
12:16 | >> Okay, that's it for nobody else for open
12:18 | forum. We will move on to
12:21 | Approval of the minutes. I would accept
12:23 | a motion to approve the minutes of July
12:24 | 7th, 2026.
12:27 | >> Second
12:28 | motion in a second. All in favor?
12:30 | >> I
12:30 | >> I
12:34 | >> appointments and resignations. Andrew.
12:37 | >> All right. First uh is to action is to
12:40 | affirm the highway labor appointment for
12:41 | Anthony D. Bonaventura.
12:44 | Interviews were conducted on July 9th,
12:46 | 2026 for the highway labor position by
12:49 | Nick Peele, Mark Oliver, and Lind Dyer.
12:51 | The recommendation is to appoint Anthony
12:53 | D. Bonaventura to the position pending a
12:57 | Corey background physical drug screen
12:59 | reference check as stated uh as
13:02 | recommended in his letter. The start
13:05 | date was August 3rd, 2026. The board was
13:08 | asked to sign a signatory appointment
13:10 | letter and to reaffirm his appointment
13:11 | this evening.
13:13 | Mr. Chair,
13:14 | >> motion. Yes.
13:15 | >> So moved.
13:17 | >> Second. Second.
13:18 | >> All in favor?
13:19 | >> I unanimous.
13:22 | >> All right. Next, we have the appointment
13:23 | of traffic constables. Uh, police chief
13:25 | Dow is asking the board to appoint the
13:27 | following as traffic constables till
13:28 | June 30th, 2027. Paul Russell, Natalie
13:32 | Stevens, and Kayla Dyke. I recommend the
13:34 | board make the appointments as
13:35 | requested.
13:38 | >> Second.
13:40 | >> Motion second. All in favor? I
13:42 | >> I unanimous.
13:44 | >> All right. And finally, we have a
13:45 | resignation from the Council on Aging.
13:47 | Attached is an email from Erlene Murray
13:49 | resigning from the Council on Aging
13:50 | effective July 29th, 2026. The board
13:53 | should accept her resignation and a
13:55 | letter thanking her for her services in
13:56 | your sign.
13:59 | >> Accept a motion to accept with regret.
14:03 | >> So moved.
14:04 | >> Second.
14:06 | >> In favor?
14:06 | >> I. Thank you for your service.
14:10 | We are right on time for our first poll
14:13 | hearing. Couple minutes late.
14:14 | >> All right. Uh attached, you'll find a
14:16 | request from Massachusetts Electric
14:17 | Company, DBA, National Grid, and
14:19 | Verizon, Inc. requesting to install
14:21 | permission to install one joint pole on
14:24 | Bomb Road for a new residential service.
14:26 | Also attached is the notice that was
14:28 | sent to the Abutters. This request has
14:30 | been forwarded and approved by both
14:32 | police chief and DPW superintendent. No
14:34 | comments or concerns have been received.
14:36 | The chairman should open the public
14:37 | hearing by reading the notice as sent to
14:39 | the abutters. I recommend the board
14:41 | approve their request.
14:46 | for the public hearing notice. The
14:47 | Charlton Select Board will hold a public
14:49 | hearing on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026 at
14:52 | 6:40 p.m., excuse me, [clears throat] in
14:54 | the Charlton Town Hall, meeting room 137
14:56 | Main Street, Charlton, Mass
14:59 | to act on a request from Mass Electric
15:01 | Company, DVA National Grid, Verizon, New
15:03 | England Incorporated, requesting
15:06 | permission to locate poles, wires,
15:07 | fixtures, including necessary sustaining
15:09 | and protecting fixtures along and across
15:13 | the following public way. Bond Road
15:16 | National Grid to install 1J pole on Bond
15:19 | Road beginning at point approximately
15:22 | 1679.52
15:24 | feet north of the center line of the
15:26 | intersection of Coen Road and Bond Road
15:28 | installing pole number 33-52
15:31 | in a public way for a new residential
15:34 | service. Anyone wishing to be heard on
15:36 | this matter should appear on this date
15:38 | and time specified or submit concerns in
15:41 | writing prior to the hearing.
15:45 | So, is is there anybody in the audience
15:48 | for this hearing?
16:00 | >> Hi, I'm Robert Williams. I'm with
16:01 | National Grid for the pull.
16:04 | >> Welcome back. Good to see you. Are there
16:07 | any other concerned residents in
16:18 | No questions. I just assume
16:22 | >> make motion to close the hearing.
16:24 | >> Motion to close the hearing.
16:28 | >> Motion and a second to close the
16:29 | hearing.
16:30 | >> Second. All in favor?
16:31 | >> I post. Okay. Moving on to
16:34 | [clears throat]
16:36 | >> I want to take a vote for Do I have a
16:38 | motion to accept
16:41 | the full installation?
16:42 | >> I would move for as recommended.
16:45 | >> Second in
16:46 | >> favor. I
16:57 | >> There you go.
16:59 | >> All right. Our 645 poll hearing is for
17:01 | Oxbow Road. Attach will find a request
17:03 | from Massachusetts electric company DBA
17:05 | National Grid and Verizon New England
17:07 | Inc. requesting permission to install
17:10 | two Jono poles on Oxbow Road as midspan
17:13 | poles for long O span of wires. Uh also
17:17 | attached is the notice that was sent to
17:18 | the abutters. This request has been
17:20 | forwarded and approved by both the
17:22 | police chief and DPW superintendent. No
17:24 | comments or concerns have been received.
17:26 | The chairman should open the public
17:28 | hearing by reading the notice as sent to
17:29 | the utters and I would recommend the
17:31 | board approve the request.
17:33 | >> Okay. Later on down the agenda, I'd like
17:36 | to add a an agenda [clears throat] item
17:37 | for the future that we shorten this
17:39 | paragraph on the public hearing notice
17:40 | for polls. So, but I'm going to read
17:42 | this here. Public hearing notice.
17:44 | Charlton Select Board will hold a public
17:46 | hearing on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026 at
17:49 | 6:45 p.m. The Charlton Town Hall meeting
17:52 | room 137 Main Street, Charlton Mass to
17:54 | act on a request Electric DBA National
17:57 | Grid Verizon New England Inc. requesting
18:00 | permission to locate poles wires
18:02 | fixtures including the necessary
18:04 | sustaining and protecting fixtures along
18:06 | and across the following public way.
18:09 | Oxboro Road National Grid to install two
18:12 | JO poles on Oxport Road, a beginning
18:14 | point approximately 258 ft from the
18:17 | center line or the intersection of
18:18 | Oxboro Road and Davidson Road and
18:21 | continuing approximately 175 ft in a
18:25 | west direction, installing BS 25-50 and
18:28 | 24-50
18:29 | as midspan pole for a long span of
18:34 | wires. Anyone wishing to be heard on
18:36 | this matter should appear on this date
18:38 | time specified and submit concerns in
18:41 | writing prior to the hearing.
18:44 | Is there anybody
18:47 | in the audience here on this public
18:48 | hearing?
18:52 | Hearing none,
18:54 | I would take a motion to close the
18:56 | public hearing.
18:57 | >> Move to approve as requested.
18:59 | >> Close the hearing.
19:01 | >> Motion to close the public hearing.
19:03 | >> Second.
19:04 | >> Second. All in favor?
19:05 | >> I
19:06 | >> I. Now a motion to vote.
19:07 | >> Move to approve as requested. Second.
19:10 | >> All in favor?
19:11 | >> I unanimous
19:13 | that
19:17 | >> 6.
19:19 | We've got We're a few minutes ahead
19:23 | for 650 meeting.
19:29 | >> Too far.
19:30 | >> I'll get right into it.
19:32 | >> Yeah.
19:32 | >> All right. 650 6 chapter 61 removal
19:36 | request for parcel ID 10-B-2.7
19:39 | G Road owned by St. Mark Coptic Op
19:42 | Coptic Orthodox Church attaches a
19:44 | request from Francis A. Nero Esquire on
19:47 | behalf of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox
19:49 | Church requesting to remove from chapter
19:52 | 61B approximately 3.04 4 acres of land
19:55 | as shown on assessor's map 10 uh map 10,
19:59 | block B, lot 2.7 located on Gould Road.
20:04 | The planning board, board of assessors,
20:06 | conservation commission, and water sewer
20:08 | commission have all reviewed the request
20:09 | and have no objection to the town
20:11 | choosing not to exercise their right of
20:12 | first refusal for this request. The
20:15 | chairman should open the public hearing
20:16 | by reading the attached public hearing
20:17 | notice, and I'd recommend the board not
20:20 | exercise the right of first refusal for
20:22 | this property.
20:23 | Public hearing notice. Please be advised
20:25 | the Charlton Select Board will hold a
20:27 | public hearing on Tuesday, August 11th,
20:29 | 2026,
20:30 | 6:50 p.m. the Charlton Tallen Hall
20:32 | meeting room 137 Main Street, Charlton,
20:35 | Mass 01507
20:37 | on an act request by Frank Nero, Esquire
20:40 | in behalf of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox
20:42 | Church, who intends to sell land
20:44 | consists of approximately 3.04 acres for
20:48 | other use located on Gold Road as shown
20:51 | on assessor's map. 10-B 2.7 and record
20:55 | in Worcester District Registry of Deeds,
20:58 | book 19160, page 94. Anyone interested
21:01 | in this should appear at the date and
21:03 | time specified or submit concerns in
21:05 | writing prior to the hearing.
21:08 | So, is there anyone here to in the
21:10 | audience for this hearing?
21:14 | >> We did not receive any concerns or
21:15 | writing relative to this request.
21:18 | >> Okay. I would ex um accept a motion to
21:22 | close the public hearing.
21:22 | >> Move to close the public hearing.
21:25 | >> Second.
21:25 | >> Second. All in favor?
21:27 | >> I.
21:28 | >> And then following Andrews, I would
21:30 | accept a motion not to exercise
21:33 | our right of first refusal to the
21:35 | property.
21:36 | >> So moved.
21:38 | >> Second.
21:39 | >> All in favor?
21:40 | >> I.
21:40 | >> I.
21:42 | >> Okay. Moving right ahead. Right down
21:44 | here. Now we are on our next one. We are
21:48 | five minutes ahead of that one. So would
21:49 | you like me to jump down to some of the
21:50 | action items?
21:53 | All right.
21:57 | Um, first action just to take a little
22:00 | bit of time here.
22:01 | >> All right. Go ahead. Which one?
22:03 | >> Uh, first action item. Uh, 10% asphalt
22:06 | rubber surface treatment of various
22:07 | streets bid award. Bids were open and
22:10 | read for the 10% asphalt rubber surface
22:12 | treatment of various streets. On July
22:14 | 8th, 2026 at 10 a.m. One bid was
22:18 | received. DPW Superintendent Peele
22:20 | reviewed the bid and is recommending the
22:22 | board award the bid to All States
22:24 | Construction Inc. in the amount of $4.70
22:27 | cents per square yard. I'd recommend the
22:30 | board approve the bid as requested.
22:32 | [snorts]
22:34 | >> Motion to approve [clears throat] the
22:35 | bid as requested.
22:38 | >> Second.
22:39 | >> All in favor?
22:40 | >> Ianous.
22:44 | >> All right. Our next item is uh for
22:47 | requested action on tax title property
22:49 | uh 22B- A-1 on Hammond Hill Road. So on
22:53 | July 6th, the town received foreclosure
22:56 | judgment involving the property on
22:58 | Hammond Hill Road, parcel 22B-
23:02 | A-1.
23:03 | The new [clears throat] tax title law
23:05 | requires the town to take specific steps
23:07 | after the judgment enters. The town has
23:10 | 60 days after judgment is entered to
23:12 | notify the former owner and former
23:14 | interest holder um that the town will
23:17 | either be retaining the property for
23:19 | municipal purposes or selling the
23:21 | property. The town has a deadline of
23:23 | Friday, September 4th, 2026 to issue
23:26 | notice to the former interested holders
23:28 | of uh of the town's decision on
23:31 | retaining or selling the property. I
23:33 | provided an overview of u the process
23:35 | either for retaining or selling the
23:38 | property. Uh because the property
23:41 | properties are now town owned, the
23:42 | decision as to whether to retain or sell
23:45 | should be made through a vote of the
23:46 | board. After uh internally reviewing the
23:49 | property, I'd recommend that the board
23:50 | vote to sell the property after
23:52 | foreclosure.
23:53 | >> So move second.
23:57 | >> All in favor?
23:58 | >> I unanimous.
24:04 | >> All right. Our next one in there.
24:05 | >> Yeah, get one more. All right. Next item
24:08 | will be to open the special town meeting
24:09 | board for October 19th, 2026 and approve
24:12 | the calendar. We have scheduled the
24:15 | special town meeting for Monday, October
24:17 | 19th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at Charlton
24:20 | Middle School. I would ask the board to
24:22 | approve the date and open the warrant.
24:25 | We have confirmed that the date is
24:26 | available with Charleton Middle School
24:27 | as well as town clerk, town council,
24:29 | finance committee, and the moderator.
24:31 | Also attached is the calendar for the
24:33 | fall town meeting for the board's
24:34 | approval.
24:38 | You have a motion to open some
24:40 | >> motion to open the warrant and schedule
24:42 | the meeting for the 19th of October.
24:44 | >> Second on that.
24:45 | >> And do we have to approve the calendar
24:47 | as it is too?
24:48 | >> You had one.
24:50 | >> Yeah, I think all three things, right?
24:52 | >> If you want to make that as a singular
24:53 | motion, that's
24:56 | >> so what David said plus approving the uh
24:58 | the calendar as listed.
25:01 | >> Do you want to read the calendar?
25:04 | Sure, no problem. So, uh, our procedure
25:08 | on this will be that on Tuesday, August
25:10 | 11, 2026, the board will open the
25:12 | special town meeting. Welcome. Um, on
25:16 | Wednesday, August 19th, 2026, the
25:18 | finance committee will review and
25:19 | prioritize their CA draft capital plan.
25:23 | On Tuesday, September 8th, the board of
25:25 | selectment will close and review the
25:26 | draft special town meeting requests. On
25:30 | Wednesday, September 16th, the finance
25:32 | committee will discuss, review, and
25:33 | approve the capital plan and financial
25:36 | items. On Tuesday, September 22nd, the
25:39 | board of selecting finance committee
25:40 | will finalize the special town meeting
25:42 | war with and motions. And by Thursday, A
25:46 | October 1st, 2026, the meeting will be
25:48 | posted with the town clerk with the
25:49 | special town meeting on October 19th.
25:55 | >> Mr. Chair, I'll amend my motion to match
25:57 | her second. Okay, second. So, all in
26:00 | favor?
26:00 | >> I
26:04 | [snorts]
26:06 | 655.
26:07 | >> And we are to [clears throat]
26:11 | >> All right. 6:55 p.m. Chapter 61 removal
26:14 | request parcel ID 10-B-2.6
26:18 | G Road owned by St. Mark Coptic Orthodox
26:21 | Church. Attaches a request from Francis
26:23 | A. Nero, Esquire on behalf of St. Mark
26:26 | Coptic Orthodox Church. requesting to
26:28 | remove from chapter 61B approximately
26:30 | 2.77 acres of land as shown on
26:33 | assessor's map 10, block B, lot 2.6
26:37 | located on Gould Road. The planning
26:40 | board, board of assessors, conservation
26:41 | commission, and water sewer commission
26:43 | have all reviewed the request and have
26:44 | no objection to the town of Charleton
26:46 | choosing not to exercise the right of
26:47 | first refusal. For this request,
26:50 | chairman should open the public hearing
26:51 | by reading the attached public hearing
26:53 | notice. I would recommend the board not
26:54 | exercise the right of first refusal on
26:56 | this property.
26:58 | >> Okay. [clears throat] The public hearing
26:59 | notice. Please be advised that the chton
27:01 | select board will hold a public meeting
27:03 | hearing on Tuesday,
27:05 | August 11th, 2026 at 7 p.m. at the Chton
27:08 | Town Hall, meeting room 137 Main Street,
27:10 | Child Mass 01507
27:12 | to act on a request by James Armeni,
27:16 | attorney at law on behalf of Helen
27:18 | >> Rosari.
27:23 | Wrong nose.
27:25 | Shake that. Reverse it.
27:28 | >> Scratch that.
27:29 | >> Yeah.
27:40 | >> I was I was on a roll, too, though.
27:41 | [laughter]
27:42 | >> I thought I almost had it memorized. I
27:44 | didn't even need my glasses. Yeah, I
27:46 | know. All right. Here we go. All right.
27:47 | Are you sure? [laughter]
27:49 | >> All right. Public hearing notice.
27:51 | >> Please be advised the Charlton Select
27:53 | Board will hold a public hearing on
27:54 | Tuesday, August 11th, 2026 at 6:55 p.m.
27:58 | at the Charlton Town Hall, meeting room
28:00 | 137 Main Street, Charlton, Mass, 01507
28:04 | to act on a request from Frank Nero,
28:06 | Esquire on behalf of St. Mark Coptic
28:08 | Orthodox Church, who intends to sell
28:10 | land which consists of approximately
28:12 | 2.77 acres of other use located on Gold
28:16 | Road as shown on assessor's map. 10-B2.6
28:23 | as recorded in the Worester District
28:25 | Registry of Deeds book 989 Plan 2.
28:28 | Anyone interested should appear the date
28:30 | time specified or submit concerns in
28:32 | writing prior to the hearing. And is
28:35 | there anybody in the audience for this
28:37 | public hearing?
28:40 | Seeing none, then we have no no nothing
28:44 | submitted.
28:47 | Okay,
28:47 | >> make a motion to close the public
28:49 | hearing. Second.
28:51 | >> All in favor?
28:52 | >> I unanimous and then we'll take a vote
28:54 | to not exercise our right of first
28:56 | refusal.
28:59 | >> Second.
29:00 | >> All in favor?
29:01 | >> I unanous.
29:05 | We're getting the hang of this.
29:10 | two minutes. Would you like to jump to
29:11 | the next one or another uh action item?
29:19 | The um
29:23 | >> another action item.
29:24 | >> Take one more action item. Okay.
29:27 | >> So, the letter to Mass Legislature.
29:30 | >> Sure. Um, at the board's last meeting,
29:32 | resident Bonnie Cipher came forward and
29:34 | asked the board to send a letter to the
29:36 | Massachusetts legislature urging
29:38 | legislative leadership to implement the
29:40 | independent audit of the legislature by
29:42 | the state auditor that the Massachusetts
29:44 | voters approved in November of 2024.
29:47 | After discussion, the board requested to
29:48 | add this as an agenda item for tonight's
29:50 | meeting. A copy of the letter is
29:52 | attached for the board's review and
29:53 | approval.
29:56 | >> Okay.
29:58 | >> I'd like to make a motion we approve
30:00 | this letter and send it off.
30:03 | >> Have a second.
30:04 | >> Second.
30:05 | >> Any discussion on that or
30:08 | >> anybody in the a anyone in the audience
30:10 | want Well, we haven't voted yet. We
30:11 | haven't voted yet.
30:12 | >> We didn't vote yet.
30:13 | >> What What's the percentage again? I
30:14 | can't I can't quite see that without my
30:16 | glasses.
30:17 | >> Um
30:18 | >> I just want to add to it that Paul Frost
30:21 | openly supported that as well.
30:24 | >> Yeah, you know, in our that's Thank you
30:27 | for that. And that's both of our state
30:29 | reps and our state senators have been
30:32 | supporting this. The town supported it.
30:34 | Um
30:35 | it's always good to remind the state
30:37 | house I suppose and can't hurt. So good
30:39 | job on this putting it together and
30:41 | going through that and going through the
30:43 | patience of our policies.
30:56 | >> Yeah.
30:57 | Yeah. Let's hope it lands on on positive
31:00 | ears. So, we have a motion.
31:03 | >> We'll vote on that.
31:05 | >> Vote.
31:06 | >> We don't.
31:07 | >> We didn't vote.
31:08 | >> We don't vote on the letter.
31:10 | >> No, we don't vote on the letter. All in
31:11 | favor?
31:12 | >> I. Unanimous. Excellent.
31:16 | >> Thank you.
31:17 | >> Thank you.
31:17 | >> Thank you.
31:18 | >> Thanks for your work on this.
31:21 | >> All right. It being 7 o' we have a
31:24 | chapter 620 removal request for a young
31:26 | road parcels ID 21-
31:31 | A-9
31:33 | and 22-B1
31:36 | attaches a request from James Mer
31:39 | attorney at law on behalf of Helen var
31:41 | roarizeritis
31:44 | individually and individually and as
31:47 | trustee of the Helen varoseritis
31:49 | revocable trust of 2011 dated August
31:54 | 11th, 2011.
31:56 | Gene laoseritis, Khalil Lar Roeritis
31:59 | individually and Clear Rosaritis as
32:02 | personal representatives of the estate
32:04 | of Suzanne Loroseritis to remove
32:07 | approximately 77.8 acres of land on a
32:10 | young road as shown on assessor's map
32:13 | 22-9
32:16 | and 22-B2-1.
32:21 | The uh planning board, board of
32:23 | assessors, conservation commission, and
32:25 | water sewer commission have all reviewed
32:27 | the request and have no objection to the
32:29 | town of Charlton choosing not to
32:30 | exercise their right of first refusal
32:32 | for this request. As stated in the
32:35 | proposed use statement attached, the
32:37 | buyer's intent for the land include
32:39 | creating residential development
32:41 | consisting of single family homes. They
32:43 | also intend to restore Texas Road, which
32:45 | was once used as an old car road.
32:47 | According to the submitt, the buyers
32:49 | have met with the board of the Charlton
32:50 | Heazard Heritage Preservation Land Trust
32:53 | to collaborate ideas for creating a
32:55 | residential neighborhood and creating
32:57 | green spaces and walking trails while
32:59 | leaving as many old growth trees as
33:01 | possible. On July 22nd, 2026, we
33:05 | received correspondence from Bill
33:06 | Lockach from Bay Colony Properties
33:09 | asking the board to assign the right of
33:10 | first refusal to Cape Hill Nature
33:13 | Sanctuary. Mr. L states that his company
33:16 | would underwrite the purchase of the
33:17 | property for Cape Hill in exchange for
33:19 | Cape Hill would transfer 30% to Bay
33:22 | Colony Properties. Mr. Lock has stated
33:25 | through the correspondence that the that
33:27 | their primary interest is to create a
33:28 | buffer to the west of industrial
33:30 | building they are planning on land they
33:32 | own in Oxford. The chairman should open
33:34 | the public hearing by reading the
33:35 | attached public hearing notice.
33:38 | >> Public hearing [clears throat] notice.
33:40 | Please be advised the child select board
33:42 | will hold a public meeting on public
33:43 | hearing on Tuesday August 11th 2026 at 7
33:46 | pm the child and town hall meeting room
33:48 | one 37 main street mass 01507
33:52 | to act on a request by James or mei
33:55 | attorney of law on behalf of Helen
33:58 | Loieties
34:00 | individually and as trustee of the Helen
34:02 | v loadies reckable
34:07 | re revocable trust on 2011
34:10 | UDT dated August 11th, 2011. Jane
34:13 | Laorazziottis Cahill Laurazziadis
34:16 | individually in Cahill
34:18 | Razi as personal representative of the
34:21 | estate of Susan Lorziottis of their
34:23 | intent to sell and convey the forestry
34:26 | for residential development use under
34:28 | MDL C61-61.
34:34 | Approximately 77.8 8 acres of
34:36 | undeveloped land on a young road located
34:38 | in Charlton Processors parcel 21A-9
34:43 | and 22B-1.
34:45 | Anyone interested should appear at the
34:48 | date and time specified or submit
34:50 | concerns in writing prior to the
34:51 | hearing.
34:53 | Is there anybody in the audience for
34:55 | this hearing?
34:57 | There were several people. Please um
35:00 | >> he had his hand up first if you want.
35:03 | >> All right. If you want to come up front
35:04 | and
35:15 | >> say your name and company in here,
35:16 | Chris, I don't believe you're you're not
35:17 | from town. So,
35:20 | >> property
35:22 | [clears throat] live in Bill Lock L.
35:26 | Name of company is Balling Properties.
35:32 | Okay.
35:34 | Do you have any comments to to
35:37 | >> Okay, thank you asking questions. Um,
35:39 | >> no. As Andrew mentioned, we are
35:41 | interested in creating a buffer uh to
35:45 | the west of the uh 200 acres that we own
35:48 | in Oxford that we're planning to do an
35:50 | industrial building on. Um
35:54 | we today we submitted a signed letter a
35:58 | formal letter signed by myself and Capen
36:01 | Hill you know asking the board to assign
36:03 | the
36:05 | uh right to purchase to Capen Hill we
36:08 | will fund it uh we will take 30% of the
36:11 | land capable Capen Hill will have 70%.
36:14 | the 30% that we would take would be on
36:16 | the eastern side. We would attach it to
36:20 | um you know the land that we own in
36:22 | Oxford. And our intention um we haven't
36:26 | publicly publicly announced plans for
36:29 | the building in Oxford yet, but similar
36:31 | to the Kazowski property, it's on a hill
36:34 | in the middle of the hill to the west
36:36 | and to the east of the hill a
36:38 | significant slope. So there'll be the
36:40 | size of the site is 200 acres. We're
36:42 | probably going to use about 80 and
36:44 | there'll probably be another 120 or so
36:47 | left as open space to the east and the
36:49 | west of the building. Access would be
36:51 | through Route 20 and the Boulder
36:53 | Industrial Park. The land that we would
36:56 | um acquire from the Capen Hill people
37:00 | would be um
37:02 | uh to the to the west of the you know
37:05 | 100 acres that we're not using. Um, we
37:08 | haven't agreed with Capen Hill to make a
37:10 | financial donation to support the
37:12 | operation of the property, but that's
37:14 | our intention, similar to what we did,
37:16 | you know, with Capen Hill over in the
37:17 | Amazon project, you know, on on Route
37:20 | 20. Um, I would also add that in the
37:24 | last few days I've been contacted by the
37:26 | broker for the Lozeritises as well as
37:28 | the buyer, Pete Messier, and we've had
37:30 | discussions about splitting the property
37:33 | up and allowing him to take the land on
37:36 | the western portion of the property to
37:38 | build houses on and for us to take a
37:40 | portion of the eastern land. We haven't
37:42 | u um they they've not done extensive
37:47 | planning yet. We don't we have an old
37:49 | topo that we have when we started
37:50 | working on the Oxford project three four
37:52 | years ago. Um we didn't have it handy.
37:55 | We're expecting it to get to get in in
37:57 | the next couple days. And we're
37:59 | anticipating that we could have reached
38:01 | an agreement with Pete, you know, to
38:02 | split the land up accordingly and uh and
38:06 | have him build, you know, on the western
38:08 | portion and have us preserve the um you
38:11 | know, the eastern portion. Um I met with
38:14 | Pete. He's a he's a young guy. He's a
38:16 | gogetter. He's a good guy. He lives in
38:18 | the neighborhood. We don't He's He
38:21 | actually tried to buy several parcels
38:23 | that we subsequently bought that are in
38:26 | Charlton and Oxford. The Quinsey Trust
38:27 | piece, which which is uh fronts on the
38:30 | Turnpike, about 2,000 ft of frontage on
38:32 | the Turnpike, it's owned residential.
38:34 | And then the two pieces below it between
38:37 | Old Texas Road and Old Charlton Road,
38:39 | the Miller parcels, which we bought. He
38:42 | tried to get both of them but couldn't
38:44 | get access to them, you know, for his
38:46 | purposes. So, he's been trying hard to
38:48 | get, you know, a project going in this.
38:50 | He lives on either Priscilla or
38:52 | Davidson, I forget which. He's he's got
38:54 | a couple young kids. He's trying to get
38:55 | his business going. And um, you know, we
38:59 | don't want to just callously come in and
39:01 | and preclude this opportunity from him.
39:04 | So, we're optimistic that we can work
39:05 | together and work something out.
39:07 | >> We just But you haven't worked that out
39:09 | yet, right? Well, we just got we're
39:12 | seeing we're seeing some conflicting
39:13 | emails over the maybe maybe it's maybe
39:16 | better move to let the gentleman behind
39:18 | you go and then
39:19 | >> Sure.
39:19 | >> I have the I have the question though.
39:21 | >> Yeah. Can I just say one more thing
39:23 | before I get the um
39:24 | >> we just got notice of this uh a couple
39:27 | weeks ago. So the notice was filed on
39:30 | May 26th.
39:32 | >> As Andrew and Mary can attest, I've
39:34 | probably stopped by town hall 10 times
39:36 | over the past couple years since it
39:38 | filed filed. Is it filed? We've hired a
39:41 | chapter 61 attorney who specializes in
39:43 | this to assist us and they will also
39:45 | work with Capen Hill. So, I apologize
39:47 | for the last minute nature of this and
39:49 | the correspondence, but um but we're
39:52 | working on it as fast as we can.
39:54 | >> Is there a reason you haven't gone
39:55 | public with what's going to be built in
39:57 | Oxford?
39:58 | >> Uh Mike, it's a crazy reason. One of the
40:02 | parcels that we agreed to buy uh was
40:05 | sold by the town of Oxford at a tax
40:08 | auction. It was bought by Rick Hill, a
40:10 | concrete guy over in Boulder Industrial
40:11 | Park. His plan was to do storage units
40:14 | on the eastern half and to sell the
40:16 | western half of it to us to and to our
40:18 | parcel. He went into the town and the
40:21 | town rejected his storage plan because
40:23 | the Boulder Industrial Park is a
40:26 | condominium trust and he didn't own the
40:28 | land under it. So technically he had no
40:31 | uh right to own the land. So we bought
40:33 | the industrial park to solve the access
40:35 | of the land access issue. Then when his
40:38 | surveyor went to close the boundaries on
40:41 | the on the property, he couldn't close
40:43 | them knowing that we had we've purchased
40:45 | I think 13 or 14 parcels in Oxford and
40:48 | in Charleton that the building that
40:51 | we're referring to would be completely
40:52 | in Oxford. It wouldn't be in Charlton.
40:54 | [snorts] Um he couldn't close the
40:56 | boundary. So we asked our survey and
40:58 | McClo to look at it and he said the
41:00 | reason you can't close the boundary is
41:02 | that a lady named Khloe Taft in 1888
41:05 | bought the property and it hasn't been
41:06 | sold since. So it's taken us three years
41:10 | to resolve the purchase of that property
41:12 | and a month ago we successfully
41:14 | purchased it from the heirs of the uh
41:16 | the Taff family.
41:17 | >> So it took a long time to unwind. So,
41:20 | now that we've got that piece, that that
41:22 | piece basically blocked our access to uh
41:24 | Boulder Park for the second driveway
41:26 | that we need. You need two driveways
41:28 | when you build these big buildings, you
41:30 | know, one for truck, one for cars,
41:32 | similar to what we did down here. Um, so
41:35 | that's why we have it. But now that
41:36 | we've got that done, we're, you know,
41:38 | full speed ahead and we hope to submit
41:39 | for permits in the next 60 days.
41:43 | >> So, the land that you buy, let's just
41:45 | say you buy from us, that would be just
41:47 | a buffer zone.
41:48 | >> Yeah. Thomas.
41:50 | >> Yes.
41:50 | >> Yeah.
41:52 | >> Um [clears throat] if if I may, and I
41:54 | don't know how it's going to go tonight,
41:56 | but if we do vote on this tonight, I can
41:58 | tell you already I'm going to be an
41:59 | absolute no.
42:00 | >> If we postpone this until September
42:03 | meeting, that could change. Uh I'll just
42:06 | give you my reasons. One, there's no
42:08 | agreement yet, and I'd want to see the
42:10 | agreement first. So, this is not
42:14 | [clears throat] an eminent domain.
42:16 | However, to me, there are similarities,
42:18 | if you will, you know, when it comes to
42:21 | properties, what the town takes or
42:23 | decides to take or give back or what it
42:24 | does with it. If this was my property
42:28 | and it was in 61 and the town had its
42:31 | right of first refusal, I as the owner
42:34 | or manager of the trust would expect the
42:36 | town would say if we're not going to
42:39 | exercise it, it should come to me before
42:42 | the town says we're going to assign this
42:43 | to somebody else before we give you the
42:44 | right to get your land back.
42:46 | >> So, I'm an absolute no. If there's an
42:50 | agreement reached, then I would like to
42:53 | see the agreement and then vote on it
42:54 | knowing that number one. Number two, to
42:57 | me, the proper course of action then
42:58 | would be for the town to uh let it go
43:01 | back to the to the trust to sell and
43:03 | they should buy it at a fair market
43:05 | value from the trust. Then they'd have
43:06 | the land and they could buy whatever
43:08 | portion they want, which is clean and
43:10 | neat.
43:11 | and the actual trust to whom this land
43:14 | belongs would actually be the ones
43:17 | making the decision on selling price,
43:19 | how much to give up, etc. So, this is
43:23 | why I feel that way. I'm all about the
43:25 | plan is wonderful, but just because I
43:27 | like it, I I can't get behind the method
43:32 | to make it happen. Um, I to me I think
43:34 | it's wrong for the And I'm only one
43:37 | vote. I can't speak for anybody else,
43:39 | but
43:41 | without giving it back to the trust so
43:44 | that they can make the determination to
43:46 | build it or sell it or at least seeing
43:48 | that there's an agreement that they're
43:49 | on board with us reassigning that
43:51 | without giving it to them first. I can't
43:54 | get on board.
43:54 | >> No, I agree. Very well said, David.
43:58 | I tend to agree with David on that, but
44:01 | um I at this point we'll probably hear
44:04 | we're probably going to hear a little
44:05 | more about this from the next person
44:07 | coming up before we take a vote.
44:09 | [clears throat]
44:11 | Yeah. Yeah. I think
44:12 | >> or if we can hold it till September so
44:14 | we can see if they come to an agreement.
44:15 | >> I think at this point I'd like to do
44:16 | these gentlemen.
44:17 | >> All I'm saying they can talk. I'm saying
44:19 | we don't have to actually vote if they
44:21 | want to come back with an agreement for
44:22 | us to consider.
44:23 | >> Correct.
44:23 | >> No, I don't think we can.
44:24 | >> They don't have to. Yeah.
44:26 | >> Correct.
44:28 | >> Okay. Bill, thanks for your time.
44:29 | >> Okay. Go back here. Sure. Sure.
44:39 | gentlemen, you're up.
44:43 | >> All right,
44:50 | >> what's the best way to do that? Is it
44:52 | maybe
44:55 | that
44:56 | >> you're Yeah, you have it.
44:58 | >> Yep.
45:00 | >> Zoom in on it.
45:02 | >> So, um I'm Pete.
45:04 | >> Hi. [laughter]
45:05 | was talking about before.
45:07 | >> Um we have been in touch with Bill um
45:10 | after he had submitted his email to the
45:12 | town um to try to see what his
45:15 | intentions were with his property and
45:17 | and to um possibly be a Butters. We
45:20 | haven't come up with an an agreement yet
45:22 | and I don't think that we will. Um but
45:25 | uh we we request that the town waves uh
45:27 | the right of first refusal um under
45:29 | chapter 61 for the losser property. Our
45:32 | goal for the property as we stated in
45:33 | the proposal is to provide the
45:35 | to provide modest homes while also
45:37 | preserving a large portion of the
45:39 | property into a permanently protected
45:41 | open space for the Charlton Heritage
45:42 | Preservation Trust whom we've been
45:44 | working with for two years. We
45:45 | originally met with them August 12th of
45:48 | 2024.
45:50 | Um we think it would be quite beneficial
45:52 | to the trust because after talking to
45:54 | them, they own quite a few parcels in
45:56 | the area, but they don't really have
45:57 | great accessibility to those parcels, so
45:59 | the citizens can't really use them as
46:02 | they as they should and be able to enjoy
46:03 | them. Um
46:05 | so
46:07 | uh we have created with our land planner
46:09 | um a conceptual exhibit to show the
46:12 | board our plans for the protected area.
46:14 | The permanently protected area bounds
46:15 | are subject to the completion of a
46:17 | wetland delineation. So it is conceptual
46:19 | um land planning and engineering
46:22 | including storm water management and
46:24 | everything else that we have to abide by
46:25 | as it relates to the parcel. Um
46:29 | our land planner has over 40 years of
46:31 | experience in subdivision work. from um
46:35 | uh North Bro Crossing down to single
46:38 | family homes. Um he works with the the
46:42 | EPA regularly. He conserves land
46:44 | regularly with uh conservation trusts.
46:47 | Um,
46:48 | it's also stated too that uh after
46:51 | walking the property a few times, um,
46:53 | should we find anything historically
46:55 | important or any kind of features such
46:57 | as large trees that we can speak with
46:59 | the Charlton Heritage Preservation on
47:01 | that they want to keep, um, there's a
47:03 | number of old foundations in the ground
47:05 | that are kind of historically um,
47:07 | important, I think, for the farm that
47:09 | was on the property at one time. Um, we
47:12 | do want to honor the the uh, history of
47:15 | Texas Road. I think it's a pretty cool
47:17 | story. I worked on the other side of
47:18 | Texas Road in Oxford when I was in high
47:20 | school and cut a road through in that
47:22 | way. And so now to see the other end of
47:24 | it in my own neighborhood, I think is a
47:26 | pretty neat thing. Um, my goal would be
47:29 | uh on the on the open spaces to put up
47:32 | some kind of a placard that explains to
47:34 | people the history of of Texas Road and
47:36 | explains the history of Boomer Farm and
47:38 | everything that was there previously.
47:40 | Um, as you can see, it's it's it's a
47:43 | pretty large parcel of land and it does
47:46 | go into um Oxford. It would create a
47:49 | buffer to Mr. Lock's property. Um, so
47:52 | that would already be accomplished if if
47:54 | uh the board, you know, refuses it its
47:56 | right of first refusal. Um, and as you
47:59 | can see, our intent would be to create a
48:02 | small road off of the end of George
48:04 | Street and Priscilla, which is the
48:06 | neighborhood I live in. um and create a
48:09 | small parking area as well as um a
48:13 | pathway into the protected area that
48:16 | would stay permanently protected. And in
48:19 | this way, we could salvage the hiking
48:20 | trails there, the wildlife that's there,
48:22 | the wetlands that are there. Um and um
48:27 | and I think it would be it would be a
48:29 | pretty cool thing for the neighbors. And
48:31 | I think it would be pretty cool for um
48:33 | the neighbors on Davidson, for Ponkin
48:35 | Hill. um I think they'd really all be
48:37 | able to use it. Um
48:39 | so, you know, that being said, like I
48:42 | like I said, I live in the area. I have
48:44 | um a lot of pride and a lot of for the
48:46 | land and a lot of respect for the land.
48:48 | I was also um I I was I was raised in
48:52 | Auburn, but I went to Bay Path in the
48:54 | carpentry program. So, I've been in it
48:56 | for a long time. Um and uh I would love
48:58 | to build my home, my next home in that
49:01 | neighborhood if I could in the future.
49:02 | So, um, so to to sum it up, um, we're
49:06 | just asking the board to not exercise
49:08 | its right of first refusal and allow the
49:10 | PNS that we have executed with the
49:12 | Lozeratus Trust to um, allow us to build
49:15 | a wonderful neighborhood with respect to
49:17 | the wildlife, wetlands, and uh, green
49:19 | spaces. Thank you.
49:20 | >> How big of a subdivision you're
49:21 | thinking? How many houses?
49:23 | >> We haven't put any money into um, any
49:25 | kind of engineering or anything because
49:27 | there was such a issue with the title
49:28 | and everything. So, um, I think there's
49:31 | probably four or five ANR lots on
49:34 | Davidson Road. Um, and then it's subject
49:36 | to how we work with the Travel and
49:38 | Heritage Preservation Trust, honestly.
49:40 | Um, and and how we how the wetlands get
49:43 | delineated and and um that.
49:48 | [snorts]
49:51 | >> All right. And and we did receive some
49:53 | correspondence on this too, right? From
49:55 | from the family of the trust,
49:57 | >> correct? Those are in your uh in your
49:59 | packets for the
50:01 | >> and um all the correspondence related to
50:03 | this is
50:05 | >> in this agenda item.
50:08 | Okay.
50:09 | >> Oh no, I'm sorry. Yeah, absolutely.
50:11 | Yeah.
50:12 | >> So I'm Mark Rice. Uh the reason I
50:15 | started down this path is that uh Peter,
50:18 | wow, three or four years ago, maybe four
50:21 | or five years ago at this point, uh
50:23 | renovated my daughter's house, uh did a
50:25 | project for us at our house. Uh we were
50:28 | so thrilled with the quality of the work
50:31 | and the trustworthiness and the and the
50:33 | reasonleness of Peter that we then had
50:36 | him um do an entire renovation of our
50:40 | our our new house. We bought a house for
50:43 | single singlestory house for old people.
50:46 | Uh did a fantastic job. So we had this
50:49 | incredible positive uh view of Peter and
50:52 | his company and the work that he does.
50:54 | And so when Peter first started talking
50:56 | about this opportunity, initially I was
50:59 | just going to be an adviser to him. You
51:01 | know, I have a business degree as well
51:02 | as two engineering degrees. But the the
51:05 | longer we talked, the more I said, you
51:07 | know, if you need some help with the
51:08 | financial side of this, we would be
51:10 | willing. Well, turned out to be quite an
51:13 | adventure to say the least. Title issue
51:16 | was the huge issue. Um, but we do have
51:18 | an agreement with the Lozritis Trust and
51:22 | we would like to proceed with the plan
51:23 | that we submitted to you uh respectfully
51:26 | build uh nice modest homes, but also uh
51:31 | take advantage of this wonderful piece
51:32 | of property and work with the Cambridge
51:34 | Land Trust, sorry, Charlton Land Trust
51:37 | to uh to really do some cool things with
51:39 | this property.
51:41 | And it's to answer your question more.
51:43 | Um again, we haven't done any
51:45 | engineering or land planning as it
51:46 | relates to um to subdivision anything.
51:49 | Um we want to figure out what we can
51:51 | protect first and then um kind of plan
51:53 | around that. I'm not looking to cram as
51:56 | many homes in here as humanly possible.
51:58 | That's not my goal. My goal is I live in
52:00 | the neighborhood. I I raise my kids
52:02 | here. I'm not looking to these are your
52:05 | three options of homes. You have three
52:06 | models. Pick one. That's not my goal. My
52:09 | goal is to build custom. And my goal is
52:11 | to follow um the agricultural zoning
52:14 | that it's in and and see where it takes
52:16 | us.
52:16 | >> So this is a partnership. So you Mark
52:18 | Price,
52:19 | >> I'm Mark Rice.
52:21 | >> Rice. And so who is Lisa?
52:22 | >> Lisa's my wife.
52:24 | >> Ah.
52:24 | >> So we would be the purchasers of the
52:26 | land.
52:28 | >> Uh in a sense trusting that Peter
52:30 | working with the land trust is going to
52:32 | do a great job with the property.
52:36 | >> So So then we're up into the change your
52:39 | motion or your motion still stands to
52:42 | not not to act on this
52:44 | >> we still have to close the public
52:45 | hearing
52:49 | >> motion to close the
52:50 | >> wait might be more people
52:52 | >> sorry
52:53 | >> no I don't think there nobody else oh
52:55 | there is
52:57 | >> I don't have
53:01 | to
53:02 | postpone it or whe
53:11 | actual
53:17 | zone.
53:19 | >> Yeah.
53:19 | >> Before the record, can we mention who
53:21 | that is?
53:22 | >> Yeah.
53:25 | >> Um this Kathleen Stanley is our town
53:28 | assessor.
53:28 | >> Couldn't see. I just saw the top of your
53:30 | head. [laughter]
53:32 | >> Mr. Chair, I would make a motion to um
53:36 | not exercise our close the public
53:38 | hearing.
53:39 | >> Sorry. To close the public hearing.
53:40 | >> Second.
53:41 | >> All in favor?
53:42 | >> I.
53:42 | >> Unanimous.
53:43 | >> Mr. Chair, I make a motion not to
53:45 | exercise our right and to let it go back
53:48 | to the trust.
53:49 | >> I second that.
53:51 | >> All in favor?
53:52 | >> I
53:52 | >> I
53:57 | thank you. Good luck.
54:03 | >> Okay.
54:06 | Now we are
54:07 | >> old
54:11 | >> day.
54:12 | >> Yep. 7:05.
54:13 | >> Yeah.
54:14 | >> Old day.
54:23 | >> Kathleen, you're up. Any from the old
54:26 | home day want to want want to come
54:28 | forward?
54:30 | >> You know, this committee just always a
54:32 | committee that gets better looking and
54:34 | younger every single year. you guys
54:37 | preservation trust. Um there's a lot of
54:40 | really good trails that could happen out
54:42 | there
54:44 | what we were just talking about with
54:48 | >> Bill's but he didn't say anything but
54:52 | [laughter]
54:53 | >> great.
55:01 | >> So thank you for having us back. I'm
55:03 | Kathleen Walker. I'm chairperson of the
55:05 | old home day committee. And um before I
55:09 | introduce Rebecca, I just wanted to say
55:11 | that uh the committee which is about 18
55:16 | members and many of them are behind me.
55:18 | We've been meeting since January
55:21 | and uh it's been an amazing year.
55:25 | Everybody has stepped up to the plate.
55:27 | people that assigned to do this have
55:30 | also taken on this and they just keep
55:34 | coming up with ideas and new things and
55:37 | it's been really wonderful. So, uh, in
55:40 | fact, we had a woman come tonight who
55:43 | wants to join us because she thinks
55:45 | we're so great.
55:46 | >> Oh, nice. Sign her up.
55:49 | So um so this is Rebecca Burden and
55:52 | Rebecca is uh in charge of the award
55:55 | ceremony this year and she will tell you
55:58 | about it.
55:59 | >> Yes. Hello. Good evening board members,
56:01 | fellow [snorts]
56:02 | home day committee members, Charleston
56:04 | residents and everyone else. It is my
56:06 | privilege to present this year's old
56:08 | home day award nominees. One of the best
56:12 | parts of Old Home Day is taking a moment
56:13 | to recognize the people in our community
56:16 | uh who make it such a special place to
56:18 | live. Uh this year's nominees represent
56:22 | service, generosity, leadership, and a
56:24 | genuine commitment to helping others. So
56:26 | without further ado, for the youth
56:29 | service award, we are proud to recognize
56:32 | Adam Ridick. The community service award
56:36 | nominee is Vanessa Noise. This year's
56:39 | parade marshall nominee is Danny Donno.
56:43 | The postumous award nominee is Beverly
56:46 | Bodet. For the business award, we are
56:49 | pleased to recognize Dad's restaurant.
56:52 | And finally, the nominee for citizen of
56:54 | the year is Robert Grety.
56:59 | >> Father Bob,
57:01 | >> also known as Father Bob. Um, we will be
57:04 | recognizing all the nominees at Old Home
57:07 | Day on September 6th. The ceremony will
57:09 | be from 1 to 2:00 p.m. and we encourage
57:11 | everyone to join us.
57:14 | >> Excellent.
57:14 | >> Just one more thing. We have um Kathy's
57:17 | Wildflower Garden is going to be
57:20 | dedicated at 300 p.m.
57:22 | >> Right. Uh that that just before the
57:25 | parade,
57:26 | >> correct?
57:26 | >> So, everybody's invited to that.
57:28 | >> So, that the board understands why we're
57:30 | on the way up to the parade. on the
57:31 | left.
57:32 | >> It's on the left.
57:33 | >> Yeah,
57:33 | >> that'll be at 3:00.
57:35 | >> It's going to be lovely.
57:36 | >> It works out well.
57:37 | >> And the other thing is the Declaration
57:39 | of Independence. Did you want to mention
57:40 | that, Steve?
57:42 | >> I don't have any updates on that because
57:44 | uh he's out of town, but um yeah,
57:46 | they're coming
57:48 | um during the award ceremony to present
57:50 | the town with a Declaration of
57:53 | Independence.
57:55 | >> Every every town got one from the state
57:57 | house. So, they've our Tuesday reps
57:59 | framed it.
58:01 | original
58:04 | supposed to be on the part. It's kind of
58:06 | a big deal when they're going to present
58:08 | it at the beginning,
58:09 | >> however you choose at the beginning of
58:10 | the award ceremony or during. All right.
58:12 | >> Right. The awards will be from one to
58:14 | two. So, there'll be plenty of time. So,
58:16 | you just have to have the discussion
58:18 | about where to put it.
58:21 | >> That's above our pay grade, I think. I
58:23 | don't
58:25 | >> discuss.
58:28 | Hey, leave it up to Andrew and then
58:29 | he'll just
58:30 | >> [clears throat]
58:32 | >> Well, if we leave it up to
58:33 | >> after I find the church map in the back
58:35 | [laughter]
58:36 | or he'll break the frame. Yeah,
58:39 | >> that's right.
58:40 | >> Okay. Excellent.
58:40 | >> So, hopefully you'll all be mocking in
58:42 | the parade.
58:43 | >> Yeah. Do we have to vote on these? Did
58:45 | we customer vote on these? No. No. Just
58:48 | vote on that.
58:49 | >> Yeah. Thank you.
58:50 | >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for your
58:52 | time. It's outstanding. See you one on
58:55 | September 6th,
58:59 | >> Mr. chair. On number five, uh I'm happy
59:04 | to
59:05 | table it to the next meeting or
59:06 | postpone. It's up to the rest of the
59:08 | board only because and it's my fault I
59:10 | was running behind. I did not bring
59:13 | >> the list of the fee amounts. I'm I'm
59:16 | happy to tell you what my goal is, but
59:19 | we can't discuss it because I didn't
59:20 | bring that. That's my fault.
59:23 | >> So, we can I can tell you I can give you
59:24 | a heads up or we can just put it to the
59:26 | next meeting. whatever board prefers.
59:27 | >> I I I think that's fine if and I
59:30 | appreciate the uh Yeah. If you want to
59:31 | just move it to the 25th.
59:33 | >> Yeah.
59:37 | >> Okay.
59:38 | And now we are down to
59:43 | we are done with it. We down to the
59:44 | town.
59:45 | >> All righty.
59:48 | >> All right. We got a couple of employment
59:50 | opportunities currently available. uh
59:51 | kitchen coordinator, equipment operator
59:53 | for the highway department, firefighter,
59:55 | paramedic, alternate plumbing and gas
59:58 | inspector, police officer, and water and
60:00 | sewer superintendent. If any of these
60:02 | positions uh are of interest to you, you
60:05 | can apply today at
60:06 | townofcharleton.net/job.
60:10 | Um we have an upcoming Eagle Scout
60:12 | service project. Uh Willie Ridlac has
60:14 | submitted an Eagle Scout service project
60:16 | proposal to create a new Christmas
60:17 | village display for the town uh common
60:21 | area. Uh we're looking forward to seeing
60:23 | the final project on the common this
60:24 | December. Hopefully it spruces up uh our
60:27 | overall display that we have there.
60:30 | On Reynolds Road, a mass broken stone is
60:32 | scheduled to start reclaiming Reynolds
60:34 | Road on August 17th and 18th with base
60:37 | coat of pavement being scheduled for the
60:39 | 19th with an undetermined date for the
60:42 | top coat. Currently, the road will be
60:44 | closed for these days allowing local
60:46 | traffic only. The goal is to have this
60:48 | uh closed up prior to the start of the
60:50 | school year.
60:53 | on August 31st
60:56 | 31st, September 1st and 2nd are the
60:59 | dates for chip sealing that are
61:02 | scheduled. These dates are subject to
61:03 | change depending on weather. Uh we'll
61:05 | provide schedule updates as it become
61:07 | available, but the roadways that we are
61:08 | planning to chip seal this year are
61:10 | Curtis Hill Road, Old Spencer Road, HK
61:14 | Davis Road, Jones Road, Gould Road,
61:17 | Mutau Road, and Cemetery Road.
61:20 | And finally, employee appreciation day.
61:22 | Just a quick reminder, Thursday we will
61:24 | be conducting our employee training and
61:26 | appreciation day. Town hall will be
61:28 | closed for the day so we can conduct
61:29 | some focused departmental training on
61:31 | safety protocols and and continuity of
61:33 | operations planning. But we're all
61:36 | looking forward to it. So,
61:37 | >> excellent.
61:39 | >> Thank you.
61:43 | >> And any future requests for the gender
61:47 | items?
61:51 | Except the ones that we talked about
61:53 | already.
61:54 | >> 508.
61:54 | >> Yeah.
61:57 | >> Yeah. I was
61:58 | >> Yeah. And and continue
61:59 | >> shortening the poll hearing
62:00 | >> announcement.
62:04 | Do you want me to read the motion or do
62:07 | we have
62:08 | >> um the next meeting announcement?
62:11 | >> Um next sele select board meeting will
62:13 | be September um sorry August 25th
62:18 | 2026
62:20 | p.m. Town Hall meeting room one
62:23 | and I would take a motion to adjourn or
62:25 | or we
62:26 | >> um
62:28 | to executive session. David.
62:30 | >> Um, I would make a motion
62:33 | under
62:35 | uh MGL 30A section 21A number one that
62:39 | we go into executive session to discuss
62:41 | the reputation, character, physical
62:43 | condition or mental health rather than
62:45 | professional competence of the
62:46 | individual or discuss the discipline or
62:49 | dismissal of or complaints or charges
62:52 | against the public officer, employee,
62:54 | staff member or individual. fire to
62:58 | return to open session if needed and to
63:00 | adjourn.
63:05 | >> Okay.
63:07 | Do I have a second?
63:08 | >> Second. All in favor? Roll call vote.
63:10 | >> Rush. I
63:12 | >> Steve I
63:14 | >> Iive.