2/9/2015 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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10 Board of Selectmen Minutes February 9, 2015 NEW BUSINESS: Request for Appointment – Associate Member/Shellfish Commission: A letter of interest dated December 23, 2014 was received from Brian Everett to serve as an Associate Member of the Shellfish Commission. Additional communication was received from Peter Thomas; Chair of the Shellfish Commission dated January 14, 2015 recommending the appointment. Motion made by Selectman Cahalane to appoint Brian Everett to the Shellfish Commission as Associate Member. Motion seconded by Selectman Sherman. VOTE: Unanimous. 5-0. Roll Call Vote: Selectman Taylor, yes Selectman Richardson, yes Selectman Sherman, yes Selectman Cahalane, yes Selectman Gottlieb, yes Opposed, none Mills Land Transfer Discussion: The Board of Selectmen reviewed correspondence received from Town Counsel Patrick Costello dated December 4, 2014 relative to the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife determination to move forward with a Conservation Restriction on the Mills land acquisition within the Santuit Pond Reserve acquired by the Town in 2010, and also to apply a Conservation Restriction (CR) designation to Town owned tax foreclosed property with and in the vicinity of the Mills property. It was disclosed that a Conservation Restriction was not a part of the original agreement, or vote of Town Meeting relative to the acquisition of the Mills property, a 15.24 acre site purchased with Community Preservation Act funding for open space purposes. It is also the first time the Town has been informed of the DFW request. In discussion it was noted the additional parcels have not been referenced in prior Town Meeting authorizations and would require authorization if the Town was obligated to designate a conservation restriction on the Santuit Pond properties. The Mills property was purchased to enhance the Santuit Pond Preserve conservation area, link an almost contiguous wildlife corridor and protect the watershed of Santuit Pond. Therefore, the parcels as referenced would remain in conservation use until Town Meeting would vote otherwise so there is no immediate need for a CR to maintain this land in its conservation state.