The Board of Selectmen (BOS) met on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and discussed the potential sale of a portion of the Strickland property to Monarca Masonry. Board members Jon Brayshaw and Dave Lowry specifically tried to address some of resident and former P&Z member Lucy Petrella’s concerns about the sale. According to Brayshaw, the board wasn’t trying to take the deal and “jam it down people’s throats” but instead take it to town meeting to let the town decide whether or not they want to go forward with the sale. They also noted that the sale will require the Planning and Zoning Commission the zone change. Petrella replied that the town already decided not to further break apart the Strickland property over a decade ago. As Petrella sees it, the BOS should have sought the opinion of the town on the sale before doing anything else.

Petrella also took issue with Brayshaw and Lowry offering their support to the sale. However, Lowry stated that the matter is no longer in the board’s hands, anyway, and could very well be voted down by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Another issue Brayshaw brought before the board came from the Department of Transportation (DOT), who want to increase the speed limit along Route 66 from 40 MPH to 50 MPH. However, before they can do this, they want approval from the town. Brayshaw explained that this change is in response to a study of the Route 66 that he asked the state to perform in response to a number of complaints about the speed limit on the roadway. The DOT’s justification for wanting to increase the speed limit is due to the fact that the roadway is built to handle cars traveling at 60 MPH and because most drivers go 50-55 MPH when using Route 66.

One concern board member Marybeth Johnson raised is that students are picked up and dropped off on Route 66, which is already problematic as cars fail to stop when the bus picks up children. In light of previous efforts by residents to keep the speed limit at 40 MPH, though, the board decided that the matter should go before a public hearing, though a date has not yet been set.

The board did approve receiving an easement from Zygo, allowing the town to access its Hubbard Street property from Laurel Brook Road. However, this is only one step in accepting the easement. While reviewing the possible transfer, Zygo discovered the easement area has two owners. One is Zygo, while the other is the 6 Brookside Drive Corporation. Therefore the transfer of the easement will require approval by both owners before the town can receive it. The boards of both owners are scheduled to vote on it on Nov. 11th.

A $300,000 housing rehab grant should also be coming to the town to help low to middle-income homeowners pay for needed expenses relating to improving roofing, windows, heating and so on.

Charles Kreitler was also reappointed to the Economic Development Commission for the next five years.

Due to the election on Nov. 3, the board felt Nov. 2 may be too busy to hold a meeting. Thus, they cancelled their Nov. 2 meeting, making Oct. 20 the last meeting that Dave Lowry will serve as a member of the board since he is not running for re-election.