by Frank Schroth

Two weeks ago during Citizen Speak James O’Donahue said, regarding a proposal to build a temple with access off Lodge Street:

If they jam it down our throats, we are going to hate these people for a long, long time.

At last night’s session of the Board of Selectmen, he apologized to the board and the the members of the Jewish community for that remark.

Mr. O’Donahue is a resident of Lodge Street. A number of residents had spoken that evening in opposition to using Lodge Street as the point of access for a temple  to be built on property that Marvin Gordon was planning to gift to Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills. Their primary concern was traffic and the safety risk additional vehicles would bring to a street that they said was already a heavily trafficked cut through.

Chair Keohane had introduced Mr. O’Donahue after offering an apology of his own.

After making his apology Mr. O’Donahue continued to say that the synagogue is not the issue, that access of Lodge Street is and that he finds that access “offensive and demeaning.  .  . We’re not getting any respect here.”

Mr. Gordon was not present. Andrea Gordon, his wife, did speak. She said, “There is no animosity here.” She also clarified a point of confusion. There was a rumor that construction was to start in January. Gordon stated that was never said. She said was being built was “not an institution. It is a spiritual home.”

A number of residents from Lodge Street were present last night to reiterate their opposition to their street being the access point, though only one resident, Aileen Kenney spoke. She said they did not want to drag out the meeting but that there was substantial support for their position.

The selectmen would take up the matter later in their session when they invited Town Planner Bill Clark to explain the Dover Amendment. This amendment states that municipalities “Can’t zone out” developments that are religious or educaitonal. He noted that the Gordons were putting conservation and deed restrictions in place. These would prevent any further development of the property and would not allow the gifted property to be used for any other reason.

It was acknowledged that the selectmen have no role or responsibility in this matter other than to listen to resident concerns. The only aspect of this that will come before any town board is the subdivision of the property. That issue will go before the Planning Board. Clark said the right of way required would be 50′ and that Lodge Street offered 57′. The building application will go before the Building Inspector.

Member Hurley said that the temple “desperately need a home. . . and I don’t believe [the traffic] will be exacerbated by the temple.  .  . But I understand there is a lot of traffic.”

Chair Keohane noted that “no one is exploring coming in off Gun Hill .  .  .everyone is opposed to entry off Lodge.” He added that, “One way or the other, I think it is going to go there.”

Ms. Gordon said that the land being gifted was not going to change, that the entrance would be on Lodge. “It’s off the table. I’m sorry Chairman. We ask them (the neighbors) to trust us.”

Keohane responded that nothing should be off the table. “It is a generous offer. I encourage you to continue the dialogue.”

Hurley closed by saying that while the board had no role in the temple matter, they did have ability to take measures that could mitigate traffic cut through. “We can do something there,” he said.