by Frank Schroth
All elected board’s are now electing officers for the coming term. At last night’s meeting of the Board of Selectmen Katie Conlon was voted in as chair for the coming term. Denis Keohane was voted Secretary. The day before the School Committee elected Leroy Walker as chair and Mike Zullas as vice-chair.
The Board of Selectmen deferred a vote on accepting an agreement with Carrick Realty until their meeting on Thursday. The agreement would commit Carrick to filing a complete demolition permit with the town by 5/28. According to people present the extension was granted to address a technicality and the expectation is that they will sign the agreement. At Citizens Speak Pete Jackson, Town Meeting Member from Precinct 2, voiced concern that there was no date for actual demolition. He recommended attaching or somehow incorporating an Chapter 139 demolition order. Member Keohane has been in favor of issuing a Chapter 139 demolition order. Brian McDounough, attorney for Carrick Realty has argued that such an order would not achieve anything new as there are already two demolition orders issued. Both are being appealed. If the Selectmen vote for the agreement then these previous orders and the appeals would be abandoned.
Congratulations Katie and Leroy!
Signing a demolition agreement without stipulating a drop dead timeline for actual
demolition doesn’t appear to achieving any positive result for the Town..
it could appear to the cynical as just another in a long line of stall tactics on the part of the owners.
So if the selectmen sign the agreement and this results in the abandonment of the previous two demolition orders, what exactly do we gain. A promise by the owners, that at some date in the future , that they will demolish a fire hazaard ?
What happens if they don’t demolish the building in the near future, we issue another demolition order and start the process all over again ?
I totally agree with Mr.Jackson on this point of a deadline and i respect Mr.Keohane ‘s
expertise as a developer as to the best way to achieve the best for the Town.