James M. Casey

The agenda for the meeting included two primary discussion items. New Business focused on a Stormwater Ordinance Amendment, specifically regarding Section 135-711 Site Plan Review, which proposes text amendments to address zoning exempt uses like educational and religious activities, as well as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), ensuring they are still subject to Planning Board review for health, safety, and welfare. Old Business involved a review of the Town Council Rules. The minutes from the January 20, 2026 Committee on Ordinance & Rules meeting, which were included in this document, detailed the favorable recommendation vote on the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (Order 25 070) and the tabling of the Town Council Rules Review (Order 002 26) to a future meeting.

The agenda for the meeting included a pledge of allegiance, roll call, approval of minutes from December 2, 2025, and old business (none). Key discussions in the new business section involved petition 26 006 from National Grid regarding relaying gas mains on Andersen Road, which was also subject to staff recommendations concerning temporary and permanent patching procedures related to the prior resurfacing date. The document also contains minutes from a prior meeting on December 2, 2025, which detailed favorable recommendations for petitions 25 063 (Marr Scaffolding Company work on Commerce Drive) and 25 066 (National Grid utility work on Washington Street), and the withdrawal of petition 25 067. Further documents refer to staff recommendations for petition 26 006 dated February 6, 2026, and a review document dated January 27, 2026, concerning the Andersen Road work.

The Town Council agenda for March 3, 2026, included several key items. Announcements covered introductions for the new Facilities Director and Economic Development Director. Old Business involved the potential amendment to the Stormwater Ordinance, a National Grid Petition regarding Andersen Road, and the re-appointment of the Clerk of the Council. New Business addressed the Stormwater Ordinance amendment again, appointments for Town Auditor, authorization to accept donations for School Scholarship Funds, fund transfers for the Utility Workers Union (UWUA), and appropriations related to the French House and Thayer House projects under CPA Applications. The council also discussed the FY26 Q2 update and the review and formulation of requests for the FY27 Town Council Budget. Additionally, a same-night action request involved the authorization to accept a donation for the Festival of Trees.

The agenda for the Committee On The Department Of Public Works meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, and approval of previous minutes from December 2, 2025. The New Business section was dedicated to considering the National Grid Petition 26 006 regarding relaying a gas main on Andersen Road and taking relative action. There was no Old Business listed.

The Committee on the Department of Public Works meeting addressed several new business items related to utility work petitions. One major item involved granting a favorable recommendation for Marr Scaffolding Company's petition regarding work in Commerce Drive (201 Commerce Drive/600 Grove Street) for the construction of a third building, contingent upon specific DPW recommendations concerning patching, settling, and traffic control. Another key discussion concerned a National Grid Petition (25 066) for relaying gas main infrastructure in Washington Street, which was noted as not being under the excavation moratorium, requiring coordination with the Town's recent water main reconstruction and planned resurfacing. A third National Grid petition (25 067) for regulator station replacement on Pearl Street was withdrawn as no street openings were required. Furthermore, documents related to an upcoming meeting on February 24, 2026, detailed National Grid Petition 26 006 regarding relaying gas main on Andersen Road, including staff recommendations focusing on post-work trench repair timelines.