Marisa Batista

The Planning Board meeting included the election of a new Chair and Vice Chair. The Board approved an Approval Not Required (ANR) plan for 38.5 Rocky Hill Road. Significant time was dedicated to continued hearings for the 27.5-29 Clarks Road project, focusing on site design, architectural aesthetics, traffic impacts, environmental buffer zones, and sidewalk connectivity. Additionally, the Board approved a Definitive Subdivision and Special Permit for 102 Kimball Road, which includes protecting open space, and a Special Permit for 6 Lake Attitash Way. A hearing for 9 and 9#RR Oakland Street was continued to a future date, and a brief update on the Master Plan was provided.

The subcommittee held a meeting to nominate a chair and vice chair, and discussed various financial orders. Key items included the acceptance of several grant awards, budget transfers for school capital accounts, Police sick and vacation buybacks, and appropriations from water and sewer retained earnings. The committee also reviewed orders related to city garage construction costs, the digitization and preservation of municipal documents, the purchase of chromebooks, a parking study phase, updates to cemetery ordinances, and the authorization of a HOME consortium grant. A request for an itemized list of expenditures regarding a specific appropriation from Free Cash was made, and a recommendation was withdrawn for a copier contract.

The board discussed the current status of the Director's position and received feedback regarding senior center operating hours. Issues concerning parking lot safety at the Costello Center were addressed, and upcoming winter programming was reviewed, including karaoke, health clinics, and a car fit program. Additionally, the Friends of the Council on Aging provided updates on upcoming events, such as a craft fair, a summer cookout, and a planned health fair.

The agenda includes a guest speaker presentation from a city councilor, reports from the Board Chair and committee chairs, a finance report, and an administrative report from the Executive Director.

The committee discussed the resignation of a member and the status of committee vacancies. The meeting covered the Invasives Demonstration Project at Woodsom Farm, future planning for open space in subdivision developments, and presentations regarding proposed improvements for Batchelder Park and Deer Island. Additionally, the committee addressed the standardization of park bench and amenity specifications, appointed a new representative to the Community Preservation Committee, and discussed DPW watershed clearing for flood management.