Susan C Bateman

The board discussed a continued site plan application from Select Energy Development LLC regarding solar canopies at the middle school, specifically addressing lighting fixture mounting, photometrics, and controls. The board reached an agreement on extinguishing the exterior lights by 10:00 p.m., subject to a potential manual override by the school district for evening activities. A request was also made to address unshielded lighting on a nearby woodshed, though it was noted this fell outside the scope of the project. Additionally, the meeting transitioned into a workshop session.

The board discussed a continued site application for the installation of solar canopies at the Miles River Middle School. Key discussion points included the photometric plan, lighting installation details to mitigate glare, the mounting method to ensure lights are parallel to the ground and positioned inboard, control systems for dimming and scheduling, and compliance with dark sky standards including light output and color temperature.

The board discussed several municipal matters including current board vacancies, a PFAS retainer agreement for litigation against chemical producers, and committee appointments and reappointments. The board also accepted charitable gifts to the Patton Homestead and reviewed the North Shore Regional IT Collaborative's phase two initiative, focusing on cybersecurity insurance, infrastructure fiber connectivity, and ongoing regional grant funding.

The Board held a public hearing regarding a special permit for a project on Bridge Street, a designated Scenic Road, which involves the construction of a new single-family residence and the removal of a portion of a stone wall. The Board approved the permit request, noting that the applicant should consider repurposing the salvaged stones. Additionally, the Board engaged in a discussion regarding a draft overlay district for the Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary property. A representative from the Seminary presented a proposal to focus the overlay district specifically on existing student apartment buildings to facilitate their conversion and potential sale, thereby generating tax revenue and allowing the Seminary to maintain its presence on the site for the foreseeable future.

The meeting included a review of various board and committee openings, followed by a report from the Recreation Director regarding summer programming, facility improvements at the pool, the introduction of cashless transactions, and the installation of Wi-Fi. Discussions also covered the first annual bike to school day, the installation of new fans and scoreboards at recreational facilities, and high demand for youth summer camp programs. Additionally, an announcement was made regarding an upcoming virtual community meeting for the master steering committee.