WASHINGTON PLANNING BOARD

Minutes

March 5, 2010

Planning Board meeting to go over the Task Force's full report and determine whether we will have the report out at Town Meeting.

PB Members present: Jack Sheehy, Tom Marshall, Nan Schwartz, Ken Eastman, Jim Crandall, Lynn Cook

9:00 AM called to order by Jack Sheehy.

We took a look at the large binders containing the report and all the attachments. Ken commented that he thought the report was going to go to the Planning Board, then to the Selectmen and then out to the public but here it is out for all to see.

Jack asked Ken if it would be considered a handout if it was put out at Town Meeting. Ken feels that things put out should be tied to a warrant article. Nan commented that the Conservation Commission has put things out before that were not tied to an article but were of public interest. The Conservation Commission plans to put out an informational/fund raising brochure this year. Ken said that Monday at 3:30 PM the Selectmen are meeting with the Moderator to discuss the Meeting House stuff and go over the warrant articles and nail down who is going to present them.

Tom commented that this report is ours now and the Task Force is dissolved, the report is in the public so it is relevant to have it out. The warrant article on the Town Hall is addressed in the report as well as the Safety Buildings so it is pertinent to any discussion. Tom said there are two ways to go, the Meeting House has two years to use the planning grant (pushing construction years out) and we should get a line item into the CIP next year to start saving money toward town building projects.

Tom couldn't see picking the report apart as Ken suggested, we need time to digest all the information and make a report to the Selectmen.

Ken said that as far as the controversy about the Town Hall and a separate or attached new building, he can't see how you could make the argument to do that. He said it is important to understand that it is a clean slate going into Town Meeting.

Jim thinks the two groups should be out of the picture and a new group formed to work on this into the future. Nan commented that the Planning Board is not involved with this planning grant. Ken said they are going to make it inclusive. Nan commented that this planning grant is for more than planning, it goes all the way through fully engineered construction drawings. She feels that the old School House should be included in the planning for the Town Hall as it is positioned perfectly to be used as office or meeting space used in conjunction with the space in the Town Hall. Ken said that the grant will not allow us to look at anything other than the Town Hall.

We discussed the warrant article to set up a committee to oversee the Town Hall project. Ken has problems with it saying it is too undefined. Tom said it is a signed petition article. Ken said the way the Selectmen want to set up the new committee is to have a Selectman on the committee and let anyone who is supportive of the project volunteer to be on it and it can be large or not. They don't want to have anyone who isn't supportive on the committee, as it will be a waste of time.

Lynn asked whether or not we will answer people's questions about the report if they are asked at Town Meeting. Tom said that there are no warrant articles concerning the Task Force's report so he didn't think it would come up. We are just having it there for people to look at.

Tom feels there are fiscal considerations we need to act on, we need to get the CIP funded for building projects next year.

Ken spoke about the Master Plan and how it talks about maintaining rural character and maintaining our historic buildings (he was paraphrasing) so he feels that this supports the maintaining of the Town Hall. Nan asked why this doesn't include the old School House. Ken said we can't tie the School House and the Meeting House together because of the grant. He also stated that the town buildings are the responsibility of the Selectmen and they will do what they think is necessary.

Tom said the purpose of this meeting was to get a game plan for Town Meeting and decide whether we would have the Task Force report available. We all decided to put the report out on the table and Jack will let the Moderator know it is there with our blessing. We also decided to let our past votes stand as our opinion and we can each speak as citizens, if we wish to. Jack will speak for us as a board if questions are asked.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz

Planning Board Secretary