By Steven Fletcher
Staff Writer
—
ESSEX – Following heated discussion, voters at last night’s town meeting voted to approve an amendment for a Southern Conomo Point zoning district, a procedure for bridge leases, and gave the Selectmen permission to enter into the point leases.
Town officials called each vote for reconsideration after voter approval. Ray Randall, chairman of the Board of Selectmen said the measure would keep the vote final. Residents voted each recommendation for reconsideration down, and kept the votes as they were.
Residents expressed concerns about installing sewer and water pipelines on the Point, the authority of the board of Selectmen to set lease rates and the cost of losing, or retaining leases on the property.
Voters approved the Southern Conomo point zoning bylaw change, which amended the current zoning bylaw, and would prepare the area for future sale or lease. The bylaw sets procedures for subdividing the property, said Kimberly Drake, member of Essex’s planning board.
Ed Neal, who petitioned the article, said the current plan was one of a few, and the town proposed it for financial reasons. “This plan chosen as most financially rewarding for the town.”
He said that the bylaw divides districts by the ability to contain both a septic and a well, so full year residences will not require town sewer and water tie-ins. The bylaw divides the district by seasonal and single-family housing.
But Mariah Burnham found the article superfluous. She said the lots would eventually require permanent water and sewer, according to Department of Environmental Protection regulations. Randall said the Department approved the current plan without permanent water and sewer tie ins.
Gilbert Guerin, member of the Conomo Point Planning Committee said he stood against the bylaw because of “secretive” actions on the part of the Selectmen, and the board’s intent to sell properties south of Robbins Island Road.
Residents then voted the second Conomo Point bylaw change, which sets procedure for the Board of Selectmen to enter into bridge leases on the Conomo point properties.
“Bridge leases an essential faced to where we’re headed to preserve revenue for the town,“ said Ray Randall. He said that the legislature, residents, and the Department of Environmental protection will oversee the actions of the board of selectmen.
The board required a 30b exemption from the State, which passed through the legislature last week, for the bridge lease plans. The exemption allows the town to offer the right of first refusal to current leaseholders, according to town officials. The governor signed that exemption into effect yesterday morning.
But Ed Neal, of the Conomo Point Association, said the article did not meet current town bylaw or the exemptions legislation. Town Counsel, Greg Corbo said the special legislation does meet the standards of the bylaw, which required an open, competitive, bidding process, but may allow the town to give some preference to current leaseholders.
Neal said the bridge leases started being considered last summer. He said the town had ample time to produce terms and conditions for the lease.
“There’s no reason that tonight we can’t know what the terms and condition would be before being asked to vote on this,” He said.
Randall said the article is a required step to move forward with Conomo Point plans, and necessary to “manage this effectively.”
The motion passed by voter majority.
Jeff Jones, Selectmen, said that if votes failed on the Conomo Point articles, the town would lose sustainably sums in rent revenue, and tax revenue.
“If you vote no your taxes are going to go up considerably,” he said “if you vote yes, taxes will probably decrease.”
Jeff Soulard, chairman of the Finance Committee, said the committee supported the bridge lease proposal as a way to gain revenue, rather than lose funding when the leases expire. But, residents expressed concerns about the bridge lease revenue, and rates for the leases.
“Why don’t the selectmen come up with a future average rental rate, and come back to us to vote on it, we shouldn’t lose the authority,” said Ed Neal.
He said the town shouldn’t delegate authority for setting the bridge lease rates to the Selectmen.
But voters passed the three Conomo point articles, including provisions for allowing bridge leases.
Steven Fletcher can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
