Williamstown Board Wants More Time for Land Restriction Review
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Selectmen's discomfort in seeing more than 300 acres go into conservation at their last meeting of 2008 continued with their first meeting of 2009 on Monday.While the conservation restrictions were cooperative agreements between private landowners and the state and land preservation groups, they covered a significant amount of property in a town limited in buildable space. That was enough to give the board pause.
Selectman Thomas Costley suggested that the board develop a policy to slow down the process and take more time to review such requests. He'd been reflecting on the decisions since last month, and "regretted not considering the pros and cons of each."
The requests tend to come at the end of the calender year and board members rarely have time to review restriction agreements before they're presented, said Chairwoman Jane Allen.
, and al"I think expectations have been, because of past practice, that when the requests come, they will be acted upon at that meeting," said Allenso that they will be approved.
"I don't think people understand that we do not get this information until Friday and the [agenda] packet is not delivered until after Town Hall is closed," she said. "It doesn't give us a lot of time to thoroughly do our homework no matter what the issue is."
Selectman Richard Steege said he felt a little "caught off-guard" by the amount of land being taken off the tax rolls and would have preferred more time to study it.
"We need to make clear we're not trying to be obstructive," said Costley. "We just want to be very, very careful because it's permanent and it's the town's future and current revenue."
Selectman David Rempell agreed but added they were likely to be perceived as being obstructive because they would be discussing what a landowner could do with his or her property and because of Williamstown's proactive attitude toward preservation.
"I think the expectation is we will approve [conservation restrictions] because of the culture of the community," he said. "I know I was hesitant at making my comments at our previous meeting because they are clearly not PC in this community because of past practice."
Costley said Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation and Berkshire Natural Resources should be involved in the discussion. But he said, "we need to be more deliberate, to ask more questions and visit people's property beforehand."
Green Energy
The town of Kingston has asked the town to join it in petitioning the Legislature to include green energy initiatives with the criteria for the Community Preservation Act, which currently allows municipalities set aside funds using a property tax surcharge for historic preservation, open space and affordable housing.
Kingston is trying to install a wind turbine to power its municipal buildings. In its letter to Williamstown, its officials wrote it was "difficult in the current financial environment" to fund such efforts and reduce towns' carbon footprints.
"I'm all for green energy," said Rempell. "But my concern is how we can define green energy initiatives."
There may be an assumption that the state would offer guidelines, "otherwise I could imagine the Community Preservation Commission would be swamped with different applications ... because green energy includes so many different projects."
The board referred the letter to the town's Community Preservation Commission, on which Rempell sits.
Stop For Coffee
The board approved after some discussion opening up limited space for on-street, 15-minute parking in front of the Spring Street parking lot. That length of street, opposite Tunnel City Coffee is currently a no-parking area. The unlined space could contain two large or three small vehicles.
Tom Costley said many drivers are already parking in the space to run across the street for coffee. I think there's time that it will be abused ... but i don't think that's the majority i think people will see it for what it is a place to pull up get your coffee and leave.
Rempell was concerned that allowing the parking would be a safety issue, that drivers would wait for someone to leave and back up traffic instead of pulling into the 200-space parking lot.
"I think we should continue to attract retired New Yorkers to move here who honk freely at people who do things like that and that would be the balance there," said Costley.
Public Works Superintendent Timothy Kaiser said the road would allow two-way traffic through that area, albeit narrower just at the corner of Latham and Spring streets.
The board will revisit the issue to determine how well it is working. The vote was 3-1 with Rempell voting against, although admitting he'd probably be the first to use the spot. Selectman Ronald Turbin was absent.
Kudos to Dispatch
Allen read a letter from a frequent visitor and New York Police Department sergeant lauding a Williamstown dispatcher.
"I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the professional and consistent radio etiquette I've heard from one of your dispatchers. Mr. Paul Oleskewicz is clear and concise and must surely be an asset to your town and public servie region."
The board also approved the relocation of several utility poles related to the $750,000 road widening project around Field Park.
