JANUARY 6, 2010
APPROVED
A. ROLL CALL – 7:00
Members present: Thomas Cashin – Chairman
John Moore – Vice-Chairman
Rob Meyer
Roy Trafton
Gregory Martin
Members absent: Virginia DeBoer
B. MINUTES
December 16, 2009 – A Motion was made and seconded to approve the Minutes of December 16, 2009 as amended. Moore/Meyer – Unanimou
C. OLD BUSINESS
1. Discussion Re Committee’s Action of December 16, 2009 Re Designating Certain Portions of the Critical Rural District as Part of the Rural District – Mr. Cashin advised that he spoke with SMRPC prior to this Meeting and after the December 16, 2009 Meeting regarding the procedures the Committee should have followed with regard to their action concerning the designation of certain portions of the Critical Rural District to the Rural District. He stated that SMRPC informed him that Ms DeBoer should have recused herself from the Committee’s discussion as well as the vote.
At this time, Mr. Cashin asked the Committee if they thought they should remake the Motion because of that lapse in procedure. He advised the process is that anyone on the prevailing side would have to make a Motion to reconsider that Motion.
Mr. Moore felt it would be improper to not permit a person to speak on a topic that is being discussed by the Committee.
No Member of the Committee made a Motion to reconsider their action of December 16, 2009.
2. Discussion of State vs Committee’s Work Re the Shoreland Zone and Resource Protection District – Mr. Moore explained he spoke with Dennis Long, one of the Selectmen, regarding the information the Committee previously received concerning that Board’s decision not to place anything but the State mandated Shoreland Zone and Resource Protection District Zoning Ordinance amendments on the Warrant for the June, 2010 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Long told him his biggest concern was with the shorefront property.
To Mr. Moore’s question whether there was any reference to the shorefront in Article 5 of the Acton Zoning Ordinance, Mr. Cashin mentioned that the work that was done was predicated on what was contained in the DEP’s proposed revisions to the Shoreland Zone and Resource Protection District in the green book provided by that agency. He mentioned that the Committee used the format of the existing Zoning Ordinance, but integrated the information supplied by the State in the green book.
Mr. Moore suggested that the group go through the July 2, 2009 draft of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for the next Meeting paying particular attention to the Shoreland Zone.
Mr. Cashin stated he would resurrect the notes he made last winter during the time the group was working on that section. He mentioned that when he discussed the State vs the Committee’s Shoreland Zone and Resource Protection work with the Board of Selectmen, he was told that SMRPC misinterpreted what their secretary said and SMRPC’s understanding was incorrect that they will not be submitting this group’s work for a vote [at the June, 2010 Annual Town Meeting]. He said he asked the Selectmen to affirm that as their position and two of the Selectmen raised their hand to affirm Mr. Cashin’s understanding and one did not. He felt based on the Selectmen’s affirmation the July 2, 2009 draft can be submitted to the DEP for review. He asked the secretary to communicate with SMRPC and ask that be done and to be sure to forward the November 3, 2009 zoning revisions also so that the document will be complete.
There was no new business to come before the Committee.
E. OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business to come before the Committee.
F. ADJOURNMENT
The Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA M. WILLIAMS,
Recording Secretary