Selectmen sign P&S with Habitat
By Karen Mann

Selectmen and representatives from the local Habitat for Humanity division signed a purchase and sale agreement on Aug. 8 taking the process one step closer to construction.

On the request of Selectman David Chenelle, the board waited to sign the final sale agreement until he had a chance to review the document.

North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Megan Foley asked selectmen to waive local fees from various town boards associated with the project. Although selectmen have no official authority to do that, Board Chairman Robert Plamondon said he would send out an memorandum recommending that all applicable boards waive their fees.

The location of the future home is on a 2.77-acre plot on Apple Drive, which is located near Emery Road. According to Foley, construction on the house will begin next July.

Even though, the final sale of the property has not been completed yet town officials have allowed for some work to be done on site.

Town Administrator Gregory Barnes said the town had been waiting to sell the land to Habitat until they were done with some of the fundraising for the project.

Foley asked if selectmen could formalize the sale of the land by the beginning of September because the group has a "cleanup day" planned for that month.

The selectmen agreed they would address it at their next meeting.

In other business:

 Selectmen also signed a lease with the Townsend-Ashby Youth Soccer Association for the Squannacook Meadow Fields.

Jennifer Pettit, from the Conservation Commission, raised concerns to the selectmen that the commission had with having people near the restricted conservation spots in that area. Her biggest concern was the turtle habitat there and stressed coaches and children should be educated on not damaging these. She wanted to know if the soccer fields were going to be fenced in.

Chenelle said if necessary, orange tape could be put up to keep people out of these areas. TAYSA was granted land despite the restrictions because it agreed to do things to cultivate the turtle habitat.