M e e t i n g M a t t e r s
Townsend Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Nov. 7
Compiled by Karen Mann Journal Correspondent

Top Story:

Selectmen wanted to know on Tuesday, Nov. 7, what they can do this time to be awarded a Community Development Block Grant for the Regional Housing Rehabilitation Program.

Townsend was not awarded the last grant the town applied for because the application submitted did not receive enough bonus points, said Shelly Hatch, a principal planner for the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission.

Hatch said bonus points are awarded for things such as neighborhoods with houses that are in clear need of improvement, having integrated projects such as first-time home buyer programs, and a willingness by town officials to complement funds.

The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Authority gives grant money to low- or moderate-income families for housing rehabilitation projects. The families are given a deferred loan to do necessary improvement projects on either their homes or septic systems.

A lean is put on the house for 15 years. If the resident stays in the home for 15 years, the loan is discharged. If the home is sold before this time, a portion of the loan must be repaid.

Residents apply at the MRPC to be put on the waiting list. The MRPC works with towns to apply for the grant.

Hatch recommended setting up a committee, with members of the Board of Selectmen and the Housing Authority to focus on putting together the grant application.

Hatch recommended Townsend, Lunenburg, and Ashburnham apply as a region for the grant. This would be a different grouping then the past year, in which Townsend applied with Ashburnham, Ashby and Westminster.

According to Hatch, Townsend is the lead town for the grant. She said there are currently 20-25 residents on the waiting list.

In 2004, Townsend, Ashby and Ashburnham were awarded $600,000 collectively to distribute to residents who applied for the loans.

When asked why Ashby would not be included in the grant, Hatch said there is no one currently on Ashby's waiting list.

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5, to discuss the grant application.

In Other News:

+ Holly Estes was appointed as conservation agent. Estes, a Groton resident, has served on the Board of Health and worked with the Conservation Commission in Groton. She has a Master of Education, and is currently working towards her Master of Environmental Studies in conservation biology.

The conservation agent is a 20 hours per week, part-time position. According to the job description, the agent assists the Conservation Commission in the administration and enforcement of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Townsend Wetlands Bylaw.

+ Town Administrator Gregory Barnes announced Land Use Coordinator Kathy Araujo resigned from her position.

He suggested the duties usually performed by Araujo be taken care of by in-house manpower while the job is being advertised. He also suggested selectmen and land use boards reevaluate this position while it is vacant and decide how they want to use the position in the future.

Selectmen agreed with Barnes and passed a motion to have the duties of the land use coordinator be performed by appropriate land use board members.

+ The selectmen's meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 21, was moved to Tuesday, Nov 28.