Voters approve $700,000 for land purchase
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Town officials received permission to use $700,000 to purchase a piece of property off Russell Hill Road at the special town meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

The article passed after some discussion including questions about the long range cost to the town. The town received a $200,000 state self-help grant to pay some of the $700,000 as well as $300,000 from the Mt. Grace Land Trust. The town is also waiting to hear whether they received another pending grant.

"It will just be the cost of borrowing in the long run," said Selectman Jonathan Dennehy.

The town is also still in negotiations with the landowner about the cost of the land.

Gary Howland, who spoke in favor of the project, said the land had public access and could be used for all types of passive recreation.

Voters passed a total of 18 articles at the meeting.

Among them, voters unanimously approved the transfer of $62,636 to supplement department budgets during the fiscal year. These transfers include money to coverage new staffing in the land use office, cost-of-living adjustment budgeting errors, and additional health insurance costs.

Voters unanimously approved $97,840 from the water surplus account to pay for the installation of fire hydrants along Fitchburg Road/Route 12 during the installation and upgrade of the waterline along that road. The funds will also pay to cover police details during construction.

Also supported was the transfer of $13,000 from the capital improvement fund to pay for a Tier I environmental study of the John R. Briggs Elementary School property on Williams Road.

Voters unanimously approved the donation of a parcel of land on Sherbert Road to Habitat for Humanity. Meeting goers okayed money to try to establish Meeting House Hill a National Historic District.