Comprehensive Patriot Place Review

Committee Meeting

Minutes of October 30, 2006

 

Chairman Mark Sullivan opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. 

 

Members present: Anthony LaChapelle, Paul Feeney, John Michelmore, Arthur Barrett, Neil Forster, Bert Delaney, and (alternates) Arthur Muldoon and Mary Ann Baker.  Bill Buckley was excused.

 

John Michelmore made note of a spelling error in the minutes of the October 23^rd meeting Leo Potter’s name was spelled incorrectly.  The spelling was corrected. The minutes were approved upon motion by Mark Sullivan seconded by Neil Forster and approved by all, with the exception of Bert Delaney, who abstained, due to the fact that he was absent for that meeting. 

 

A statement from Bill Buckley is attached.

 

Lynda Walsh, minute taker, informed the group that a website has been created and has a link to the Town website.  Randy Scollins will be asked to place a link from the town website to ours.  The new website is www.cpprc.org.

 

Chairman Sullivan made a motion that the committee accept the Mission Statement as presented; it was seconded by Tony LaChapelle, all voted in favor.

 

Richard Gelerman, Attorney for the Town of Foxborough, was introduced for questions.  Richard made a preliminary statement of some facts he thought needed presenting.

The waste water treatment plant is owned by the Patriots.  The Booster pump station is owned by the Town.  The water tower is owned by the Patriots, and the re-use tower is owned by the Town.  This agreement was made in 2000 between the developer and Water & Sewer Committee.  If the town ever decides to tie into the Patriot’s system, it would then become the Towns concern.  At this point it’s capacity is 250,000 gallons.

The Water Board met with the stadium and have spoken about the concept of expanding to 500,000 gallons.  There is land set aside on the site, for the expansion of the leaching field as well as the treatment plant.  This might enable the town to bring in town sewage e.g., the new Payson Road project.  These talks are very preliminary, stadium officials are putting figures together.  We would look to the developer to defray some of the cost and the Town to pay the rest, all terms are negotiable.

 

The Re-use facility tower was built and owned by the town.  The Town has signage rights to that facility.  The authority rests with the Board of Selectmen per the 2003 vote at town meeting, however, the dollars from the licensing goes to the Water fund.  Water & Sewage Dept. need to approve the structural integrity only.  The final decision and approval rests with the Selectmen.

 

Richard stated that the signage may have some value to the Stadium, in return to pay for the leaching beds and expanding the treatment facility as well as upgrading from the 10” pipe to a 12” piping.  Neil Forster asked for a copy of the agreement between the Stadium and the Town.  Richard will get that to Neil.

 

Tony LaChapelle inquired about a “Sunset Clause”.  Richard believes that there is no sunset clause for any of the facilities on the site.  The town could expand at any time.  Richard will double check the agreement and return his findings to the committee.

 

John Michelmore asked Richard to confirm that there is space for expansion of the leaching fields and that the Town would be responsible for the building of it.

 

Richard was also questioned on the Town’s rights to demand anything from the Stadium during these procedures.

 

The developer needs the support to go to the legislature for 12 more liquor licenses.  This is the Town’s strength and power.  To put a number on that would be our responsibility to come up with and present to the developer.  It’s all in negotiations between the town and the developer. 

 

Richard corrected the committee by informing them that the developer has agreed to pay for a peer review/report of the town impact only.  They will not be liable for the fees of an independent consultant.  They will pick up the fees for the Planning Board, legal council & a peer review of the fiscal analysis only.  There is no requirement by law nor any agreement at this point for the town to recover offsite mitigation.

 

It was said that all of this needs to have town meeting approval.

 

Bert Delaney pointed out to the committee that the key here is communication.  It’s crucial that all departments be on the same page.  He suggested the Board of Selectman form a negotiating team that consists of a member of the Planning Board, Water & Sewage Commission, a member from this committee as well as a Selectman to ensure that the group will stand together as one. 

 

Board of Selectmen Chairman Michael Stanton reminded the board, there is an RFP for a consultant out for proposal.

 

Tony LaChappelle made a motion that the Board of Selectmen appoint a negotiation body to act on the town’s behalf, seconded by Neil Forster and approved by all.  During discussion, Tony noted that we are already late and need a negotiating body as soon as possible.

 

Bill Grieder, Planning Board, informed the group that they have received volume of information from the Stadium and it will take time to go through it all.  John Michelmore reminded the group that the Board is obligated to give their recommendations with in a reasonable time.  After the closing of the hearing, there is a 15 day period within which the Planning Board is required to publish a decision.

 

Mark Resnick, Town Planner, stated that a Notice of Project Change was filed in May of 2006.  The Patriots came to the Planning Board and discussed their plans with them.  Report has been completed and a certificate from them has been issued. 

 

John Michelmore questioned Mark whether there are any other state agencies that need to be involved with any approvals.  Mark Resnick stated that no other agencies are involved, it rests solely with the town for approval.

 

John Michelmore noted that the only identifying impact per by law that can become part of the talks would be a 25% increase of traffic that would render the roadway capacity insufficient.  These roads would most likely be Beach Street and North Street.  Mark Resnick responded that it is still in a fact finding stage.

 

Bill Casbarra, Building Commissioner, stated that at this point, they only have “Bass Pro Shop” as a tenant at will, and ground breaking has been slowly getting moved out in time.  There is a possibility that this may not happen until spring.

 

Arthur Muldoon, again asked that the committee somehow get a blown up layout of the site.  This visual aide would help in further discussions at the committee level.

 

Mark moved that item 6 on the agenda (Status report on Town Board Time Line/Decision matrix) would be moved to the next meeting.  Mark then motioned to adjourn, second by Paul Feeney, all in favor.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

 

Submitted by,

 

Lynda Walsh

 

 

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