9 North Road and the Selectmen Recall: A Timeline

In the days leading up to the recall election on Aug. 2, we're taking a look at all aspects of the issue at hand. Today, we take a look at the timeline of the issue and how it all has come down to the election on Aug. 2. You can also check out and

Timeline

2007: The Emerson House is owned by MassBank, predecessor company to Eastern Bank. Developer Michael Eliopoulos (the father of Philip Eliopoulos, who at the time was a member of the Board of Selectmen) asks the bank if they would consider selling North Road parcel. MassBank declines.

 2007: Roland Van Liew starts Slow Growth Initiative (SGI).

 September 2007: Fire Department/Department of Public Works Facility Study Committee presents recommendations to Board of Selectmen. They say North Road site is too small and that renovating is not feasible. Committee recommends that Fire Dept. should ideally relocate.

October 2008: Pat Maloney of the Permanent Building Committee raises questions about whether the Chelmsford Street/Wilson Street site was most economical and fiscally sound option. He suggested closer look at existing Fire Dept. site and property behind it.

February 2009:   Town Manager Paul Cohen hears that Eastern Bank was considering subdividing and selling the Emerson House and land behind it.  Cohen and Pat Maloney call Tom Dunn of Eastern Bank to ask if he’d consider selling just the land parcel to the town.  Dunn says he’ll get back to them.

February 2009:  Pat Maloney notifies the Permanent Building Committee of the possibility of acquiring land behind the fire station from Eastern Bank.

February 2009: Paul Cohen tells Pat Maloney the bank’s appraisal value of Emerson House plus the land is $430,000, and there is an offer of $480,000 from Michael Eliopoulos of Epsilon Group. Both feel it may still be possible for the town to purchase some of the land.

March 2009: Paul Cohen receives approval from Board of Selectmen to inquire of the bank about possibility of purchasing some of the land behind the fire station. Phil Eliopoulos is not present at that portion of the meeting.

April 2009: Selectmen Philip Eliopoulos and Bill Dalton decide not to run for re-election. The Epsilon Group LLC, owned by Michael Eliopoulos, finalizes purchase & sale agreement with Eastern Bank for Emerson House and the land. Paul Cohen is informed by Eastern Bank and first learns of the intent of Epsilon Group to construct a new office building.

July 2009: Slow Growth Initiative tries to recall the town manager. The effort fails because the town manager cannot be recalled.

October 2009: Epsilon Group files plans to construct a 15,400 square-foot office building on the former Eastern Bank property, subject to a preservation restriction contained within the deed. The restriction identifies the Board of Selectmen as the only enforcement authority to insure its conditions are met in the event that the land is developed.

December 2009 through March 2010: Historic District Commission, Conservation Commission and Planning Board approve the project.

March 2010: Phil Eliopoulos gets letter clearing him from Ethics Commission.

July 2010: Chelmsford building inspector issues permit for Epsilon Group building foundation.

August 2010: Board of Selectmen votes 2-1 that the

October 2010: Roland Van Liew begins the process to recall Planning Board members Sue Carter, Ann McGuigan and George Zaharoolis for their positions on 9 North Road. Ann McGuigan cannot be recalled because her term is too close to ending.

November 2010: Roland Van Liew hires to collect signatures at the polls on Election Day.

November 2010: The Planning Board recall effort fails due to lack of signatures.

March 21, 2011: 

April 5: Van Liew again hires

April 19:  Van Liew returns the first set of petitions to the town clerk and the

April: Attorney Richard McClure, who at first represents Roland Van Liew, raises questions about  Town Manager Paul Cohen asserts the town is A judge wanted both to appear in court .

May: . Also, after going back and fourth to court over the number of petitions that should be issued from the town clerk and when the 14-day window to collect signatures starts, the .

May: Still, and.  Selectmen choose Aug. 2 as the date.

May:

May: " to fight the recall effort.

June 23: Choose Chelmsford holds an informational meeting. Two hours of questions were taken in an open mic setting.

July: Both sides do their best to rally voters.  

Aug. 2: Election day.