Dutton House Bids Due Week of Thanksgiving

Part Two of a transcript of the Nov. 4, 2013 Chelmsford Board of Selectmen meeting. The full meeting is available on Chelmsford Telemedia here. Times on the Telemedia video are indicated in parentheses.

For the rest of the meeting, click here.

7:44 p.m. to 7:54 p.m.  (44:30 to 54:20)

A draft invitation for bids for the Dutton House was presented, bids will likely be presented by Dec. 10, with bidding deadline of Nov. 25 and a viewing of the building to occur on Nov. 18 from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Cohen’s main question to the board was clarification on the bid preferences between keeping the house in town and giving preference to non-profit organizations.

Board of Selectmen chairman Matt Hanson asked how binding the criteria was, posing a hypothethical situation where a for-profit would keep the house in the center of the town.

Cohen wasn’t sure if there was a geographical preference within a specific part of the town, Hanson said he was just curious, and Cohen said that it may be expensive to move it far in any case.

Selectmen Janet Askenburg asked if family members could also get preference, Cohen said he had not heard from any family members, and they would face similar challenges to others buying the home in terms of moving the house and finding a place for it.

Cohen says he has gotten no formal bids, but several people expressing interest.

The board ultimately did not change the bid process to give preference to Dutton family members, but Cohen said an addendum could be added if any Dutton family members came forward.

 7:54 p.m. to 8:04 p.m. (54:20 to 64:50)

Cohen told the board that information regarding the Fiscal Year 2014 property revaluation for the town has been submitted to the state.

On Nov. 18, there will be a Tax Classification meeting, which Cohen said is normally tabled  for a hearing and then acted upon on Dec. 2, so the values can be out by the end of the December.

After values are determined at the end of December, residents would have until the end of February to file for an abatement.

Cohen then gave an update to the board on Chelmsford winning the Leading by Example Award, updates on a hearing on Nov. 12 for several committees and requested to schedule the next Tri-Board (Finance Committee, School Committee and Board of Selectmen) meeting on Dec. 9

8:04 p.m. to 8:08 p.m.  (64:50 to 68:30)

Cohen and Department of Public Works director Gary Persichetti announced that a bid for new sprinklers at the upcoming Billerica Road Fire Department station was awarded to Encore Fire Protection for $149,000.

There was an alternate bid that was lower, with Persichetti explaining the accepted bid had to do with unusual pipes related with the project.

8:08 p.m. to 8:12 p.m.  (68:30 to 72:05)

Cohen requested the reappointment of Paul Gilfeather to the Middlesex Canal Commission, and also requested the board appoint  Charles Upton to the Commission on Disabilities, Donna Cassidy to the Dog Park Advisory Committee, Lois Alves to the Cultural Committee,  Louis Marino to the Recycling Committee, and Pamela Landy to the TREE Committee.

Alves had hit term limits on the Cultural Committee before and had to wait a term before reapplying.

Minutes for the Sept. 9 meeting were approved,and  the board directed Chairman Hanson to submit a letter asking for a  Financial Management Review from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.