Politics & Government

Dutton House Sold For $101, Pending ZBA Approval

Part Two of a transcript from the Jan. 6, 2014 Board of Selectmen meeting. For the full meeting, go here

7:30 to 7:34 p.m.

Arthur Sullivan, an attorney from Lowell, came to speak on behalf of Sam’s Liquors.

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Earlier on Monday, Sam’s Liquors sold the license to Maria Caires. She told Patch that she plans to open a package store near Vinal Square.

The license has not been used since August.

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The license was held by Sambin Sok, who at this point came to the podium for questions.

Hanson asked if there was a deadline on the agreement, with Sullivan saying that the deadline was that a lease had to be in place by the end of March.

Hanson replied that Town Counsel advised that this hearing be held tonight to begin the process, with Hanson adding that if the license was not transferred within six months, it would be given back to the town.

Sullivan said that he believes six months will be enough time, that his only concern is the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC)

7:34 p.m. to 7:42 p.m.

The next item on the agenda was Town Manager’s reports regarding updates on applications grants from the  Northern Middlesex Council of Governments and updates on the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager’s goals.

Selectman Janet Askenburg asked a question regarding the goal relating to free cash as well as when these goals would end, with Cohen saying that they generally end near the end of the fiscal year, although this year it was late.

Cohen also added that there is currently no free cash.

The discussion continued regarding the issue of free cash, with Askenburg asking that the issue be added as an agenda item in the future.

That item will go to the Jan. 27 meeting, which Askenburg noted was timely since that is when the Town Manager will provide the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

7:43 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Before moving forward, Cohen mentioned that the Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals will renew its review of the Methadone Clinic near the Chelmsford border next Monday, and he talked about updates from Mass DOT on bridge renovation on Gorham Street and Westford Street.

7:45 p.m. to 7:49 p.m.

Cohen told the board that he has received a bid for the Dutton House to be moved to the corner of Dalton Road and North Road from William Harvey, who talked to the board at their last meeting regarding the Dutton House.

Harvey’s proposal would relocate the Dutton House near the Dalton Road side of the property, that the contingencies have been met that were a sticking point earlier, such as a moving company, and that he would offer the town $101.

Harvey would still need to go to the Zoning Board of Adjustments.

It is still unclear what the library would to store the items currently inside the Dutton House for the near term.

The bid was unanimously approved.

7:49 to 7:51 p.m.

The board approved minutes from several earlier meetings.


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