Selectmen set hearing for Revere Street improvements

The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 17, to discuss a proposed change to the development agreement with the owners of the Paul Revere Heritage Site regarding planned improvements to Revere Street.

As a result of a policy change implemented at the 2018 town meeting, selectmen are now empowered to approve such changes with a four-fifths vote, but only after a public hearing is held. Previously, all significant changes to the 2015 development agreement required town meeting approval.

Due to the poor condition of Revere Street, the developer, Canton Holdings, has discussed a plan with the DPW to do a full-depth reconstruction of Revere Street — as opposed to cold-planing of the top layers of pavement — in addition to curb and drainage improvements. Canton Holdings, however, would no longer pay for proposed traffic lights at the fire station or the MBTA overpass.

Canton Holdings is willing to commit an estimated $768,000 for the project with the town committing $245,000 (down from an original price tag of $292,000.) The town’s commitment would come from either selectmen-controlled mitigation accounts or via a town meeting appropriation. Canton Holdings would like to begin the project before the winter with the balance to be completed in the spring.

In other news from Tuesday night’s meeting:

* The Master Plan Steering Committee and Town Planner Laura Smead will host an open house to review the master plan update on Thursday, September 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at the Canton Public Library. There will be no formal presentation given, but residents will have an opportunity to review the plan.

* Fire Chief Charles Doody informed selectmen that through the efforts of Deputy Fire Chief Scott Johnson, Canton has obtained a grant of $85,718 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for firefighter safety and survival training.

* Smead is investigating a grant from the Neponset Valley Transportation Management Authority worth $180,000 to $200,000 to establish a pilot shuttle service for businesses in the Royall Street area. The grant requires a 20 percent matching contribution by the town and area businesses and Smead informed selectmen that Dunkin’ Brands and Boston Mutual Life Insurance Co. have already expressed interest. Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall said the town’s match is estimated at $9,480 and would potentially be subject to a town meeting appropriation. Smead said the goal is for the shuttle to become a long term, self-sustaining service funded by businesses, including those within The Block (former Reebok property) and Trillium, as well as future state grants.

* Aspinall requested and received approval to put out a Reverse 911 call to all residents to inform them of an upcoming informational meeting on October 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the function room at Fuller Village in Milton. The state Department of Transportation wants to report on the 25 percent design stage of planned improvements on Route 138 from the Milton line to the Stoughton line. Aspinwall said there are many abutters on the Canton-Milton line that may be impacted.

* Selectmen voted to approve a request to hold a block party on Longmeadow Drive on September 14 from 4-7 p.m. with a rain date of September 21.

* Resident Glen Shane was informed by Selectmen Chairman Chris Connolly that he could speak on any topic at the September 3 meeting, but future agenda items must be posted 48 hours in advance. Shane attended Tuesday’s meeting in part to speak to selectmen about the role of water-sewer commissioners and how often they meet publicly. Connolly emailed some questions to Shane about specific topics so that the board and Shane “would be on the same page” in the next discussion.

* Ronen Drory, owner of Prestige Car Wash & Gas at 925 Turnpike Street, has donated $10,000 worth of coupon books for car washes at Prestige. The coupon books will be used for town vehicles, including DPW and School Department vehicles.

* Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, September 17, at 5:30 p.m.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Sep 6 2019. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.