T O W N R E P O R T 2007 L U N E N B U R G - Town of Lunenburg

BOARD OF SELECTMENFollowing the Election in May 2007, Thomas A. Alonzo was elected as Chairman, Robert H. Bowen was elected as Vice-Chairman,and Paula Bertram was elected as Clerk of the Board. Newest member Thomas J. Mason took his seat on the Board along withcurrent member Steven M. deBettencourt. Fiscal 2008 saw the departure of our former Chief Administrative and Financial Officer,Daniel M. Keyes in September. The CAFO Review Committee was once again recruited and went through a thorough and expeditedprocess to hire a new CAFO; Kerry A. Speidel, whose tenure with the Town began on December 1, 2007.With the conclusion of the current phase of the sewer project, and pursuant to the vote of Town Meeting, the Town has undertakenthe preparation of a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan with the firm of Wright-Pierce to assess future sewering needsfor the Town. It is anticipated that their final report will be available prior to the Annual Town Meeting scheduled May 3, 2008. Withapproximately 3600 existing residential housing units, projections of between 1000 to 1200 new units in various stages of approvalor conceptual proposal raised serious concerns as the last fiscal year began. Many factors, not the least of which has been theslow down in the residential real estate market, have tempered this urgency, and should allow us some much needed time toadequately plan for the impact of such dramatic new growth on our infrastructure and on our budget. The separation of the SewerCommission from the Board of Selectmen has resulted in the hiring of a Sewer Business Manager, Barbara Lefebvre , working inconjunction with the Department of Public Works.Under the auspices of the Planning Director, an ad hoc land use committee has been formed to assist with this necessary planning.Lunenburg has also established “Planned Production” and approved an affordable housing “40R” district for the construction of204 rental units. These are critical tools that will increase the local control our land use boards, particularly the Zoning Board ofAppeals, will have over the approval of affordable housing projects in the future. As a result of water quality and wastewater issuesat the Meadow Woods Mobile Home Park, Town Meeting approved presenting a request for special legislation to the State, whichwould allow the town to assess a betterment on the property owner for the infrastructure improvements necessary.Work and planning regarding the reuse of the vacated buildings in the Town Center is back at the forefront. The old public safetybuilding was demolished this past summer, pursuant to the vote of Town Meeting, and the Susan Brown House has recently beensold. Funds were appropriated to conduct a study with respect to the needs of Town office space that may utilize some of the otherbuildings. Although Town meeting approved the Community Preservation Act, it failed resoundingly at the ballot. This initiativemay be brought before the Town once again at a future time, as it is a means to provide much needed funds to accomplish some ofthese things. The school department recently completed a study of its facilities, and as a result Town Meeting voted to create aspecial unpaid committee to be known as a Regional School District Planning Committee to consist of three members. ThisCommittee has begun regionalization discussions with the communities of Ayer and Shirley.As fiscal 2008 comes to a close, we find ourselves at a fiscal crossroads in Lunenburg. We have begun the important task ofplanning for our financial future by developing a five-year financial forecast. Like any forecast, it is an evolving document that willchange as each revenue and expenditure assumption is reviewed and modified. Nevertheless, it is a critical tool for our financialplanning and budget analysis.The Board extends a special “thank you” again this year to the Lunenburg / Townsend Rotary Club for decorating the Gazebo atChristmas and the Turkey Hill Gardeners for the seasonal Town Hall decorations and flowers in the upper common. We would alsolike to acknowledge the generous donations that were received and utilized so that the Town could continue with the traditionalBand Concerts on the Common and any donations to this cause would be greatly appreciated.Your Board has enjoyed working in service to the Town, working with each other and with you the citizens. The Selectmen wouldalso like to acknowledge the individuals who work so hard for the Town and those who volunteer their time and commitment byserving on the various Boards, Commissions and Committees within the Town.Please feel free to direct any calls to our office staff, Kerry A. Speidel, Chief Administrative Financial Officer, Laura Williams, Chiefof Staff / Chief Administrative Assistant or Linda Douglas, Administrative Assistant @ 978-582-4144. If they cannot assist you, theywill forward your call to the appropriate authorities. Our office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM,Tuesday 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM.