Nahant Town Meeting to start Saturday

NAHANT – Nahant Town Meeting is scheduled to get underway Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Town Hall.One of the most pressing issues facing the town this year is the fate of the former Coast Guard Housing property. An article on the warrant asks Town Meeting to authorize the Board of Selectmen to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop the 3.5-acre former Coast Guard housing property on which 12 single-family homes are located.Town Manager Mark Cullinan said a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) has been developed but it would not be issued to pre-qualified developers without Town Meeting approval. Cullinan said if Town Meeting approves issuing the RFP, it is only the first step in the process and approval of the article does not give the town authority to sell the property.According to Cullinan, the next step in the process would be to look at specific proposals, which would be presented to the community at public hearings. He said that stage would be followed by a special Town Meeting, which would be held in September or October, to vote on a proposal.A borrowing article on the April 26 Town Meeting warrant asks voters to appropriate the money to make repairs to the police station, fire station and Department of Public Works facility on Flash Road.Town Meeting is also being asked to approve $125,000 for improvements to the grounds of Johnson Elementary School, which would be used to complete work in the parking lot and on the grounds.Polls for the annual election are open Saturday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. The only contested race is for the Housing Authority. Newcomers Joseph Majchrzak and Peter Mazareas are jockeying with incumbent Robert Steeves for the one five-year term on the Housing Authority.Selectman Richard Lombard is running unopposed for another three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. School Committee members Peter Przybycien and Peter Barba are not running for re-election in April. Michael Flynn and Mickey Long are the only candidates running for the two open slots on the School Committee.Moderator David Conlin, Town Clerk Harriet Steeves and Constable Paul English are all running unopposed for another one-year term. Incumbent Perry Barrasso is running unopposed for reelection to the Board of Assessors and incumbent John Dineen is running unopposed for a three-year term on the Board of Library Trustees. The only candidate for a five-year term on the Planning Board is incumbent Richard Snyder.