Nahant holds Town Meeting

NAHANT-One of the most controversial articles at Town Meeting on Saturday was an article on the warrant at the request of John Ryder, who owns the stone barn. The article asked Town Meeting to sell a parcel of town owned land on High Street Extension to Ryder. The Finance Committee recommended against approving the article because it would allow Ryder’s non-conforming lot at 64 Spring Road to become buildable house lot. Members of the Finance Committee and Public Lands Committee said the town should not set precedence regarding transferring town owned land to private property owners for the purpose of converting non-conforming lots into conforming lots.There was also a question as to whether Ryder, who has a case in state land court, or the town owns the property in question. The article was postponed indefinitely after a lengthy and heated debate that last for almost an hour. Town Meeting did approve a related article, which allows Ryder an easement to land located on High Street Extension for the purpose of maintaining and repairing the stone barn.The only discussion on the town budget was from a Planning Board member Town The only discussion only the town budget was from Planning Board member Daniel Perepelitza, who wanted the line item for Planning Board expenses reduced by 75 percent because he has an issue with some recent decisions made by the Planning Board. Despite his protests, the $10 million town operating budget was passed.Town Meeting approved borrowing $125,000 for Johnson Elementary School to complete the final phase of its renovation project, which got underway in 2005. The money will be used to complete the access road, the parking lot and install lighting.Other borrowing articles approved by Town Meeting include$100,000 to purchase a new backhoe for the Department of Public Works, $75,000 to upgrade the sewer pumping station and $100,000 to make repairs to the DPW building, the fire station and police station.In other business, Town Meeting voted to indefinitely postpone action on an article, which sought to reduce the percentage of the Community Preservation Act real estate tax levy. The town passed the Community Preservation Act in April 2004, which allows it to tack a surcharge of 3 percent of the real estate tax levy onto tax bills. The money generated by the property tax surcharge goes into the town Community Preservation Fund and is matched by the state.Resident Lou Moody submitted a warrant article asking voters at Town Meeting to reduce the surcharge to 1 percent, which he claimed creates a hardship for some residents. The Advisory and Finance Committee recommended against the article because it would amount to an annual reduction in CPA funds of approximately $185,000.Town Meeting voted to fund several Community Preservation Act projects including rebuilding the town wharf, improving the Heritage Trail and make upgrades at the Spindrift Housing. It also approved using CPA funds to make improvements to Town Hall, Ellingwood Chapel and the public library. Town meeting also voted to use Community Preservation Act funds for the repayment of debt service on the Coast Guard Station and 40 Steps.Turnout in the annual town election, which was also held on Saturday, was extremely low. Only 402 of the 2,539 registered voters cast ballots. The only contested race on the ballot was for Housing Authority where three candidates were vying for one slot. Robert Steeves won easily with 215 votes to 102 garnered by Peter Mazareas and Joseph Majchrzak only received 45 votes.All other candidates for office were running unopposed. Incumbent Town Moderator David Conlin, Town Clerk Harriet Steeves, Selectman Richard Lombard and Constable Paul English were all reelected along with Library Trustee John Dineen. Perry Barasso was elected to the Board of Assessors and Richard Snyder won a seat on the Planning Board. Newcomers Michael Flynn and Mickey Long were elected to the School Committee.