Saugus conservation board head looks into buying land

SAUGUS – Project Greenhouse is raising a few eyebrows, but Conservation Commission Chairman Al Trifone said the concept is quite simple.The Conservation Commission is trying a new angle to acquire land and, if it plays out, it will include a non-profit organization, roughly 10 acres of conservation-protected property and most likely a revenue-generating greenhouse.Back in December, Trifone applied to the state for non-profit status under “Project Greenhouse Inc.,” with himself listed as president of the corporation, Kevin Tierney Sr. listed as treasurer and Norman Grande listed as clerk.Trifone said the plan is to use the non-profit company as a mechanism to purchase conservation property or open space. The first piece of property in mind is the Huberman Greenhouse land at 113 Vine St.”We’re focusing on the Huberman property but it’s not necessarily just the Huberman property, it could be anywhere,” Trifone added quickly.While the Conservation Commission has a land acquisition fund designed for purchasing open space, it only has about $80,000 in it. Trifone said that is not nearly enough to purchase the Huberman property, which has been estimated at $4 million. That is where Project Greenhouse comes in.With Project Greenhouse, Trifone said they could apply for grants to purchase the Vine Street property.Conservation Commissioners, in fact, approved $2,400 during their May meeting to hire a grant writer.If all goes as planned, Trifone said not only would Project Greenhouse purchase the Huberman property, it would also continue to run the greenhouse as a way to generate more funds for the land acquisition account. He also said plants produced at the greenhouse could be used to landscape the town, not unlike the tree farm producing trees for the town.While the argument has been made that the town would technically own the property since the Conservation Commission is part of the town, Trifone said that is not correct.”The corporation will own the property,” he said. “Project Greenhouse will own it, not Al Trifone and not the town.”Trifone said he would remain president until he stepped down, then a new leader would be voted in.”We will have a Board of Directors . . . we will have a set of bylaws that everyone will have to follow,” he said.Trifone was also quick to add that the whole endeavor is still in its preliminary stages. Project Greenhouse hasn’t even received its non-profit status yet.”We’re not spending any town funds on this,” Trifone said. “This is not an entity of the town. The town will never really get stuck with anything.”Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said he is aware of the project and thought that if Trifone could pull off the purchase without town funds that it could be a good thing for the town.