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Residents press Select Board on committee appointments, 14 50 Main Street slope concerns and landfill cell-tower plans
Summary
During the Feb. 24 public-comment period several Concord residents raised concerns about how the Select Board is making committee appointments and about development and telecommunications proposals affecting nearby properties and neighborhoods.
Public comment opened the Select Board’s Feb. 24 meeting. Speakers raised three recurring themes: transparency in volunteer committee appointments and adherence to APP 10, site-specific concerns about a proposed development at 1450 Main Street, and opinions on a proposed cell tower at the former landfill.
Appointments and APP 10
Several residents said the Select Board’s recent appointment process for the Tax Relief Evaluation Task Force and other committees departed from established practice (APP 10) and thereby reduced transparency and public accountability. Gwen Acton told the board she was “both disappointed and honestly shocked” by the process and listed specific concerns: lack of a single, public list of applicants, limited outreach to renters and landlords, and a perception that the board’s approach risked the appearance of favoritism. Elizabeth Moore and others urged the board to honor APP 10’s procedures and to consider tracking and limiting residents who serve on multiple committees.
Select Board response
Board members said the topic will be on a future agenda. Cameron McKennett agreed to bring APP 10 to the board for discussion and asked members to submit input; the chair said the board will discuss APP 10 at the next meeting and invited written feedback.
14 50 Main Street development
A nearby condo resident, Cece Donnellan, asked whether earth removal and tree removal approved in a December 30, 2020 decision allows the developer to alter a steep slope backing her property and whether protections are in place if the work damages foundations or mature trees. Planning staff said the application will return to the Zoning Board of Appeals for review on March 20 in light of ongoing litigation; town staff said they will prepare a statement and that the ZBA will review the application again.
Landfill and proposed cell tower
Speakers expressed both support and concern for placing a cell tower on the former Concord landfill. Alicia Boyajian and Gail Hyer said the tower would increase cellular capacity, improve public-safety communications, and serve visitors to Walden Pond and nearby fields. Another commenter, representing a conservation project, warned that placing conservation restrictions on the landfill parcel could slow or obstruct a cell-tower siting and recalled previous, unsuccessful ballot efforts to restrict the parcel. Speakers asked the Select Board to weigh communications and public-safety benefits alongside conservation and land-use goals.
What the board will do next
The Select Board said it will schedule an APP 10 discussion, will work with staff to circulate a statement on the 1450 Main Street application and litigation, and noted that the ZBA will review the application on March 20.
