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Select Board declines right of first refusal; approves Chapter 61B removal for 14.35 acres near Gould and Cemetery roads
Summary
The Select Board voted to not exercise the town’s right of first refusal under Chapter 61B and approved removal of about 14.35 acres owned by Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Boston from Chapter 61B, allowing a pending sale to proceed; a board member urged sellers to avoid public “sale pending” signage until the town’s review was complete.
The Charlton Select Board on May 13 voted not to exercise the town’s right of first refusal and approved a request to remove about 14.35 acres from Chapter 61B (recreational land classification) for property shown on assessor’s map 10, block C, lot 2, located off Gould Road and Cemetery Road. The request was submitted by Francis A. Nero, Esquire, on behalf of Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Boston.
Staff told the board that the planning board, board of assessors, conservation commission and water and sewer commission had reviewed the request and had no objection to the town declining to exercise the right of first refusal. The board noted that a purchase-and-sale agreement must be in place for a Chapter 61B removal request to proceed and that a transfer cannot be executed until the board votes on the matter.
A board member raised concerns that signage indicating “sale pending” had already been posted on the property before the board took its vote; the member said that posting a sale before the town completed its process could create confusion and urged sellers to refrain from public notice until the town’s review is concluded. The board nevertheless voted in favor of approving the removal.
By approving the removal and not exercising the town’s purchase option, the board cleared the way for the owner to proceed with the transfer under Chapter 61B procedures.
