By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Representatives of Jensen Hughes Engineering (headquartered in Baltimore, Md., with local offices in Framingham and Marlborough) attended the Grafton Board of Selectmen’s meeting Aug. 18. The board had chosen the company to assist with potential issues related to the new liquid propane gas (LPG) transfer station at the North Grafton switching yard of the Grafton and Upton Rail Road (GURR).
A recent decision by the federal Surface Transportation Board recently allowed GURR to install four, 120-foot LPG storage tanks at the railroad’s switching yard, adjacent to the site previously selected for the town’s Super Park and in a residential neighborhood.
This, in turn, spurred the selectmen to create a “What If” committee to determine the best ways to protect the town and its residents from the possible fire and explosion danger presented by the storage of so much liquid propane. At its Aug. 18 meeting, two Jensen Hughes chemical engineers who are also fire safety specialists made short remarks to the board. The selectmen then voted 4-0 to sign a contract with Jensen Hughes, with Dennis Flynn abstaining.
In other business, Town Administrator Timothy McInerney noted that after the recent retirement of two Grafton police officers, he had created a short list of two potential recruits plus one potential safety resource officer for the Grafton public schools. He also noted that planning for the fiscal year 2017 budget was beginning.
He also informed the board that malfunctioning traffic lights at the Route 140/Bridge Street will be reprogrammed to provide better traffic flow at that busy intersection.
Selectman Bruce Spinney was appointed to the Affordable Housing Trust and Jenny Anderson was appointed as the town’s new recreation director.
