By Liz Nolan, Contributing Writer
NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough Board of Selectmen Chair Jason Perreault wanted to be responsive about recently raised issues through previous meetings’ public comment during the Board’s October 19 meeting. He encouraged residents to continue to participate through the appropriate process.
No conflict of interest with The Gutierrez’s attorney. Perreault addressed publicly made statements concerning the potential conflict of interest on the part of Attorney Mark Donahue, who is representing The Gutierrez Company and its proposed development at 0 Bartlett Street. Donahue has served as chair of the Industrial Development Commission, a town municipal board.
The Board of Selectmen requested the opinion of Town Counsel and it was found that Donahue is in compliance with the conflict interest law. He is operating under a special municipal employee designation, which “allows a board member of a town municipal board to represent private interest in front of other board and committees so long as he is not participating in a matter that would present itself in front of the board or committee that he himself serves on.”
There hasn’t been any matters relating to The Gutierrez Company properties that have come before the Industrial Development Commission.
“I want to make it very, very clear that the insinuations that have been made about Mr. Donahue’s participation in this matter with regard to conflict of interest law is inaccurate and incorrect and unfortunately has had the effect of having Mr. Donahue resign from the Industrial Development Commission solely as to not jeopardize the representation he is currently providing to his client,” said Perreault.
Board Jurisdictions. Perreault read a statement in response to community concerns regarding the Bartlett Street development. He acknowledged the respective jurisdictions of the various boards involved in the process, which is the hearing process conducted before the Planning Board on development projects.
“There is no formal or official or jurisdictional role for the Board of Selectman to play at this time,” he said.
Truck Exclusion. Another issue related to the Bartlett Street development relates to imposing a truck exclusion.
If truck traffic was to be diverted away from Northborough, it would require the permission of neighboring communities to allow for that traffic diversion to take place.
Town Administrator John Coderre said Marlborough and Westborough are not interested in traffic diverted from Northborough.
Citizens Advisory Board deemed obsolete. Town Counsel was also consulted regarding an inquiry about reviving the Citizens Advisory Board, which has been inactive for over 35 years.
It was noted that there would be an overlap of the role of the Master Plan Implementation Committee and the duties of the Citizens Advisory Board, and if both bodies were in place, it would result in duplicate efforts, confusion and use limited staff resources.
Perreault said there doesn’t seem to be a purpose to revive an obsolete committee.
View the full meeting on YouTube at Northborough Remote Meetings.
