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HomeMy Public PortalAboutSelect Board -- 2021-03-02 Minutes Office of: 1 ' oERa ,:F9 Town of Brewster �t , Q y o� aF4,� , Select Board z ,Ot �Nti 2198 Main Street 3 A6, Opp Town Administrator o U v� Brewster, MA 02631 - 1898 14 Phone : ( 508 ) 896 -3701 /////////////// FF4fl19,�1 ° °°\ www. brewster-ma . gov MINUTES OF THE SELECT BOARD EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES DATE . March 2, 2021 TIME : 9 : 00 AM PLACE : Remote Teleconference ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY : Chair Chaffee, Selectperson Whitney, Selectperson Chatelain , Selectperson Bingham , Selectperson deRuyter, Town Administrator Peter Lombardi , Assistant Town Administrator Donna Kalinick, and Assistant Town Administrator Susan Broderick . Call to Order & Declaration of a Quorum , Meeting Participation Statement and Recording Statement Chair Chaffee called the meeting to order at 9 : 00 am , conducted a roll call vote of attendance, declared a quorum present, and read the meeting participation and recording statements . Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair Chair Chaffee announced the upcoming meetings : March 10, 15 , 16, 25 , 29 and April 5 , 2021 Executive Session : To consider the purchase , exchange , lease or value of real property if the chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body. Selectperson Bingham moved to enter executive session . Selectperson Chatelain second . A role call vote was taken . Selectperson deRuyter- yes, Selectperson Chatelain - yes, Selectperson Bingham - yes, Selectperson Whitney-yes, Chair Chaffee -yes , The Board vote was 5 -Yes, 0- No . All members present recited the following statement " No other person is present or able to hear the discussion at this remote location . " Peter Lombardi updated the Select Board regarding his recent short but interesting conservation with Jim Fleet . The last time they had a conversation it was left that the focus was on the wind down and this has been the case over the past couple of months . Jim Fleet told Mr . Lombardi that they plan on making a public announcement sometime this month and mentioned that they will be holding some kind of charity auction . Mr . Fleet referenced the Brewster Historical Society; however, Mr . Lombardi doesn 't know the extent of the conversation , they are putting together a curated collection of items . Mr . Lombardi stated that clearly, they are continuing to move in the direction of full disposition of the property, including various equipment and memorabilia . Mr . Fleet didn ' t offer much more but did say they would give a heads up before they went public . Mr . Lombardi stated that it seems they still want to get rid of both parcels . Mr . Fleet did comment that this will be the first and last time that he runs a project on Cape Cod , Mr . Lombardi added that it seems Mr . Fleet didn ' t have a handle on the regulatory scheme and that this isn' t a typical real estate transaction . During their conversation Mr . Fleet referenced the fact that the Select Board is getting advice from other real estate BoS 3 -02 . 2021 www . brewster- ma . gov Page 1 of 4 Doc ID : c1 e74a7203a73f65b75fac8b6fda6ee383511 ac9 w gRE!" ST Town of Brewster Office off 05 °oF `°ER'e9 F9 Select Board 2198 Main Street Town Administrator o rp p J_ Brewster, MA 026314 898 _ Phone : ( 508 ) 896 -3701 4 — 5 w f .1s www. brewster"ma. gov pet" igloo' /'�f�llldl111HI IIIIIIIIQAAAA��w advisors, Mr. Lombardi interprets this as they are also having appraisal work done so that they understand what realistic value is of the properties . Mr . Fleet did mention that he is glad to hear that the Town is still interested . Mr . Lombardi noted that in not so many words, they hinted to being interested in the Town making an offer on the properties . Mr . Lombardi responded to Mr . Fleet that the Town views this situation as very important and referenced that the Select Board has been meeting on a regular basis and continuing our due diligence . Mr . Fleet let it be known that he would be available within a weeks' time to continue the conversation . Overall, Mr . Lombardi thought it was a positive conversation and thinks that Mr . Fleet let it be known that they didn ' t have a handle on the complexities of both parcels . Selectperson Bingham asked if Mr . Lombardi thought they ( Mr . Fleet and Phoenix Management ) would get more for the property than in actuality ? Peter Lombardi agreed and believed that they thought they would get more, or it would be an easier process . Adding that the thinking would be the parcels would have more value in the private sector or be able to leverage them more easily against the Town . Selectperson deRuyter commented that they probably thought the process would move faster . Mr . Lombardi agreed and may now be realizing this will take some time . During the call Mr . Fleet mentioned he was calling from Buffalo and was running a large commercial project out there which seems to be more the company' s specialty . Mr . Lombardi added that for whatever reason this is who the Cape Cod Seas Camps Board went with , not sure if it is a perfect fit in terms of the skill set needed to really be able to navigate this situation , but it does bode well for the Town . Chair Chaffee questioned if one of the statements earlier was that Mr . Fleet said there would be a charity auction , did you really mean charity ? Peter Lombardi replied , yes, that is what was said and that Mr . Fleet mentioned making a public announcement regarding an auction , Mr . Lombardi did not get into the details during the call . Mr . Lombardi added that is sounds like they will be donating the proceeds to local charities, or charities that were a priority to members of their Board . Chair Chaffee stated that it doesn ' t make sense to do at this point, in which Mr . Lombardi agreed noting that for our purpose it doesn ' t have a lot of impact on where we are going with things . Selectperson Bingham added that during the tour it was pointed out the signs in the dining hall , the sailboats, other equipment would all be auctioned off . Mr . Lombardi stated that he spoke with Hal Minis of the Brewster Conservation Trust ( BCT) relative to the Long Pond Parcel and noted that BCT in the past month or so has connected with Mass Audubon . It appears Mass Audubon has reached out to BCT expressing their interest, there has also been a site visit to the parcel and Mass Audubon is interested in potentially being involved in the acquisition and having some presence . Mr . Lombardi did say that this is the early stages, and we don ' t know what it will look like exactly . Mr . Lombardi did note that in conversations with Mr . Minis it sounds like Mass Audubon and Brewster Conservation Trust talked about if Mass Audubon were to run programming on the pond , it could limit public access which would be problematic . Mr . Lombardi explained to Mr. Minis that there is a separate grassy area BoS 3 - 02 . 2021 www . brewster- ma . gov Page 2 of 4 Doc ID : c1 e74a7203a73f65b75fac8b6fda6ee383511 ac9 ��uutii0811/6 ,,,, Office of: E STF Town of Brewster 0`001 aAF Select Board 2198 Main Street Town Administrator Qz; 0 � .z � Brewster, MA02631 - 1898 Phone : (508 ) 896 - 3701 www. brewster-ma . gov where the sheds are located and hypothetically could be used without interfering with public access to the beach area . Mr. Minis was interested and stated once weather turns, he will schedule a time to bring Mass Audubon out again and take a look . Mr . Lombardi stated that there is a lot of interest with many suitors for the Bay parcel . The Town and Brewster Conservation Trust are the only ones interested in the Long Pond parcel . It is good to have someone else at the table like Mass Audubon that would have a minimal footprint and has done a lot of good things over the years . Adding that they have the financial capacity and wherewithal to be a good partner and an addition to the coalition that we are building for each parcel . Mr . Lombardi shared that Mr. Minis and members of the BCT Board have been talking to their major donors, primarily about the Pond parcel, and there is definite interest from larger donors, adding that Brewster Conservation Trust may have significant contributions to the acquisition for the parcel . Mr . Lombardi ended his conversation with Mr . Minis that we are still engaged on the issue and working through due diligence and some general policy direction , once we have more specifics, we will have more conversations with Brewster Conservation Trust . Selectperson Chaffee request a clarification , are they expressing interest for a role in both parcels, and mostly interested in the Pond Parcel . Mr . Lombardi responded, correct, most interest is in the Pond parcel , he has not asked why that is and his sense is that they recognize that there is a lot of different stake holders with the Bay parcel . The Bay parcel would be more than just passive recreation which is typically the kind of acquisition Brewster Conservation Trust sponsors and supports, whereas the Long Pond parcel fits with their approach and it abuts the Robinson parcel and the trail network that is already there, this is a good match for them . Mr. Lombardi did note that it is worth talking to them once we have an appraisal in hand and a better sense of market value for each parcel , while we understand their sole interest is in the Pond parcel maybe they are able/willing to make a financial contribution to the Bay parcel . The primary value on the Bay Parcel from Brewster Conservation Trust perspective is the Northeast corner where the pond , and marsh is, they would want to make sure there is a conservation restriction on that part of the property . In regard to the appraisal Mr . Lombardi stated that based on the timeline , we are supposed to receive it in two weeks, noting he has reached out to Ryan Bennett to check in but hasn ' t heard back . There has not been any more information about the parents of previous campers who were going to try to purchase the parcel . Selectperson deRuyter stated that with respect to the Long Pond parcel , he thinks this is great news and is not surprised the Brewster Conservation Trust is showing interest and that Mass Audubon could be a partner . Selectperson deRuyter would like to keep in mind the potential use of housing on a portion of the parcel , this is an excellent location and as conversations mature , which will take time, it is a component that the Town would have interest in . Mr . Lombardi noted that in previous discussion with either Hal Minis or Mark Robinson about the Long Pond parcel housing could be sited closer to Rt 137 . Adding that they were interested and supportive of this, as the vision is not solely for passive recreation and a trail network . Mr . Lombardi noted that once we have the appraisal and understand our strategy it makes sense to understand BoS 3 - 02 . 2021 www . brewster- ma . gov Page 3 of 4 Doc ID : c1 e74a7203a73f65b75fac8b6fda6ee383511 ac9 i \\\\l\\\\Uflllllliliitlp�l��� / �Rew11 sr Town of Brewster Office of. pF `�4pER e9�'9 Select Board 2198 Main Street Town Administrator Brewster, MA 026314 898 Phone : (508 ) 896 -3701 In �nirinin,inua'wwv``"`����``� www. brewster-ma . gov how Brewster Conservation Trust sees their role and what the best- case scenario on either property would look like after it was acquired . Mr . Lombardi said that he has a tentative meeting for March 16 and assumes he will have the appraisal in hand by then , which gives time to review and talk before it is presented . He will let the board know by middle of next week where it stands . Adiournment Selectperson Bingham moved to adjourn at 9 : 22am . Selectperson Whitney second . Selectperson deRuyter- yes, Selectperson Chatelain -yes, Selectperson Bingham -yes, Selectperson Whitney-yes, Chair Chaffee -yes . The Board vote was 5 -Yes, 0- No . Respectfully submitted , Erika Mawn , Executive Assistant Approved : 10 / 19 / 2022 Signed : Date Kari Hoffmann , Clerk of the Select Board Date Released : 2/27/2023 BoS 3 -02 . 2021 www . brewster- ma . gov Page 4 of 4 Doc ID : c1 e74a7203a73f65b75fac8b6fda6ee383511 ac9