Somerset public meetings in 2022
16 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Planning Board
The Planning Board approved a special permit for an accessory unit and garage at 286 Yankee Peddlar Drive. Hearings for two other projects were continued to future dates after the petitioners agreed to extend application deadlines.
- Approved special permit for garage and 750 sq ft accessory unit at 286 Yankee Peddlar Drive (4-0)
- Continued Prysmian Cables preliminary subdivision hearing to February 14, 2023 (4-0)
- Extended Prysmian Cables application deadline to February 28, 2023 (4-0)
- Continued New England Power Co. special permit hearing for laydown yard to January 10, 2023 (4-0)
- Extended New England Power Co. application deadline to January 20, 2023 (4-0)
- Tabled approval of December 13, 2022 minutes until January 10 meeting (4-0)
Conservation Commission
The Commission held a public hearing regarding a Notice of Intent by Prysmian Cables and Systems USA, LLC to develop a cable manufacturing plant and docking facility at the former Brayton Point Power Station. No final decision was made on the project; the hearing was continued to a future date.
- Voted unanimously to continue the hearing on January 26, 2023
- Voted unanimously to allow consultants WSB and VHB to communicate via the Conservation Commission agent
Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen approved funding for the new Middle School and several municipal contracts. They also denied the renewal of a used car license for 3 Dad’s Auto and approved a 5K race application for the Somerset Lions Club.
- Authorized Treasurer to distribute up to $2M from General Fund for Middle School invoices (3-0)
- Voted not to renew Class 2 Used car license for 3 Dad’s Auto (3-0)
- Approved Somerset Lions Club 5K Race/Walk for April 23, 2023 (3-0)
- Approved $135,839 agreement with Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, LLC for Fire Department utility vehicle (3-0)
- Approved $32,270 agreement with George T. Wilkinson, Inc. for Pottersville Building gas burner replacement (3-0)
- Accepted resignation of Nancy Thomas from Historical Commission (3-0)
- Approved amendment to Building Department Permit Fees to correct a scrivener's error (3-0)
- Approved minutes of December 7, 2022 meeting (3-0)
Planning Board
The Planning Board held a public hearing regarding Prysmian Cables and Systems USA, LLC's request to subdivide a parcel at 1 Brayton Point Road into a new 47-acre lot. The Board did not reach a decision, instead voting to continue the application and public hearing to the next meeting to allow for consultant review and a potential extension request.
- Approved motion to continue application for administrative purposes to December 27, 2022 (4-0)
- Approved motion to continue public hearing until December 27, 2022 (4-0)
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance for a home addition contingent on Planning Board approval and granted a Planned Development Permit for a cleaning business headquarters. Several other petitions were continued to January due to missing requirements or lack of a quorum.
- Approved variance for 20’ x 20’ house addition at 43 Bower St. (unanimous)
- Approved variance for house addition and garage at 547 Mason Ave. contingent on Planning Board approval (unanimous)
- Approved Planned Development Permit for TNT Cleaning Services, Inc. office at 1821 County Street (unanimous)
- Continued variance petition for garage at 2191 Riverside Ave. to January meeting (unanimous)
- Continued business approval petition for F.O.M Transportation, Inc. on Wilbur Ave. to January meeting (unanimous)
- Tabled New England Power Company petition for equipment yard due to lack of quorum
- Approved November 17, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen approved a professional engineering contract for site cleanup and authorized several annual business license renewals. They also appointed a new police patrol officer and a senior floater. A petition to install a utility pole on Brayton Point Road was approved.
- Approved $200,700 agreement with Verdantas LLC for site cleanup at 3280 County Street (3-0)
- Approved annual renewals for Liquor, Common Victualer, Entertainment, Amusement, and Auto Dealer licenses (3-0)
- Appointed Brendan Cardoza as Patrol Officer effective December 18, 2022 (3-0)
- Appointed Kasey Marks as senior floater (3-0)
- Approved National Grid and Verizon petition to install one JO pole on Brayton Point Road (3-0)
- Adopted January–June 2023 Trash/Recycling/Yard Waste/Bulk Pickup/Christmas Trees schedule (3-0)
- Tabled agreement with Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, LLC for a new Fire Department utility vehicle
- Tabled $32,270 agreement with George T. Wilkinson, Inc. for gas burner replacement at Pottersville Building
Planning Board
The Board approved a stormwater special permit for a residence on Yankee Peddler Drive and recommended a coffee shop conversion at 891 County Street to the Zoning Board of Appeals. A request for a New England Power Company laydown yard was partially recommended, while its water resource permit was continued.
- Approved Water Resource Protection District special permit for 286 Yankee Peddler Drive (5-0)
- Made positive recommendation to Zoning Board of Appeals for coffee shop conversion at 891 County Street (5-0)
- Made favorable recommendation to Zoning Board for New England Power Company laydown yard at 1250 Brayton Point Road (4-1)
- Continued Water Resources Protection District permit for 1250 Brayton Point Road to December 27, 2022 (5-0)
- Approved amended October 11, 2022 meeting minutes (5-0)
Conservation Commission
The Conservation Commission issued a negative determination with conditions for a 7-acre laydown yard at 1250 Brayton Pt. Rd. A separate request for a Partial Certificate of Compliance for Brayton Pt. LLC was continued to a future meeting.
- Issued negative determination with conditions for Massachusetts Electric Company laydown yard at 1250 Brayton Pt. Rd. (Unanimous)
- Continued Partial Certificate of Compliance request for Brayton Pt. LLC to January 9, 2023 (Unanimous)
- Approved minutes of November 14, 2022 meeting with corrections (Unanimous)
- Approved minutes of November 28, 2022 meeting with corrections (Unanimous)
Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen approved several appointments to town committees and accepted a firefighter's retirement. The board also approved the minutes from two previous November meetings.
- Approved minutes of November 22 and November 30, 2022 (3-0)
- Appointed Jerome Waksler, Heather Robertson, and Virgil Pacheco, Jr. to the Economic Development Committee (3-0)
- Appointed Marybeth Rua-Larsen to the Historical Commission for the term ending June 30, 2023 (3-0)
- Accepted retirement of Firefighter/Paramedic Ronald Audette effective January 7, 2022 (3-0)
Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen updated Building Department permit fees to align with neighboring towns. The board also approved several professional service agreements and a funding agreement related to the Prysmian project. Additionally, the board appointed a new firefighter/paramedic and accepted a local donation.
- Approved updated Building Department permit fees (3-0)
- Approved funding agreement between Town of Somerset and Prysmian (3-0)
- Appointed Daniel Goodman as Firefighter/Paramedic effective Jan 15, 2023 (3-0)
- Approved agreement with BETA Group, Inc. for MS4 Permit Services (3-0)
- Approved employment agreement with William Horrocks for consultant services (3-0)
- Approved agreement with WSP for Consulting Engineering Services (3-0)
- Accepted $151.00 donation from Avil LLC, Orbits Inn (3-0)
- Declared 2004 Ford Crown Victoria as surplus property (3-0)
Conservation Commission
The Conservation Commission approved a Notice of Intent for offshore sediment sampling in the Taunton River to support a new submarine cable manufacturing plant. The board also issued a Certificate of Compliance for two single-family homes. A hearing for Brayton Pt. LLC was continued to December 12, 2022.
- Approved Notice of Intent for Prysmian Cable and Systems USA, LLC offshore sediment sampling (unanimous)
- Issued Certificate of Compliance for Hyde Development's two single-family homes (unanimous)
- Continued Partial Certificate of Compliance hearing for Brayton Pt. LLC to December 12, 2022 (unanimous)
- Approved minutes from September 12, 2022 (unanimous)
- Scheduled Prysmian presentation for December 22, 2022 at Somerset Public Library (unanimous)
Board of Selectmen
The Board approved a tax classification shift that increases the average residential bill by $348.68 and the commercial bill by $1,275.31. Other actions included authorizing a DEP filing for ice skating at the Somerset Marsh and approving a public access plan for North Street.
- Adopted CIP of 1.74 tax shift (3-0)
- Authorized Timothy Turner to begin DEP filing process for Somerset Marsh ice skating (3-0)
- Approved public access plan for end of North Street involving two bollards (3-0)
- Accepted resignation of Tanya Amorin as Senior Floater (3-0)
- Appointed Alex Mello as part-time Public Safety Dispatcher (3-0)
- Appointed Alisha Boulay as part-time Public Safety Dispatcher (3-0)
- Approved temporary use of Town property for Winterfest signs (3-0)
- Approved executive session minutes from July 20 and August 3, 2022 (3-0)
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Board granted a variance for a barn at 71 Ivanhoe Ave and approved a change of use for a martial arts school at 1078 County St. Two other petitions regarding a garage and a transportation business were continued to the December 15, 2022 meeting.
- Granted variance for barn construction at 71 Ivanhoe Ave (unanimous)
- Granted Planned Development Permit and change of use to Martial Arts School at 1078 County St with conditions on hours (unanimous)
- Continued petition for garage construction at 2191 Riverside Ave to Dec 15, 2022 (unanimous)
- Continued petition for transportation business on Wilbur Ave to Dec 15, 2022 (unanimous)
Conservation Commission
The Commission approved a Notice of Intent for offshore sediment sampling in the Taunton River to support a new submarine cable manufacturing plant. A Certificate of Compliance was issued for two single-family homes completed by Hyde Development. One hearing regarding a Partial Certificate of Compliance for Brayton Pt. LLC was continued.
- Approved Notice of Intent for Prysmian Cable and Systems USA, LLC offshore sediment sampling (unanimous)
- Issued Certificate of Compliance to Hyde Development for two single-family homes (unanimous)
- Continued Partial Certificate of Compliance hearing for Brayton Pt. LLC to December 12, 2022 (unanimous)
- Approved September 12, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Scheduled Prysmian presentation for December 22, 2022 at Somerset Public Library (unanimous)
Board of Selectmen
The Board approved a retail package store license transfer and filled several town positions, including appointing an acting Town Accountant. They also authorized new plowing rates and approved multiple temporary use permits for town property.
- Approved liquor license transfer for 525 County Street to Maroun Corp. (3-0)
- Accepted resignation of Town Accountant Theresa Provencal (3-0)
- Appointed Town Administrator Mark Ullucci as Acting Town Accountant (3-0)
- Promoted Jason Berube to Fire Lieutenant effective Nov 20, 2022 (3-0)
- Waived PAT and physical requirements for Daniel L Matthews (3-0)
- Appointed Shauna Geary as representative to Citizens For Citizens (3-0)
- Authorized Town Administrator to set snow plowing rates (3-0)
- Approved PEG services agreement with Somerset Access Televisions, Inc. (3-0)
Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen approved the retirement of a custodian and appointed Town Administrator Mark Ullucci to two municipal roles. The board also discussed methods to increase Town Meeting attendance and reviewed proposed articles for a Special Town Meeting.
- Accepted resignation of Michael Perry as Custodian effective November 18, 2022 (3-0)
- Appointed Town Administrator Mark Ullucci to the Somerset Health Plan Group (3-0)
- Appointed Town Administrator Mark Ullucci as the Municipal Hearing Officer with a $2,500 stipend (3-0)
- Tabled presentation from Somerset Middle School Building Committee