A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a variance hearing for John Raymond and Joanna Georgio Hilvert, owners of a property on Crescent Road. The owners sought approval to expand their existing single-story, three-bedroom home to a two-story structure with five bedrooms. This expansion required the installation of a new sewage disposal system equipped with a Microfast IA component for nitrogen reduction, already approved by the Department of Environmental Protection. Despite the lot being under the 50,000 square foot minimum required for a five-bedroom residence, the board approved the variance after confirming the height of the proposed addition at 28.4 feet and classifying the home definitively as a five-bedroom property. The approval included conditions such as biannual effluent testing for two years, a covenant concerning future sewer connections, and restrictions on the number of bedrooms.

The discussion also touched on the classification of rooms, particularly whether a media room should be considered a bedroom. This led to a brief debate over whether the property had nine or ten rooms, but the board ultimately maintained the five-bedroom classification. Further scrutiny was promised during the building permit process to ensure no additional rooms, such as a basement area, would inadvertently qualify as bedrooms.

In a continued examination of short-term rental regulations, the board debated amendments suggested by the town council. A notable point of contention was the phrase “may be renewed annually” versus “shall be renewed annually” in the context of rental renewals, with members favoring the stronger “shall” mandate to ensure consistent oversight. The board agreed to keep this requirement while accepting other linguistic changes proposed by the council. Additionally, they planned to remind the select board to finalize the rental fee structure by year-end, as the fee was set to increase from $50 to $200.

The board also addressed a proposed noise ordinance specifically targeting leaf blowers. The discussion was informed by a report detailing existing ordinances in other towns, which variously regulate noise levels or ban gas-powered leaf blowers to address air quality concerns. Board members discussed resident feedback advocating for usage restrictions before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m., which landscapers deemed reasonable. However, there was resistance to mandating a switch to electric blowers due to cost and recycling issues. The board considered adopting a model similar to Mashpee’s, which specifies operational hours for power tools, including leaf blowers. A suggestion was made to limit the number of blowers simultaneously used on a property to reduce noise pollution. The board planned to form a subcommittee to draft specific language for this ordinance.

Public comments brought additional topics to the agenda, such as a follow-up on a site intervention at Mill Hill Road to ensure compliance with agreed measures. Concerns were raised about potential neglect in the area, and another residence on the same street faced scrutiny over an unpermitted dumpster. Further discussion was suggested on the use of unleaded fuel at the airport, with the board seeking updates on regulations and availability.