The primary focus of the meeting was the acquisition of the Webster property on Boxboro Road, a step in the town’s conservation efforts. The property, valued at $730,000, was slated for purchase at the upcoming town meeting on May 7th. The owner, Lyle Webster, shared his willingness to proceed with the transaction based on the new appraisal. The Town Administrator James Duggan outlined the funding scenarios and the acquisition process, which also involved the Conservation Commission’s input in a special meeting.

Financing the purchase was a complex subject, with three main options presented. The first scenario involved paying the full amount from the CPA open space reserve, leaving a balance of $504,670. However, concerns were raised about depleting the fund and compromising future land acquisitions. The second option considered using the undesignated fund balance, but the available amount was not immediately clear, and there was uncertainty about whether soft costs could be covered by this fund. The third scenario of bonding the purchase brought up specific concerns about the long-term financial impact, with potential interest costs of around $36,000 for a three-year bond at a 5% interest rate, and as high as $773,000 in interest if the entire purchase was bonded.

After a debate, the commission leaned towards the second option, which struck a balance between maintaining reserves and managing borrowing costs. The members expressed a need to understand the voting requirements for each option and considered seeking additional funding sources. The commission also discussed the importance of clear and specific language for the funding motion to avoid future misinterpretations and ensure financial commitments were met.

The acquisition process was further complicated by the pandemic timeline; references to 2020 raised confusion about the timeline. The use of clickers for voting at the upcoming town meeting was proposed to manage the anticipated challenge of securing a two-thirds majority vote required for borrowing options. The commission members sought input from colleagues and constituents.

Moreover, the meeting addressed the presentation of multiple projects at the town meeting, with plans to address audience questions and provide clarity.