Meetings Ahead
Meetings in Truro are often held remotely. Go to Truro-ma.gov and click on the meeting you are interested in for an agenda and details on how to join.
Thursday, April 4
- Ad Hoc Building Committee, 4:30 p.m.
- Commission on Disabilities, 4:30 p.m., Council on Aging
Monday, April 8
- Ad Hoc Building Committee, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 9
- Select Board, 5 p.m., hybrid
Wednesday, April 10
- Council on Aging, 12:30 p.m.
- Planning Board public hearing, proposed amendments to zoning bylaws, 5 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Split Over Sand Pit Road
Annual town meeting voters will face a slew of decisions on May 4. The select board is unanimous on most of its positions, but members don’t agree on a $6,056,250 debt exclusion for acquiring a 23.75-acre undeveloped parcel at 2 Sand Pit Road.
At the board’s March 26 meeting, chair Kristen Reed, John Dundas, and Stephanie Rein voted yes; Bob Weinstein voted no; and vice chair Sue Areson abstained.
The property would be used “for any lawful general municipal purposes, including, without limitation, for housing purposes, and other uses.”
According to the warrant article, the Noons family has offered the property to the town. Following site assessments and “months of negotiations,” the town and the sellers agreed on a price of $255,000 per acre.
Health Agent Emily Beebe spoke in favor of the acquisition because the property is not in a zone 2 protected area. “It does not have the environmental limitations on it that other town-owned parcels do,” she said.
“I think this is a really important issue to be brought to voters,” said Areson. “I say that with my select board hat on. With my taxpayer hat on, I am not sure I am in favor of this purchase.”
“I am going to vote to support this,” Reed said, citing the time invested in negotiations. Reed said she wasn’t sure yet how she would cast her vote in May, however. “I am also voting as a taxpayer on town meeting floor,” she said.
Rein felt similarly. “I’m not sure as a taxpayer this is the best use of our money, but I want this to come before town meeting.”
“I’m going to be the skunk at the party,” said Weinstein. “I can’t support this.”
Weinstein attributed his opposition to the lack of forward movement on the Walsh property, which the town has owned for five years. “Our town manager I think appropriately called it a ‘five-million-dollar paperweight,’ ” he said. —Sophie Mann-Shafir
