Notes From Sherborn Selectmen's Last Meeting

In case you missed it, here are some notes from the Sherborn Board of Selectmen's meeting on Oct. 13:

Whitney Farms Settlement

The Sherborn Board of Selectman announced the end of a four-year lawsuit with Whitney Farms developer Rising Tide. 

An initial lawsuit began in 2001, which Rising Tide won in the appeals court in 2004, regarding how many condos Rising Tide could build on the site of the old farm.  

In 2007, when the town did not agree to the amount of open space provided by Rising Tide’s plan, they took the developer to court again.

Twining said they were able to negotiate with Rising Tide to allow an easement on the property for the town to access an active aquifer.

Access to the aquifer would allow the town to have a public water supply someday in the future if they choose to.

Town Administrator Search

Chair of the Town Administrator Search Committee Neil McPherson announced to the public at the meeting that the committee has narrowed the search to 15 candidates out of the original 45.

MacPherson said they plan to have each of those candidates interviewed by phone by two members of the committee.

They plan to have the interviews completed by their next meeting on Oct. 27.

They hope to have a “handful” of candidates ready to present to the Selectmen by Thanksgiving and have a new Town Administrator in place by Jan. 1.

Sherborn Library Improvements

Chair of the Sherborn Library Board of Trustees Stacey Brandon and Library Director Elizabeth Johnston announced that they were able to agree on a fee of $5000, for continued work with their architect on their state funded grant project for the new library.

“We’re moving forward and very optimistic,” said Brandon. 

She also announced that the library is moving forward in becoming more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Brandon said they recently conferred with the Massachusetts Office of Disabilities and their architects to find a suitable ADA compliant bathroom design for the first floor.

As of now, Brandon said the most cost effective solution is that both bathrooms will be unisex, but only one will be ADA compliant.

Selectmen Paul DeRensis asked if they plan to have any articles in next spring’s Town Meeting Warrant.  

Brandon said once they get the specifics on the new bathroom they will have articles pertaining to that issue.

Thurza Campbell, chair of the Disabilities Committee noted that she also spoke with a representative of Massachusetts Office of Disabilities.

In their conversation, Campbell stated that because Sherborn Library does not have an ADA compliant automatic door at the main entrance, the residents could report them to the Department of Justice.

Brandon agreed that the library has been fortunate that has not happened and said they would also take that up with their architects.