In January 2021, the Symes case was filed against the town as an appeal of certain conditions of the subdivision approval. According to Town Manager Stephen Crane, this case could have only been avoided had the Planning Board failed to apply the town’s inclusionary housing bylaw and even then, an abutter could have appealed.
Town Counsel further advised that the vast majority of cases listed on the state courts’ online dockets are complete, but many are improperly listed on the Court’s website as open.
According to town documents, there are 61 closed cases (many in tax title takings), three active matters Anderson Kreiger is handling (Estabrook, Symes and the Mandrioli), and nine active matters that Town Counsel does not have an appearance or do not handle. These include six ongoing tax title cases.
Wicked Local
Concord Council on Aging Director Ginger Quarles said it’s been a difficult and challenging time for citizens over the age of 75 who will become eligible to receive their COVID vaccination on Feb. 1.
The COA has been inundated with calls from Concord seniors and their family members seeking help in finding ways to secure an appointment. Seniors throughout Massachusetts have found the COVID19MA website difficult to use.
“Many seniors do not have access to the internet and even those that do are struggling to navigate the complicated website,” Quarles said in an email. “We are explaining to seniors that the Town of Concord hopes to offer vaccination clinics in the future, but the amount of available vaccine is extremely limited at the present time.”
Wicked Local
The towns of Acton and Concord have been working on a feasibility study for the creation of a regional emergency communications center (RECC) that would be housed in the Acton Police Department.
During the virtual meeting of the Concord Select Board Jan. 11, Town Manager Stephen Crane presented members with a draft of the plan and supported the creation of the center.
Crane has experience with regional dispatch centers as he’s been the planning committee chair and the chair of the board of directors of a regional dispatch center between Chicopee and Longmeadow.
“I happen to have a lot of first-hand experience with … a regional emergency communications center,” Crane said. “I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of it as well as some of the challenges.”
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There are two sources of federal funds available to the Town of Concord to pay for the cost of COVID-19 pandemic response: FEMA Public Assistance Grant and CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds
Any expenses incurred which are deemed ineligible for either source of grant funding must be borne by the Town.
Concord’s total expense so far is $1,693,790, Town Manager Stephen Crane told the Select Board during its virtual meeting on Jan. 4.
A FEMA PA grant became available when the pandemic was declared a disaster by President Trump on March 27. The PA grant is intended for public safety departments and first responders.
Wicked Local
The Town of Concord has done everything it can to help local business owners during the pandemic, whether suspending the use of parking meters or allowing extended shopping hours on Thursdays.
During the Select Board’s virtual meeting on Dec. 28, it made another move that focuses on helping the local restaurant industry.
The Board voted unanimously to allow Town Manager Stephen Crane to develop and implement a temporary program of reserved parking spaces for take-out orders only.
On Dec. 21, Concord’s Economic Vitality Strike Team discussed the woes local business owners may face in January and February. The idea of reserving parking spaces was floated in the past but not taken seriously because some of the fear business owners may feel their customers would be displaced to accommodate others.