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SPENCER – On August 11, Selectmen voted to approve a contract with CommunityScale to review and update zoning bylaws and subdivision regulations.
Town Planner Vivian Poplawski told the board she recommended CommunityScale following a review of evaluation criteria from four proposals. Additionally, input from the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board agreed with that recommendation.
Poplawski said funding for the contract would come from a $50,000 grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Planning Board also agreed to provide a 25% match using money from its revolving account, for a total of $62,500.
When Selectmen Vice Chair Jonathan Viner asked about a timeline, Poplawski said the original intention was to go before Town Meeting in Spring 2027. However, because of delays getting a recommendation on the bids, the target date is now Fall Town Meeting next year.
Part of the delay, Town Administrator Jeff Bridges said, was because during the first round of Request for Proposals (RFPs), the town did not get “quality proposals.”
“This time, we got four substantive ones,” Bridges noted.
Poplawski said part of her preference for CommunityScale was because of its “big focus” on public engagement and its emphasis on including feedback from the community and town boards, including the Board of Selectmen.
Bridges said a Steering Committee would be the coordinating group for public outreach—working with the consultant and staff. The Steering Committee’s membership will include representatives from the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and a liaison from the Board of Selectmen.
The town planner said she would contact CommunityScale the following day so that the project could begin in the next few weeks.
“They are ready to go from what I heard,” said Selectmen Chairman Gary Woodbury.
Town staff to oversee sidewalk repairs
In other business, the board voted to have town staff oversee repairs to the Main and Ash Street sidewalk project rather than amend a contract with Howard, Stein, Hudson.
Bridges explained there are funds remaining in that firm’s current contract to provide closeout paperwork but nothing available for on-site inspections and supervision of B.R. Bak Enterprises’ repair work.
During a previous meeting, selectmen voted for B.R. Bak, the contractor, to fix four transition sections on Ash Street so that they precisely met design standards. Board members also expressed concerns about handicapped access.
Selectmen were not interested in B.R. Bak’s preference to resolve the design shortfall issues by applying for variances.
“You had a set of plans,” Selectman Chris Woodbury said at the time. “As far as I’m concerned, you shortcut it.”
The town administrator noted that he spoke with Gary Kellaher, who was acting as interim Utilities and Facilities superintendent and Doug Small, the new U & F superintendent, who expressed willingness to oversee repairs.
“Mr. Kellaher is available to be on site,” Bridges said.
Viner said he felt it’s “the appropriate route to take,” to have staff act as field supervisor and inspector—rather than adding to Howard, Stein, Hudson’s contract.
“I believe in our staff,” noted Chris Woodbury, “But I would like Howard, Stein, Hudson at the very end of the project.”
Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to have U & F staff supervise the repairs. Selectman Jared Grigg was absent from the meeting.
