Posted Tuesday, November 27, 2007
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EARLY WARNING? Word around Town Hall is that Mega-Developer Lloyd Geisinger is concerned that the State may take too long in reviewing his 2021 Kingston’s Place 730 unit subdivision. The project requires several time consuming processes including an Environmental Notification Form (ENF), Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review (MEPA). He has asked the State for a waiver on the Route 3 Southbound access road in order for him to begin the road construction process prior to gaining all the aforementioned approvals on the project itself. Either he is worried that the State will nix the waiver or that and/or the construction process will tale longer then three years. Our Ringside Snoops report that Lloyd is starting to let people know that if this business takes longer then three years…we’ll have to give that $600,000 incentive check back. Now wouldn’t that be a kick in the butt, given all the hoopla that the check’s arrival caused.
SOME SURPRISE! It was interesting to note that the owners of the Mary O’Donnell 106 acre parcel adjacent to the rail station, still has Robert Moakley’s name attached. Apparently the property is still under the original Trust that existed years ago. Moakley is the retired former head of the VA in Massachusetts and his brother was Congressman Joe Moakley who passed away years ago. The Moakley name remains well known in the Commonwealth and we though it was long gone from the Trust. Shows to go ya.
THERE’S MORE: All those trucks coming out of Marian Drive near the T-Station is not your imagination. We fielded several calls relative to the intensified removal of material at the O’Donnell site. Paul Armstrong says there’s no problem because the stuff being hauled out is what was stockpiled on the property from when the T dug under Route 3 to run the station to its current location. (Originally it was slated for the L. Knife location.) Paul says he remembers when the material came in. That’s one hell of a memory, that work started around 1992, 15 years ago! Paul directed us to a map showing the general area being mined of so called “imported” material. There is no date or engineering stamp on the plans. “Do you want to see a stamp” Paul asked us. “Yes we would” we responded. We’re still waiting.
BRIAN’S SONG…and dance, that is. The call went out that the Conservation Commission has a vacancy and is seeking a new member. As of last week his was the only name so the Selectmen decided to hold off for a week and seek more choices. We hear the name of David Fitzgerald being bandied around. Our guess? It will be neither, a third person will apply and get the nod. Wallace, a local developer is disliked by the Commission and Fitzgerald held a position on the Commission for years back in another life.
SURPRISE SELECTION: We would have thought that Ron Gleason would have gotten the appointment for Planning Board Associate Member (Alternate). Instead it ended up being former Master Plan Implementation Committee Chairman Sue Boyer. We though Boyer talked herself out of the position with several of her answers to tough questions were hurting her candidacy. It appears that Sue has precious little time to do the job and doesn’t appear eager to run for a Planning Board seat should a vacancy occur. Actually, a neutral third part would have been refreshing.
HOOP TALK: In case you’re wondering what’s going on with the old Mid-Cape Center near the hockey rink in the North side of town…it’s going to be called “Supreme Basketball”. It will, assuming it clears the Planning Board (site plan approval) and Zoning Board of Appeals (Special Permit), house three basketball courts and six batting cages. It is envisioned that there will be leagues of all ages, including tournaments which should draw from all over “Eastern Massachusetts”, according to the attorney who presented the concept to the Selectmen last week.
COP TALK: Just a couple of updates on the police front. Last time we spent any ink on these matters it was reported that fired cop Robbie Santos had been successful in collecting his unemp-loyment and was actually successful in collecting about $8,000. Well, how things can change. We now understand that the Town appealed that decision and a demand is now being asked of Santos to return the money he had received. Our guess is that the State will have a tough time trying to extract money from Santos that he already received. We think that this matter is at an end.
One matter that we also thought (along with everybody else) was over is far from it. We had reported that former police department employee Marianne Musto had lost her discrimination case at MCAD. Well, Town Administrator Kevin Donovan confirms that is no longer the case. Wait ‘til you hear why. The info provided by Kevin indicates that Musto had in fact lost the case but that the MCAD Commissioner (the top dog at that level) had reviewed the findings of his Hearing Officer on the case, and found “a lack of probable cause” in finding against her claim. In essence, the Commissioner ruled against the conclusions reached by his own staff and struck down the negative decision. This means that Musto will begin anew her case against the town.
And finally…our new canine friend has successfully undergone a rigorous training program that has determined him to be credible for more sophisticated duty…three cheers for the Czech German Shepherd.
DROPPED DRAWERS: Victoria’s Secret continues to be a favorite target for holiday thieves. While one guy ran off with just under $2,000 worth of the highly sought garments, he did drop his booty before escaping to the woodlands surrounding the Mall. Thousands of dollars more were taken in another several robberies of the same store. You’d think food and fuel would be the choice of felons in this tough economy, unless it was the edible variety. Actually, the stash moves well in on-line sales but it’s a tough way to make a living.
HOUSING COUNT: The real estate inventory in Kingston has dropped but our real estate guru says the news is not good, people are taking their property off the market because they are hoping the market will improve. “Property owners are taking a beating and are hoping things improve in the Fall” said our contact. Here are the counts: Last month there were 196 properties, this month there are 175 broken down with 114 single family homes, 3 mufti-family, 10 condos, 26 land parcels, 6 commercial/industrial, 1 business, 10 rentals and 5 mobile homes.
YOU’RE LATE: The first meeting of the landfill re-use committee, a.k.a. “Lloyd’s Legions”, didn’t get off to a rousing start. We were told by an attendee that the group waited 30 minutes for its chairman, John Rose III before business was conducted. Our question was how can you be waiting for the Chairman when it is your first meeting? “We’ll he wanted to be the Chairman” said our contact, “so we waited.” It certainly is a seven man committee with nary a woman on the team. Our understanding is that Mr. Geisinger, who was an active participant for this Committee he is funding, declared very clearly that he has a vision of what he wants up there at the capped landfill. He also made it clear that is what he is funding. We’ll have to attend the next meeting and report firsthand.
LANZA BONANZA: The Board of Directors of the Indian Pond Neighborhood Association is at it again. Under the direction of IPNA President Matt (Are we sophisticated or what?) Lanza, The Board, are now on the issue of Raboth Road. Remember, this is the group that entered into a secret agreement with Lloyd (I can help) Geisinger over that same road issue. This time, they are pulling a back door approach by trying to interfere with the Independence Mall expansion using Raboth Road as a weapon. Lanza sent a memo to the Planning Board addressing what he called an access having “a tenuous legal basis.” First off, this sounds like a lawyer speaking and in truth, it probably is. In point of fact, this group of Directors, who really don’t operate with the complete backing of the greater number of IP residents, are attempting to exert a political influence on the Planning Board at the Mall’s expense in order to mess with a long-standing issue relative to Raboth Road rights. With several lawsuits now filed that could draw the IPNA into them at any time, they might be advised to cool their jets before it starts costing the membership some serious money.
LATE TRAINS: Have you noticed that the trains at Kingston Station are running late at a rate of growing consistency? Because we are local and have no reason to commute, we can’t verify. We ask that you contact us and tell us if you agree.
CONGRATS PLYMOUTH: Like Kingston, Plymouth will soon have their own check from the State for $600,000. Reason being, they too have an approved site for a 675 unit 40-R at Cordage Park. Unlike Kingston, however, the developers of that project expect to file plans in December and hope to put a shovel in the ground by this Fall. This should sound familiar…the first phase will consist of 150 apartments enhanced with shops and office space. So here’s the interesting part…it sounds like Plymouth’s 40-R will be way ahead of Kingston’s, and that is for good reason, the property was already an approved use for what they intend to build.
NO PLATE? We got a note from a reader who complained that a “certain” Special Police Officer who drove an old military Jeep was tooling around in that vintage vehicle with no license plates. We knew who you were talking about and contacted the fellow who didn’t mind a hoot that we use his name…that being Norm Harbinson. We checked with several police officers and Harbinson himself. Yes, indeed, the man does have the proper plates and has had them for some time. Harbinson wrote us a nice memo giving us some background on the vehicle and the volunteer service he provides for many ceremonies. Hope this clears things up.