6:38 p.m. - We're here. Nobody was outside at around 6:15, but there were some "signs" of life against Article 16.
The Selectmen will be meeting down the hall.
Check here for more on Night Two, and check here for more on Night One.
Article 16 and 17 are the only articles left. Town Meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m., the Selectmen's meeting begins at 7 p.m.
7:27 p.m. - The meeting has been called to order.
7:31 p.m. - "I've seen the enemy, and it is us." - Moderator Richard DeFreitas. He says he will hold members to stricter standards tonight to make the meeting move faster.
Says that Massachusetts Moderators Association called Chelmsford's Town Meeting is "bass ackwards."
7:33 p.m. - Chelmsford is the only town in the state without a third mic for questions and answers and a question and answer period.
7:35 p.m. - DeFreitas is convening a rules committee to look at an overhaul of Town Meeting rules. "I want Town Meeting to take ownership of Town Meeting rules along with the Moderator," he says. "This should not be an adversarial relationship."
7:40 p.m. - Back to Article 16.
7:41 p.m. - Planning Board George Zaharoolis says that Chelmsford is nearly built out, and that this article is to work with residents and businesses to redevelop certain areas when the opportunity arises.
7:42 p.m. All items at the Board of Selectmen meeting were approved unanimously, except for the Zesty's item, which was continued.
There was some controversy over the Red Wing bid, which drew a large discussion on the In-Town Report earlier in the day.
7:44 p.m. - If someone comes to your door saying they can get rid of a raccoon in your chimney, it's a scam. We've attached a picture with more information.
Special thanks to Molly Loughman on this one.
7:49 p.m. - You can watch the meeting live at live.chelmsfordtv.org
7:52 p.m. - Town Planner Evan Belansky finishes the presentation wtih 46 seconds to spare. 15 minutes of questions now.
7:55 p.m. - Planning Board member Colleen Stansfield says the benefit to developers could be faster approval, saving money, and the town would get better proposals. An example would be that this could have fast tracked improvements proposed at the old Boston Road Stop & Shop site with its new site plan.
8:00 p.m. - Four people in the "pro" line, it looks like a fifth is coming to the line.
8:03 p.m. - Five more minutes of questions, we have five more questioners.
8:06 p.m. - Another person came into the line it looks like, 90 seconds left.
8:07 p.m. - Bob Joyce wants to make a motion to extend question and answer time, it is refused. Final question asking why current zoning is too complicated and why it isn't functioning as it is.
Stansfield says Chelmsford zoning is working, she says what this article does is make it cheaper for developers to produce quality developments.
A third question is ruled out of order regarding neighborhoods. A questioner is still at the microphone asking for a balance, the moderator says pre-town meeting was the place for these complicated questions.
"If you are asking these people to do your homework for you, you should have come in here with your homework done," he said.
8:16 p.m. - Opinion is split on this article. Supporters say this will bring in better developers, opponents say it will destroy the character of neighborhoods like Vinal Square.
DeFreitas apologized to the final questioner after he had an issue with DeFreitas' tone earlier, but said that Town Meeting can't have it both ways (a quick meeting and having unlimited question time.)
A friend amendment on handicapped parking spots and setbacks have been accepted without debate.
8:20 p.m. - Shared parking talks about developments sharing parking lots when the developments have different peak parking hours. It's not a requirement.
Red Sox are already winning 1-0. I see three Town Meeting Reps with Red Sox gear, there may be more. (some have playoff beards...)
8:22 p.m. - A new questioner says the Planning Board has already done great things and is afraid of growing too fast. Tom Christiano moves the question.
Instead of the voting screen, we get the Red Sox game.
8:24 p.m. - Move to question is 67-67, it would have needed two thirds, so it fails.
8:26 p.m. - Three people in the oppose line now.
8:31 p.m. - Pro and Con is 50/50. I've been told that someone checked in on Thursday after I checked the list. I apologize, and I will check the list at the end of the night.
8:33 p.m. - DeFreitas says Bob Joyce is going over his allotted time, Joyce's comments that this will eliminate special permits.
Zaharoolis says this overlay will have a developer come in with Planning Board and hash these things out ahead of time, so the public can hear a nearly final product.
8:36 p.m. - Another question in the con line.
8:38 p.m. - Motion to extend debate for 15 minutes, ayes have it by clicker count. Now going to 8:55 p.m.
8:40 p.m. - Former Planning Board Alternate Nancy Araway says this article is huge, says she would like to tweak things, but absolutely supports this.
8:44 p.m. - Town Meeting Rep Patricia Magnell opposes, fearing giving too much power to the Planning Board.
8:48 p.m. - Selectman Matt Hanson asks whether this will limit public input, Belansky says no, that this process removes "fatal flaws" to the process.
Hanson was one of the few commenters tonight to direct questions to the moderator, as requested earlier by DeFreitas and general parliamentary procedure during Town Meetings in other towns.
8:50 p.m. - "People will still be able to vote on their Planning Board members, correct?" - Hanson
"That's not even a question." - DeFreitas
8:54 p.m. - Opposing commenter wants public to get involved with things beforehand.
Third inning, Red Sox still winning 1-0, onto Nancy Araway who is final commenter.
8:56 p.m. - DeFreitas discusses amendments, mistakes Pamela Armstrong as Pamela Anderson.
8:58 p.m. - 105-28-2 is final vote, it gets the two-thirds it needs for passage. Onto Article 17. DeFreitas says this article will be done at 9:58 p.m.
8:59 p.m. - Town Meeting Rep Jon Kurland asks for a non-binding resolution with Article 17 regarding recycling facility, saying that it can only take paper products formerly taken at town hall before the construction of the fire station and no products that would "pose even a remote threat" to North Chelmsford environmentally will be allowed at the recycling facility proposed at the old DPW on Richardson Road.
9:02 p.m. - Kurland says facility is not structurally unsound.
9:03 p.m. - "I find it hard to understand how paper and cardboard and plastic inside a dumpster in a building with a concrete floor can leech into wells." - Kurland
9:04 p.m. - Richardson Road dumpster would be attended and have cameras, Kurland says residents respected rules with Town Hall dumpster even when not attended.
9:05 p.m. - Kurland says DPW Director Gary Perschetti says there is no room at new DPW facility on Alpha Road for recycling.
9:10 p.m. - So far three questioners in Pro line, three more waiting.
9:11 p.m. - "You can ask Mr. Perschetti, he's right here, thank goodness." - Kurland.
Big Papi is on first base in the fourth. Still 1-0.
9:12 p.m. - A few folks are trying to make points of order to allow a non-Chelmsford resident representing the North Chelmsford water district speak. One is out of order because he does not live in Chelmsford. One hour left.
9:14 p.m. - I've seen a few reps looking at their phones/tablets for the game. Maria Karafelis is the last questioner at line, asking about traffic regarding the dog park in addition to the recycling facility.
9:15 p.m. - Araway follows Karafelis, asks why residents can't include glass. Kurland says it's a screw up and would accept it as a friendly amendment.
Question from North Chelmsford water commissioner asking what a limited facility would include. Paper, plastic, cardboard and metal (and glass). Nothing toxic.
Question on whether or not proposal was not what EPA approved, Kurland says that proposal was amended to what he's mentioning.
Stansfield asks about any permit issues, Kurland says no permit was needed.
DEP...not EPA
9:17 p.m. - Onto debate.
9:18 p.m. - St. Louis ties, 1-1. Fourth inning. Four people in pro line, one against.
9:20 p.m. - Friendly amendment to include glass.
9:21 p.m. - Evelyn Thoren proposes amendment to change "would be limited" to "shall be limited" to current items mentioned. Kurland accepts it as friendly amendment, saying he is okay as long as it's not "may be limited."
9:22 p.m. - Concerns over brochure put out by town before facility was approved saying mercury lightbulbs would be accepted.
Site is North Chelmsford's only water supply source, North Chelmsford Water District just spent $8 million relating to site.
9:25 p.m. - Currently three in "pro" line, two in "con" line. But Town Meeting Rep Pam Dunn is speaks against article in "pro" line, says she is confused by moderator's rules.
Two Red Sox on base in St. Louis in the fifth.
9:28 p.m. - Clarification made. Glass does not equal lightbulbs.
9:30 p.m. - "In an ideal world, I'd support this article, but unfortunately this is not an ideal world," - Town Meeting Rep Pat Magnell.
9:31 p.m. - Town Manager Paul Cohen would not move forward with petition without Selectmen's approval, says Hanson in question regarding unanimous disapproval by Stansfield.
She continues, saying there is nowhere else in town. Hanson said he has asked Cohen to continue looking at this.
9:32 p.m. - Stansfield asks Nick Parlee, DeFreitas rebukes, saying Stansfield must direct questions to moderator. Pamela Anderson/Armstrong is next, opposing article, asking people whether they'd like potential contaminates on their water source.
She also says recycling facility should be at soon to be vacant North Road fire station site.
9:42 p.m. - Two in "pro" line, three in "con" line, including Dunn. Red Sox game now in the top of sixth.
9:45 p.m. - Motion to move to question, 2 people opposed. Now for the vote. Moderator asks people to apply for Finance Committee vacancy and Moderator Advisory Rules Commission.
9:47 p.m. - Vote went up and down, motion fails 63-64-4, Meeting adjourned.
Article 16 - Community Enhancement and Investment Overlay District - Thursday to 8:57 p.m. (105-28-2)
Article 17 -Citizen Petition: Recycling Facility on Richardson Road 8:58 p.m. to 9:47 p.m. (63-64-4)
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