Freetown meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Freetown roundup: Selectmen to vote on cruiser lease, landfill monitoring; no decisions published from recent meetings

Freetown boards held several meetings over the past two weeks, but none of the minutes have been published, so no decisions are reported. The most consequential upcoming action is the Board of Selectmen's joint meeting with the Personnel Board on Aug. 25, which includes votes on a police cruiser lease, environmental monitoring at the landfill, and a paving contract.

Recent meetings (agendas only)

• **Conservation Commission (Aug. 10):** Continued hearings on Notices of Intent for 173 Chace Road (applicant Maria Andrade) and 82 Cliff Drive (applicant Mark Presentato, rep. Mandy Hicks, Guaranteed Builders & Developers Inc.). Also considered Requests for Determination of Applicability for 133 Quanapoag Road (Jesse Nunes) and 32 North Main Street (rep. Byron Holmes). All items fall under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

• **Board of Assessors (Aug. 10):** Discussed the status of a PILOT agreement for 18 USRV Way, a tax abatement request for Map 245, Lot 82 (covering years 1967–2000 and 2012–2026), and entered executive session on real estate negotiations and litigation involving S&S Freetown, LLC (136 South Main Street), Crystal Springs, Inc. (35 Narrows Road), and Zitano (2 Zitano Way).

• **Water & Sewer Commission (Aug. 11):** Discussed a water main connection for 170 Middleboro Road, potential warrant articles for a Special Town Meeting, water line extensions on Narrows Road and Howland Road, and an Innovation Way project involving MassDOT and the City of Fall River. Also considered a refund for 23 South Main Street.

• **SRPEDD transportation meetings (Aug. 12 and 18):** The Joint Transportation Planning Group and the Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization each considered recommending two draft plans for a 21-day public comment period: the Southeast Mass Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan and the Southeast Mass Congestion Management Plan. No votes are available because minutes are not yet published.

• **Agricultural Commission (Aug. 18):** Reviewed topics from a Farmland Protection webinar, progress on the Right-to-Farm bylaw and fact sheet, and approved minutes from June 2, 2026.

Cancelled meetings: The Board of Health (Aug. 12) and Building Committee (Aug. 12) both cancelled their scheduled meetings. The Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee meeting scheduled for Aug. 25 has also been cancelled.

Upcoming: Board of Selectmen (Aug. 25)

The Board of Selectmen and Personnel Board will hold a joint meeting with several votes on the agenda:

• Approve a lease agreement for one 2026 Dodge Durango Police Cruiser with All American Investment Group, LLC.
• Approve agreements for post-closure environmental monitoring (PFAS and routine) at Howland Road Landfill for 7/1/26–6/30/27.
• Award the Milling & Paving Overlay of Keene Road and Various Streets Project to P.J. Keating Co.
• Approve a purchase agreement with Iron Horse Structures for a Salt Shed for the Highway Department.
• Increase hourly rates for winter 2026–2027 snow plow drivers by five dollars per hour.

Coming up

The only upcoming meeting with a published agenda is the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 25 at a time and location to be announced. The Council on Aging/Library Committee meeting scheduled for that day has been cancelled.

Freetown boards weigh composting, manufacturing permits; assessors to discuss PILOT, lawsuits

Freetown boards met over the past two weeks to consider land-use permits, a tax agreement, and a monument relocation, but no decisions have been published yet. Several meetings were cancelled or postponed. Minutes for all recent meetings are pending.

Planning Board weighs composting, manufacturing permits

The Planning Board met Aug. 4 with an agenda that included public hearings on two special permits. One would allow commercial composting at 0 Thomas Lucas Lots, off Chace Road. The other would permit a 21,500-square-foot manufacturing building and six 875-square-foot contractor bays at 186 Middleboro Road. The board also discussed a two-lot residential subdivision at 71 High Street, proposed bylaw changes for the Fall Town Meeting regarding data centers, construction bays, and accessory dwelling units, and revisions to stormwater and subdivision rules.

Assessors to discuss PILOT agreement, litigation

The Board of Assessors met July 28 and discussed the status of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for 18 USRV Way. The board then entered executive session to consider real estate negotiations for that property and litigation strategy for three pending lawsuits: S&S Freetown, LLC vs. Board of Assessors (136 South Main Street), Crystal Springs, Inc. vs. Board of Assessors (35 Narrows Road), and Zitano vs. Board of Assessors (2 Zitano Way).

Historical Commission considers monument move, grant

The Historical Commission met July 30 to discuss a request from the Freetown Veterans group to relocate the stone monument at 4 Corners to Chace Road Veterans Park. The agenda noted strong resident opposition to moving it from the Assonet Village Historic District. The commission also reviewed a feasibility study grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for the Village School House, considered bandstand fence repair and power washing, and discussed recognition of restored historic homes outside the historic district.

Library Trustees discuss staffing, preservation

The Library Trustees met July 30 to review monthly financial and patron data and vote on outstanding minutes. The agenda included discussion of hiring a part-time position, updates on the Preservation Project and the MBLC/Building Committee, and a review of payroll, expenditures, and circulation statistics.

Several meetings cancelled or postponed

The Zoning Board of Appeals cancelled its July 29 meeting, which had scheduled public hearings on building violation appeals for 161 County Road (Map 227 Lot 50) and Edward G Pina Lane (Map 241 Lot 28.02). The Board of Selectmen cancelled its Aug. 3 meeting. The Council on Aging cancelled its Aug. 5 meeting. The Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee postponed its Aug. 4 meeting; no substantive items were listed.

Coming up

The only scheduled meeting in the next two weeks, the Building Committee on Aug. 12, has been cancelled. Its agenda had included updates on the COA/Library joint building, the Village School grant, and South Main Street corridor land for future fire station needs. No other meetings are currently posted.

Freetown Roundup: Assessors to Discuss PILOT Agreement, Planning Board Hearings Ahead on Composting and Manufacturing

Freetown's recent committee meetings focused on event recaps, building projects, and litigation strategy, while several upcoming meetings have been cancelled or postponed. The most consequential discussions ahead involve a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement for 18 USRV Way and Planning Board hearings on commercial composting and manufacturing permits.

Board of Assessors — PILOT and Litigation

The Board of Assessors met July 28 via Zoom. The agenda listed approval of prior minutes, a status update on the PILOT agreement for 18 USRV Way, and an executive session to discuss real estate value and negotiations for that same property. The board also planned to enter executive session on litigation strategy for three pending lawsuits: S&S Freetown, LLC vs. Board of Assessors (136 South Main Street), Crystal Springs, Inc. vs. Board of Assessors (35 Narrows Road), and Zitano vs. Board of Assessors (2 Zitano Way). Minutes have not yet been published.

Zoning Board of Appeals — Meeting Cancelled

The July 29 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting was cancelled. Two public hearings that had been scheduled will not proceed: Case #622 at 161 County Road, Map 227 Lot 50, an appeal of a violation notice, and Case #623 at Edward G Pina Lane, Map 241 Lot 28.02, also an appeal of a violation notice. Agenda items for minute approval from May 20 and June 24, 2026, and board reorganization were not taken up.

Council on Aging/Library Building Committee

The Council on Aging/Library Community Building Committee met July 24 to discuss a communication plan from the Owner's Project Manager, site permitting steps and process, and an update on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners process. The committee also planned to schedule permanent meetings for the next two months. No votes or decisions were listed on the agenda.

Historical Commission

The Historical Commission met July 30 to discuss a request from the Freetown Veterans group to relocate the stone monument at 4 Corners to Chace Road Veterans Park. The agenda noted strong resident opposition to moving the monument from the Assonet Village Historic District. The commission also planned to review a feasibility study grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for the Village School House, discuss bandstand fence repair and power washing, and consider recognition of restored historic homes outside the historic district.

Library Trustees

The Board of Library Trustees met July 30. The agenda included discussion of hiring a part-time position, updates on the Preservation Project and the MBLC/Building Committee, review of payroll, expenditures, and circulation statistics, and discussion of the Director's mileage.

Parade & Fireworks Committee

The Parade & Fireworks Committee met July 23 to recap the Strawberry Festival, the fireworks display, and the July 4 parade, including pros and cons of each event. The committee also planned to address replacing 30 flags and bunting, sponsor thank-you letters and tax receipts, four committee vacancies, and finances.

Local Emergency Planning Committee

The Freetown Fire Chief was scheduled to meet July 21 to review proposed bylaws and discuss the status of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Plan. No detailed agenda items were listed.

Coming Up

• **Planning Board, August 4:** Public hearings on a special permit for commercial composting at 0 Thomas Lucas Lots, Off Chace Road, and a special permit for a 21,500 sf manufacturing building and six 875 sf contractor bays at 186 Middleboro Road. Also on the agenda: a two-lot residential subdivision at 71 High Street, discussion of Fall Town Meeting bylaw changes regarding data centers, construction bays, and ADUs, and review of stormwater and subdivision rules.
• **Board of Selectmen, August 3:** Cancelled.
• **Council on Aging/Library Building Committee, August 4:** Postponed.
• **Council on Aging, August 5:** Cancelled.
• **Building Committee, August 12:** Cancelled. The original agenda included updates on the COA/Library joint building, the Village School grant, South Main Street corridor land for future fire station needs, and committee vacancies.