Lunenburg meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Cable committee maps Comcast license review; boards tackle zoning, sewer, and town hall items

The Lunenburg Cable Advisory Committee was the only town board to record formal decisions in the past two weeks, assigning members to review Comcast's license renewal ahead of a future vote. Other boards met on agendas ranging from zoning and sewer fees to a new assistant town manager, with most decisions still pending as minutes have not yet been published.

Cable license review

At its Aug. 13 meeting, the Cable Advisory Committee assigned specific duties for the Comcast license renewal process. B. Vienneau will tour operating facilities; K. Menard and S. Archambault will review agreements in similar-sized towns; T. Bodkin will contact the school system; S. Archambault will check with the Library and Town Teen Center; K. Menard will check town departments' needs; and S. Archambault will obtain a map of the current service area. The committee also agreed to check if B. Lehtenin can review financial documents. No formal decisions were made beyond these assignments, and the next meeting was scheduled for a Tuesday in October (date TBA).

Other recent meetings

The Select Board met twice in the past two weeks. On Aug. 10, it voted to approve the warrant for the Sept. 3 Special Town Meeting. On Aug. 18, the board held a public hearing on a Unitil pole petition on Leominster Shirley Road, ratified the appointment of Jessica "Jak" Miller as Assistant Town Manager, and discussed setting the Fall Special Town Meeting, FY27 goals, a surplus declaration (a 1998 Ford E350 ambulance with 72,035 miles), and a snow and ice reimbursement vote. The board also held a separate public hearing on a nuisance dog complaint involving a dog named Weston, owned by Charles and Stacy Courtemanche of 41 Cortland Circle, with a complaint filed by George and Jennifer Burden of 39 Cortland Circle.

The Planning Board held a working session on Aug. 10 to discuss potential zoning amendments for the 2027 Annual Meeting, including senior housing, inclusionary housing, cluster housing, and minor site plan review. The Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing Aug. 12 on a special permit application (ZBA-26-9) from Ivan Valinchuk to sell secondhand motor vehicles at a gas station at 149 Summer Street.

The Finance Committee met Aug. 13 to review additional Special Town Meeting articles on state aid and school athletics, plus quarterly reports. The Board of Health met Aug. 17 to review septic and well permits for seven properties, including a continued discussion on retaining a secondary well at 757 Chase Road and a residential kitchen license at 165 Gilchrest. The Conservation Commission held a site walk Aug. 15 for a deck expansion at 200 Island Road and met Aug. 19 for hearings on an ADA trail at Cowdery Nature Center, a new Unitil substation, a concrete boat ramp on Lake Shirley, and other wetland projects.

The Housing Authority met Aug. 20 to consider resolutions certifying completion of the Window Replacement Phase 1 project and authorizing acceptance of a low bidder for solid waste and recycling collection services. The Cemetery Commission met Aug. 19 to review engineering plans for the North Cemetery Backlot Expansion and discuss capital funding. The Sewer Commission met Aug. 11 to vote on approving minutes and the Quarter 1 FY27 commitment, with updates on the CTE O&M contract and 100 Laurel Ln.

Coming up

• **Planning Board** – Aug. 24, 6:00 p.m., Town Hall: public hearings on floodplain special permits at 881 Flat Hill Rd., 18 Oak Ridge Rd., and 27 Fire Rd 15A, plus continued hearings on stormwater and special permits.
• **Zoning Board of Appeals** – Aug. 26, public hearings on special permits for 881 Flat Hill, 18 Oak Ridge Rd., and 149 Summer St.
• **Finance Committee** – Aug. 27, public hearing on Special Town Meeting warrant articles, followed by deliberation and potential vote.
• **Parks Commission** – Aug. 26, discussion of Wallis Court lighting, field usage fees, and a community room MOU.
• **Special Town Meeting** – Sept. 3, 7:00 p.m., Lunenburg Middle/High School Auditorium.

Lunenburg boards tackle land-use, budgets, and personnel in busy two weeks

Over the past two weeks, Lunenburg town boards met on a wide range of items, from land-use changes to budget approvals. While minutes have not yet been published, the agendas indicate significant decisions were on the table, including a potential Special Town Meeting and a new collective bargaining agreement.

Select Board weighs Special Town Meeting, labor contract

The Select Board met on July 27 with an agenda that included a vote on a petitioned Special Town Meeting warrant and its opening and closing dates, approval of the September 1, 2026 State Primary Election warrant, and ratification of a Teamsters Union Local 170 collective bargaining agreement for the Department of Public Works. On August 4, the board was scheduled to ratify appointments for Principal Assessor and Part-Time Principal Clerk, vote on a Revolutionary War Memorial location on Lower Common, and vote on a Certificate of Dedication to rename the Town Beach House to Genevieve Nass. The board also planned to discuss outcomes from the Municipal Building Design Committee and possibly vote on FY27 Select Board Goals.

Planning Board tackles land-use cases

The Planning Board held four public hearings on July 27 covering site plan modifications, stormwater permits, and special permits for properties on Leominster Shirley Road, Parmenter Road, and New West Townsend Road. A separate public hearing that same day reviewed a site plan to change the use of 475 Leominster Shirley Road from distribution to manufacturing, with the property owned by BP Lunenburg Central Fee Owner LLC and the applicant Hannigan Engineering Inc. The board also discussed and potentially approved the Master Plan.

Other board actions

The School Committee on July 29 reviewed warrants totaling $100,507.91, discussed additional state aid for the FY27 budget, and considered donations for football helmets, transportation, color guard uniforms, and LEAF grants.

The Conservation Commission conducted site walks on August 1 and held public hearings on August 5 for two Notices of Intent: a driveway crossing at 108 Sunny Hill Road and an irrigation pond at 157 Goodrich Street. The commission also continued hearings on several projects, including ADA parking at Cowdery Nature Center and a Unitil substation.

The Cemetery Commission on July 30 reviewed engineering plans for the North Cemetery Backlot expansion, discussed allocation of capital funds, and considered an invoice of $2,691.00 for CIMS Cloud annual maintenance and burial search hosting renewals.

The Municipal Building Design Committee met on July 28 and August 3 to discuss the status of vacated buildings (including Brooks House and TC Passios), department space requirements, and a needs list for all town groups. A joint workshop with the Select Board on July 28 included a presentation on MassSave energy programs and incentives.

The Public Access Cable Committee met on August 3 to review the FY27 budget, policy updates, studio space, and enterprise fund investment status. The Personnel Committee also met that day to review attorney correspondence on by-laws and discuss priorities.

The Board of Health and Board of Assessors both met on August 5 to discuss increasing the Clause 22 Veteran Exemption amount, review a Senior Means Tested Exemption presentation, and hear updates on the Neighborhood Review Project and the Principal Assessor search.

Coming up

• **August 10:** Planning Board working session on 2027 zoning amendments (senior housing, inclusionary housing, cluster housing, minor site plan review). Parks Commission will vote on the Town Beach closing date at 265 Prospect Street.
• **August 12:** Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing on a special permit for used car sales at 149 Summer Street (applicant Ivan Valinchuk).
• **August 24:** Planning Board public hearings on floodplain work at 27 Fire Road 15A, 881 Flat Hill Road, and 18 Oak Ridge Road.

All meetings are open to the public; check town notices for remote participation options.

Lunenburg boards tackle school aid, land-use hearings, and municipal building plans

Lunenburg's town boards covered a wide range of business over the past two weeks, from a proposed $350,000 boost to the school budget to four land-use public hearings before the Planning Board. All meetings listed below were scheduled with agendas on file; minutes have not yet been published, so items reflect what boards planned to take up, not confirmed outcomes.

Select Board: School aid, election warrants, and memorial vote

The Select Board met twice during the period. On July 21, the board was scheduled to discuss a School Committee request to place an article on the November 2026 special town meeting warrant appropriating an additional $350,000 in state aid to the FY27 school operating budget. The same agenda included a vote on granting permission for an American Revolutionary War memorial on the Lower Common and approval of the August 8, 2026 special town election warrant.

On July 27, the Select Board was set to vote on a petitioned special town meeting warrant and its opening and closing dates, approve the September 1, 2026 State Primary Election warrant, and ratify a Teamsters Union Local 170 collective bargaining agreement for the DPW. A joint workshop on July 28 with the Municipal Building Design Committee covered MassSave energy programs and the status of town buildings including TC Passios, Brooks House, Ritter, and Town Hall.

School Committee: Warrants and donations

The School Committee's July 29 agenda included approval of warrants from July 6 to July 20, 2026, totaling $100,507.91, plus discussion of additional FY27 budget state aid. The committee also planned to consider donations for football helmets, transportation, color guard uniforms, and LEAF grants.

Planning Board: Four public hearings and zoning work

On July 27, the Planning Board scheduled four public hearings covering properties on Leominster Shirley Road, Parmenter Road, and New West Townsend Road. Items included a site plan modification at 475 Leominster Shirley Rd. (PMOD-26-4), stormwater and special permits at 10 Parmenter Rd. (PBSW-26-12, PBSW-26-13, PBSP-26-3, PBSP-26-4, PBSP-26-6, PBSP-26-7, PBSW-26-16), and site plan, stormwater, and special permit applications at 860 New West Townsend Rd. (PBSA-26-1, PBSW-26-1, PBSP-26-1). A separate public hearing was set on a site plan application to change the use of 475 Leominster Shirley Road from distribution to manufacturing; the property is owned by BP Lunenburg Central Fee Owner LLC with Hannigan Engineering Inc. as applicant. The board also planned to discuss and potentially approve the Master Plan.

Earlier, on July 20, the Planning Board held a working session on zoning amendments for the 2027 Annual Town Meeting, covering senior housing, inclusionary housing, cluster housing, and minor site plan review.

Board of Health: Well retention hearings and school repair

The Board of Health's July 20 agenda included public hearings on retaining a secondary well at 757 Chase Road and an agricultural well at 48 Island Road, plus an allocation of money for system repair at the Old Primary School.

Trust Fund Commission: AG breach notice and appointments

On July 21, the Trust Fund Commission met jointly with the Select Board to interview and vote on appointing Richard Howard as commissioner for a term ending June 2027. On July 24, the commission was set to discuss an Attorney General notice of breach for the town's failure to meet legal obligations, review a draft supplemental compliance complaint regarding school trust funds and gifts, clarify trust declarations for the American Legion Post 283 Fund and American Legion Poor Fund, and vote on a rewritten risk management policy.

Other boards and committees

The Agricultural Commission (July 20) focused on reorganization and USDA/MDAR updates. The Parks Commission (July 22) discussed an MOU with the Library Board of Trustees for community room use and a proposed renaming of the Town Beach. The Finance Committee (July 23) heard a Green Communities presentation on Mass Save programs and discussed additional state aid. The Sewer Commission (July 28) covered the CTE contract renewal, a bid for 100 Laurel Lane, and pump station repairs. The Cemetery Commission (July 30) reviewed North Cemetery Backlot expansion engineering plans and a CIMS Cloud invoice for $2,691.00. The Conservation Commission (August 1) conducted site walks for wetland driveway crossing work at 108 Sunny Hill Road (NOI-26-24) and irrigation pond construction at 157 Goodrich Street (NOI-26-25).

Coming up

• **August 4 — Select Board:** Ratification of Principal Assessor and Part-Time Principal Clerk appointments, vote on Revolutionary War Memorial location, and vote on a Certificate of Dedication renaming the Town Beach House to Genevieve Nass.
• **August 5 — Board of Assessors:** Discussion on increasing the Clause 22 Veteran Exemption amount and status of the Principal Assessor search.
• **August 10 — Planning Board:** Working session on 2027 zoning amendments, including senior, inclusionary, and cluster housing.
• **August 12 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** Public hearing on special permit ZBA-26-9 for used car sales at 149 Summer Street, applicant Ivan Valinchuk, property owner Philip Lynn Gervais Smith.