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May 1998
Acton Town Meeting Approves Rail Trail Articles
Two articles authorizing the Town of Acton to appropriate funds for the
first phase of the rail trail project were passed at Town Meeting on April
6.
Ed Adelman, a member of the town's Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC),
made the presentation for both articles at the same time. Using slides and
overheads, Ed was concise and to the point, letting the meeting members do
most of the talking.
The articles faced some vocal opposition from residents who handed out
flyers and brochures, citing the same statistics that the Weston opponents
used in their defeat of that town's rail trail proposal.
For every opponent who spoke, however, there was a supporter. One of the
most effective supporters was another member of TAC, Renee Robins. She is
also an abutter, and helped counter the fearful claims of the opponents.
Article 3, to raise the matching funds of up to $30,000, passed on a voice
vote. Article 4, which requested the $150,000 of reimbursable spending,
required a two-thirds majority. It passed by eight votes, 335 to 154.
Our thanks to the town officials and boards who supported the articles, and
to Ed Adelman, who did a lot of work in a short time, for his excellent
presentation. Thanks also to ARRT volunteers Patrick Cleland, Jim Dickeson,
and Kathryn Garcia, for their help in preparing for the meeting.
Hudson Town Meeting Monday, May 4; Stow and Maynard May 18
Following April's successful Town Meeting vote in Acton, articles
concerning ARRT will appear on town meeting warrants in Hudson, Stow, and
Maynard. The articles will ask voters to authorize their selectmen to
negotiate for the acquisition of key parcels along the former Marlborough
Railroad for the purpose of creating a bicycle and pedestrian path. These
town meetings are critically important to ARRT's success. If you are a
registered voter in Maynard, Stow, or Hudson, please attend town meeting
and vote in favor of ARRT.
ARRT Awarded DEM Greenways Grant
The Assabet River Rail Trail has receivd a grant of $3,000 from the
Department of Environmental Management's Greenways and Trails Demonstration
Grant program. The grant will be used to conduct a natural resource
inventory and assessment of the proposed ARRT route. Through a series of
field trips this spring along the Marlborough Railroad right-of-way,
students from each town will identify and document existing significant
flora and fauna along the route. ARRT has hired Markus Pinney, a land-use
specialist from Lexington, to serve as a consultant and field trip leader
on the project.
Contact Jeff Richards, 978 568-1864.
Informational Meeting in Maynard Planned for May 12
In preparation for this month's Maynard town meeting, ARRT volunteers will
be holding an informational meeting for Maynard residents to discuss the
project. The meeting will provide Maynard residents with an opportunity to
share their ideas and express their concerns about ARRT.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m., in Maynard Town
Hall, room 201.
Contact Robin Schulman, 978 897-5906.
Appraisal Underway in Four Towns
The appraisals being performed as part of the 1997 grant ARRT received for
land acquisition are currently underway in Hudson, Stow, Maynard, and
Acton.
The appraisal firm of Avery Associates has begun appraising 30 separate
parcels. To better understand the properties, appraisers have sections of
the ARRT route with town officials and ARRT volunteers.
The appraisals are expected to be completed later this spring.
ARRT Volunteers Clear Marlborough Section
More than 20 volunteers cleared a 200 foot section of the abandoned
right-of-way in Marlborough. With the help of Girl Scout troop 2738 of
Hudson, the volunteers cleared brush, cut trees, and hauled away hundreds
of pounds of trash, including more than 30 tires.
Thanks to all who helped with a successful clean up.
Upcoming ARRT Events
May 7 Monthly meeting Maynard Town Hall, 7:00 p.m.
May 12 Community Informational Meeting Maynard
June 11 Monthly Meeting Marlborough location TBD, 7:00 p.m.
June 14 River Ride, cosponsored with Sudbury Valley Trustees and Nashoba
Valley Peddlers Contact Mark Geoffroy, 508 485-0747, for more information
Next ARRT Volunteers' Meeting May 7
The next ARRT volunteers' meeting is planned for Thursday, May 7, at 7:00
p.m., in the Maynard Town Hall. We will be discussing preparations for this
month's town meetings, and other spring events.
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