Auburn board close to naming 2 to ZBA 

AUBURN – Selectmen interviewed five candidates for two spots on the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 24.

Doreen M. Goodrich, chairman of selectmen, said her board will vote to fill the seats at its next meeting.

The seats are currently held by Chairman Dennis Natoli, who has served since 1997, and Wayne C. Page, who has served since 2003. Both applied for reappointment.

Others who applied were: Real estate lawyer Meghan E. Roche, businessman J. Laurence Ciccolo and former Selectman Jeffrey P. Murray, a contractor.

In other business, Town Manager Julie A. Jacobson informed selectmen that the town has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the state Department of Veterans Services, with a required match already approved by a vote of town meeting, for a total of $10,000 to restore at least one of the town’s Civil War monuments.

Ms. Jacobson thanked state Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury, “who really went to bat for us,” and the Department of Veterans Services.

Also, Adam R. Burney, acting director of developmental and inspectional services, said he was speaking for W. Timothy Firment, executive director of Habitat for Humanity’s Metrowest/Greater Worcester branch, in asking that permit fees be waived for a proposed duplex to be built at 4 Homestead Ave. Selectmen voted unanimously to waive the fees.

Mr. Firment had given the board the option of rehabilitating a single-family home at the site or building a duplex there. Selectmen supported a duplex when they learned that Habitat could guarantee local preference for at least one family in a duplex.

Mr. Burney said the next step is to obtain approval for the project from the Department of Housing and Community Development .

Mr. Firment said community support will be needed for construction of the Colonial-style house, which will be sold to two low-income families. Anyone willing to help is asked to call Habitat for Humanity at (508) 799-9259 or visit www.habitatmwgw.org.

Selectmen also heard from Robert L. Platukis, chairman of the Wind Turbine and Alternative Energy Committee, who asked that selectmen request a second “ZIP Trip” from the local Fox channel to show off Veterans Memorial Corridor, the Dr. Arthur and Dr. Martha Pappas Recreation Area and the town’s new “auto mile” on Route 20.

Mr. Platukis also said the final, successful report from Sustainable Energy Developments on the proposed Prospect Street wind turbine is available at www.auburnguide.com under the Planning Department.

Wind turbine opponent Richard C. Ringgard told selectmen he wanted to see “a much more visible process,” and asked that the wind turbine committee’s meetings be televised. He said he had sent selectmen a package of information on turbines.

Ms. Jacobson said the committee’s meetings would be televised starting this week.

Selectmen also approved a citation honoring Honey Dew Donuts’ 40th anniversary. The company began as a single doughnut shop, opened on June 6, 1973, by Richard Bowen in Mansfield. Today the company has 145 shops, including one at 913 Southbridge St. in Auburn.

Ms. Jacobson also invited everyone to the town’s Independence Day celebration, to be held July 3, with a rain date of July 5, at the Dr. Arthur and Dr. Martha Pappas Recreation Complex.

She said the fun will begin at 5 p.m. with a parade marching from the Pakachoag School to the complex, where there will be live bands, vendors, activities, games, a petting zoo, pony rides and more. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Parking will be available at the Auburn Mall, with a shuttle bus provided by the Worcester Regional Transit Authority offering rides to and from the mall, complex, Lorraine Gleick Nordgren Senior Center and Pakachoag School.

Selectmen also voted on a summer meeting schedule. They will only meet July 15 and Aug. 12 in those two months, unless an additional meeting is needed.