Grafton Planning Board Action – Lipinski Reneges

by Erin Hogan
Frustration was the name of the game at the July Grafton Planning Board Meeting. The Stonybrook project and project director David Lipinski were the main source of discussion. Lipinski sent the Planning Board a change work order regarding the $2,500 owed to the Highway Department and the $30,000 owed to the Fire Department for a piece of equipment he promised them. Because of “financial difficulties” Lipinski requested that the date of the money owed be moved from June 30 to September 1, 2010.
The Board was very upset over this because this is not the first time Lipinski requested the date be changed. Code Enforcement Officer Tom Withcuskey said that he had talked to the Town Attorney and since there are two lake front lots in the Town’s name he said they should be fine. These lots are the Town’s security in case Lipinski doesn’t come through. The Town can sell the two lots to recover the money. Planning Board Members Scott Newell and Owen Grandjean were not convinced. They were greatly concerned that Lipinski wouldn’t pay once the new deadline came around. Board Member James Goyer felt that they had been given the run around by Lipinski. Newell said that the Board needs to put its foot down and not let Lipinski have this change for the third time. There was discussion on alternatives such as paying the fire department now and then paying the highway later or perhaps paying half by August 1 the other half by September 1. Newell insisted that they should keep the deadline the same and not change it. Also Newell expressed that it was unprofessional to send in a change order without being present to discuss options. Withcuskey tried to call him up but he was unreachable. Newell and Goyer both agreed, as well, that its not only the money that’s the issue, it’s the principle that he said he would pay and he keeps putting it off.
Goyer then pointed out it didn’t matter how comfortable or uncomfortable they felt about the change order because the deadline already passed and there wasn’t much they could do to make him pay. All members were hesitant to agree. Grandjean said that he feels bad for Lipinski since he doesn’t have the money, but he also is worried about the Town getting its money. The Planning Board, with their hands tied, voted, and the change order passed 4-1.
Under new business there was a minor subdivision from Jennifer Contessa. The lot is located on Fox Hollow Road. The subdivision consists of a large farm lot of about 50 acres and a smaller lot containing a house with about 16 acres. The bigger lot will take in about 14 acres of the smaller lot. This way the smaller lot that contains the house will only be about 2 acres. The larger lot will then have 64 acres. This subdivision wasn’t approved at this meeting but will be reviewed again at the next meeting once a copy of both deeds are obtained by the Board.