Pepperell Planning Board defers food-hub earmark vote, orders legal review of partnership agreement

PEPPERELL -- September 16, 2024, Pepperell Planning Board defers vote on $427,000 in state food-infrastructure earmark funds after chair discloses concerns about the grant's intended use. Board Chair Al Padnot told the board, applicants, and public that he had spoken directly with State Senator John Kennedy, who told him the $500,000 earmark was conceived primarily for a food hub supporting local farm storage, aggregation, and distribution, not a commercial kitchen, and that all purchased equipment must remain town property. The Fitz Collaborative asked for $205,000 to complete kitchen renovations and extend its culinary director's salary, with Culinary Program Director Matthew Slocum reporting that a floor-plan redesign increased planned workstations from four to seven; the collaborative estimated a minimum of $175,000 would be needed to reach a year-end opening. The Pepperell Agricultural Commission and Growing Places sought $221,800 to lease and build out cold, dry, and frozen storage at Unit 5 of 7 Lomar Park at $1,800 per month. No vote was taken; the board directed Town Planner Jason Hohl to transmit a draft memorandum of understanding to town counsel and the town administrator, and scheduled a continuation for September 30 with the Growing Places board facing an October 9 deadline to approve the agreement.