Pepperell Selectmen Approve Fee Changes, Advance Peter Fitzpatrick RFP

PEPPERELL -- August 12, 2019, Pepperell selectmen approved revised building and town-clerk fee schedules and moved a request for proposals for private management of the Peter Fitzpatrick School closer to publication at their August 12 meeting. The board voted unanimously to accept the building-department fee structure, which the Inspectional Services Group estimates will generate modestly above the current $150,000 to $160,000 in annual permit revenue, and approved most town-clerk fee changes while stripping out a proposed $12 burial-permit fee and a $1.25 notary fee. Town Administrator Craig McLean disclosed that a hot-water pipe leak at the vacant school, dating to March, cost roughly 25,000 gallons of water and carries a repair estimate in the low-to-mid five figures, with the 1960s-era pipes running beneath concrete; an engineering firm was visiting the site the following morning. McLean also warned the board that with less than $700,000 each in free cash and the general stabilization fund, a revenue anticipation note, short-term borrowing against tax receipts at roughly 1 percent interest, would likely be requested in September, driven by a $4 million quarterly school payment and $900,000 in delayed SOAR project reimbursements. On the MCGI soil reclamation fight, Selectman Scarsdale reported that MCGI's own representative had told the board the company was appealing a MassDEP fine from its Groveland project, but MassDEP regional director Eric Worrell confirmed the fine was paid in full within six days and no appeal was filed.