Littleton Select Board Approves $4 Million MassWorks MOU With King Street Developer

LITTLETON — November 20, 2023 — Littleton Select Board approves MassWorks MOU with 550 King Street LLC, promotes two public safety officers, and begins path toward Webster land purchase. The board voted unanimously Monday to authorize Interim Town Administrator Ryan Farrar to execute a revised memorandum of understanding directing $4 million in MassWorks grant funds to public infrastructure at the 550 King Street development, the town's largest active project, after member Mark DeCoste flagged concerns about a future-grants clause that could commit the town to crediting unspecified future awards to the developer — Farrar agreed to consult town counsel before signing. Sean Coffey was promoted to deputy fire chief at grade 17, step 7 following a competitive process that included a three-and-a-half-hour assessment center run by Connecticut fire chiefs, and Douglas Landry was promoted to police lieutenant at grade 15, step 8. DPW Director Steve Yonley warned the board that private plow contractors have fallen from 22 to eight over five years, meaning slower road and sidewalk clearing this winter. Finance Committee Chair Steve Venuti used public comment to rebut Select Board criticism of his panel's town meeting presentation on the failed Webster property vote, citing a Department of Revenue opinion that finance committees, not select boards, hold statutory budget authority, and calling for a joint meeting to resolve the tension. On the Webster parcel, the board informally agreed to notify the owners' attorneys that their notice of intent to sell is legally deficient, resetting the 120-day right-of-first-refusal clock while a May warrant article and potential debt exclusion ballot question are explored — aided by a Littleton Conservation Trust matching fund campaign capped at $50,000 through December 31.