Gov. Ames Estate Up For Discussion at Town Meeting

The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee were split this week on whether or not to recommend a Town Meeting warrant article that assists in the purchase of the on Oliver Street.

Trustees of Reservation, a non-profit organization that specializes in purchasing, preserving and caring for land designated for public use is interested in buying the 48-acre land for $4 million from the Ames family. The Trustees are asking for the town to purchase $500,000 in conservation restrictions through Community Preservation Act Funds.

"The intent is to prevent any future development on the property," David Ames Jr. said. "I think this is a very good vote because its going to be maintained and open to Easton residents and the public in general."

Finance Committee Chair Kimberly Dubois said that while the Finance Committee liked the intent of the article, it did not agree with the article's request to purchase the conservation restrictions through bonding and therefore decided that it should not be recommended.

She said the Community Preservation Committee should not be bonding when the funds are currently available.

CPA Committee Chair Jim Lee said the committee decided on bonding to preserve its ability to purchase more land when the market was available. He said open space money has always been a high priority.

"That’s one issue," he said. "The other issue is, given interest rates which are currently available, and given the fact that the market is down, its fiscally more responsible to bond."

The Board of Selectmen voted to recommend the warrant article as it is written.

"I am support of this article," Board of Selectmen member Sean Noonan said. "I think we get a lot for the $500,000."

With the town's purchase of conservation restrictions, Trustees of Reservations Community Conservation Specialist Wayne Beitler said the state would provide $500,000 and $3 million would be acquired from anonymous donors.

David Ames Jr. said Governor Oliver Ames' interest in trees may have added some of the defining characteristics of the property.

"He was very interested in trees," he said. "And, he and his son, Oaks, who later became a professor of botany at Harvard, planted many specimen trees on the property."

Ames said when the family decided to sell the land, it felt Trustees of Reservations would be the best option because of its reputation maintaining properties and willingness to open the property to the public.

The non-profit owns over 100 properties across Massachusetts, including Moose Hill Farm in Sharon.

"We’re excited about the potential to work with the local community and nearby non-profit groups," Beitler said.

Town members will have the opportunity to decide between the Finance Committee recommendation or Board of Selectmen recommendation on Monday at Town Meeting when Warrant Article 20 is discussed. Town Meeting begins at 7 p.m. at