Controversial Article to Sell Oak Street Land Pulled From Town Meeting Warrant

A controversial article that would have raised money for a new town hall by selling conservation and recreation land at the former Camp Lincoln Hill site on Oak Street has been pulled from consideration.

The Sun Chronicle reports that the proposal from selectmen and the town asset review committee chairman Lorraine Brue would have been used to raise money for the construction of a new town hall but received no support.

The conservation commission refused to support the article while selectman Jim DeVellis expressed his displeasure with the article at the last two selectmen meetings.

DeVellis also said he received calls from angry Oak Street residents and members of affected boards who felt blindsided by the move.

“The commission flatly refused to consider selling those lots” commission Chairman Bob Boette told the Sun Chronicle. “It was no-way-Jose that we were going to sell those lots.”

About 14 acres of town-owned land off East Belcher Road could have been placed in the control of the conservation commission in exchange for an endorsement of the sale of Oak Street land but the commission, under no uncertain terms, said no to the deal.

The land in question is home to the marbled salamander, a very rare species, making the sale of the land difficult and unpopular.