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Above, Town Council preparing to rescind approval for 444 East Cental Street. Empty seat reflects a recusal by Councilor Grella, who is an abutter of the project.
In one of the more dramatic Council votes in recent years, in its second meeting since the election swept in a mostly new crew, a measure to rescind the approval for the large 40B development on East Central Street, granted in a narrow vote by the prior Town Council in 2024, was in this instance passed overwhelmingly -- potentially ending the project....
But not without much discussion first. Two Councilors, Gene Grella and Steve Malloy both recused themselves on the advice of the State Ethics Commission. The remaining Councilors, including Ted Cormier-Leger and Chair Robert Dellorco, who had been among those opposed to the project in 2024, engaged in a lively discussion about the measure, with Councillor Morongiello serving as the lone voice largely aiming to not reverse the prior Council's action. Among his reasons were those also put forward by the Administration which boiled down to the potential for costly legal action by the developer and the likelihood that with the project having already been granted some key approvals, the project would likely be able go forward regardless of the vote.
But Councilor Griffith made the point that the Zoning Board of Appeals, the last real barrier to the project going forward, might well be influenced to stop the project if they saw the Council take action. And she stressed the need to finally listen to voters, who had shown persistent and overwhelming hostility to the plan from the start.
As in previous occasions when the project was discussed, the room was packed with opponents and councilors repeatedly acknowledged the sentiments in the room and the clear sentiments of the voters in dismissing so many incumbents that had become entangled in the project approvals.
And while there may be legal costs involved, the majority seemed to be not only listening to the voters but also to be unconvinced of the financial value of the project to the town.
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Earlier in the meeting the Council, again after much discussion, approved a provisional budget with some verbal assurances from the Administration that some of the spending being authorized would not be acted upon immediately, pending further discussion.
A number of town departments, including DPW, Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, the Senior Center, and the Library made brief pitches for their frugality and importance to the town.
Brandon Carrico was appointed to the Historical Commission, Jen D'Angelo was appointed to the Finance Committee, and Elizabeth O'Day to the Cultural Council.
