ORDER-2021-85 : Acceptance of a Donation of Land from Deborah Killam and Dawn Marie Killam into the care and custody of the Melrose Conservation Commission

Transcript (~9 min @ 31:25)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 31:19 Speaker 1: Councillor Migliorelli? Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Thomas?

▶ 31:27 Speaker 1: Yes. Councillor Jamaleddine? Yes.

▶ 31:36 Jeff McNaught: President, yes 11 yes, the motion to spend the rules passes and, um. Before we speak with anyone from the administration 1st up, we have order 2021 dash 85 acceptance of a donation of land from Deborah Killam and Don Marie Killam into the care and custody of the Melrose Conservation Commission. Adam Clark, um, can we bring in. anyone from the administration who's going to speak on this sure i'll bring in mr van campen

▶ 32:21 Jeff McNaught: good evening mr chairman can you hear me we can uh welcome back thank you nice to nice to be back

▶ 32:23 Speaker 2: um so mr chairman the order before the committee this evening um is as was was what it says is in order to accept a donation of land from uh deborah and don marie killam they are the ears of the late Elizabeth Killam, who passed away over 10 years ago. She took title to this parcel in approximately 1968. This is an undeveloped parcel of land. It is contiguous to existing parcels of conservation land. The Killams approached the Conservation Commission in September, and at that time, the Conservation Commission expressed its support for this transaction as a way to preserve the natural landscape in that area. This is an area for members who may not be familiar with it, that is off of Swains Pond Avenue. I've talked to Councilor Thomas about this and as most of us know, Ward 7 has seen a lot of development activity in recent years. This is one way to do a couple of things. Number 1, to preserve in perpetuity this particular parcel, which is approximately, I'm looking at my screen, 0.43 acres of real estate for conservation purposes, and it simultaneously will help the Conservation Commission effectively connect their trail system, if you will, or perfect their trail system in that area. So, the steps in this process are a vote of the City Council to accept the donation. As I said, this is a 0.43 acre parcel. And in advance of any question that may be asked on this. The current assessed value is 36,200 dollars and I asked the city treasurer to give me. The last 7 real estate tax set 7 annual tax bills on this property and the highest is in 21 and it's 429 dollars for the year. So the financial impact for the city would be would be minimal given the tax bill. The family has graciously agreed to donate this parcel. We think it's a great fit for that particular area, and I would ask for your favorable recommendation this evening.

▶ 34:44 Jeff McNaught: Thank you, Mr. City Solicitor. We have some questions from our counselors. First up is Councilor Tramontozzi.

▶ 34:54 John N. Tramontozzi: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Van Kampen, just a quick question. I think it's wonderful to be able to preserve land open space like this and the donation is wonderful from these people and to the conservation commission so i just want to make sure we're not inheriting any issues environmental issues hazardous waste or anything like that on the property i just want to make sure that we're not going to be faced with any liabilities that this property might encounter

▶ 35:27 Speaker 2: correct that's a that's a great question counselor and i've had that conversation initially with the family. I'm not aware of any particular environmental issues at that site, but in the event the transaction is completed, those issues will be addressed and the issue of liability vis-a-vis the folks handing the property over will be dealt with. So I assume at some point there'll be a suitable agreement with the landowner, the current landowner, to address any of those potential

▶ 35:56 John N. Tramontozzi: issues. Great. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you,

▶ 35:59 Speaker 10: Council Chairman Tose. Next up we have Councillor Thomas. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Van Kampen,

▶ 36:05 Cory Thomas: thank you for your appearance and welcome. Thank you for the conversation we had earlier today about this very same matter. I want to thank first the Killam family. This is an incredibly generous donation to the Conservation Commission. As you noted, it's over four-tenths of an acre. It's in a wooded lot. It's in Knox Memorial Park. I was able to walk this lot last weekend off the Knox Memorial Trail. It's a beautiful spot. It abuts a new construction on Fern Street and new construction on Cunningham Way. It's very close to a bluff that overlooks Twain's Pond. And again, as you said, the residents in Ward 7, specifically in this area around Worth Street, Maple Grove Street, Maple Terrace, Hillside Park, This is 1 less lot that anyone will try to develop in this area. I think it's a great win for the neighborhood and the residents and an incredibly generous donation from the killing family. So, thank you for being here once again. Thank you.

▶ 37:12 Jeff McNaught: Thank you, Councillor Thomas, Councillor McMaster.

▶ 37:17 Shawn M. MacMaster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Mr. for being here. Can you go over again? You mentioned. um something about the uh the taxes on the on the land i didn't catch all that my apologies

▶ 37:32 Speaker 2: sure my my apologies so the the current assessed value is thirty six thousand two hundred dollars and um i had the city treasurer poll the last seven years worth of real estate bills And the current bill amount for tax year 2021 is $429.24 for the entire year. So they're getting a quarterly tax bill of about $106 a quarter.

▶ 38:03 Shawn M. MacMaster: Are the current owners current on their tax liability?

▶ 38:09 Speaker 2: I believe they are. Just give me one second.

▶ 38:12 Shawn M. MacMaster: I'm just wondering if we'd be forgiving anything as part of this transaction.

▶ 38:23 Speaker 2: I've got this as paid up to date, Councillor. I can certainly check in with the city treasurer and if the council wishes, I can certainly make the transfer contingent on full payment of any outstanding liability in advance.

▶ 38:39 Shawn M. MacMaster: I think that would make sense unless the agreement was that we would forgive any outstanding taxes as part of the donation. if that's something we are in your legal opinion able to do well the quit claim deed references the

▶ 38:50 Speaker 2: transfer is for consideration of one dollar so uh i'll work with the property owner i don't suspect there's a there's a liability an outstanding liability here but i'll work with the property

▶ 39:08 Jeff McNaught: owner to deal with that if there is thank you thank you thank you council mcmaster i didn't

▶ 39:14 Speaker 10: have anyone else in queue did i miss anyone seeing no hands raised what is the will of the committee

▶ 39:21 Jeff McNaught: Motion recommend 2nd, motion recommend for passage by Council Tram and tozy seconded by Councilor Thomas on discussion. Seeing 1, Madam clerk, will you please call the roll.

▶ 39:32 Speaker 1: Sure, I'm not yes. Vice chair. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

▶ 39:45 Speaker 1: Council, yes, yes. Yes, council. Yes. Counselor Stewart. Yes. Counselor Thomas. Yes, yeah.