Palmer Council Votes to Acquire 1307 Park Street for New DPW Facility

Select Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Palmer Town Council votes unanimously to acquire future DPW site for $1.275 million. The council voted 5-0 Monday to appropriate $1,275,000 from the capital stabilization fund to acquire 1307 Park Street by eminent domain as the site of a long-planned Department of Public Works complex, a capital need the town has deferred since the existing facility flooded around 2005. Town Manager Brad said the purchase requires no Proposition 2 1/2 override or debt exclusion, calling it "pennies on the dollar" compared with new construction.

The council also seated two new members, Jan McCoy and Ryan Gothier, reorganized with Barbara elected president and Jessica Ferry vice president, and received first readings of three zoning amendments covering a consolidated table of use, updated accessory dwelling unit standards allowing local ADUs up to 1,250 square feet, and new blade sign rules for village center districts; none of the three ordinances were voted on. The town was also just awarded over $700,000 for Route 181 culvert replacement, and a $5 million Mass Works application for Thorndike-Shearer Street sewer construction awaits an October decision.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report, 2,780 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.