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.