By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — The Select Board, on Monday night, authorized Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto to enter into negotiations to potentially purchase the former Stop & Shop property at 97 Main St. for municipal use.
The public session vote was made following an executive session held prior to Monday’s meeting. The executive session was warranted under the state’s Open Meeting Law because it falls within the purview of the board chair to determine when a public discussion to “consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property” may have a “detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body.”
Also present at the executive session in addition to the Select Board were Town Planner Danielle McKnight, Finance Director Laurianne Galvin, FinCom Chair Abigail Hurlbut and CPC Chair David Rudloff.
“It is the intention of the select board to enter into negotiations to offer to purchase 97 Main St., which is the former Stop & Shop and current Ocean State Job Lot property at the intersection of Main and Winter streets,” Gilleberto said during the open session, adding, “If made, the purchase of the property would be contingent on a Town Meeting vote. The Select Board and the town would need to authorize that.
Gilleberto added that the Select Board felt it was important for the community to know that based on its discussion in executive session that it is the intention of the town to make an offer on the property. This site has long been viewed for many municipal uses due to its size and central location at Routes 28 and 62 (Main and Winter streets).
Select Board Chairman Vincenzo Stuto added that the board would be posting an executive session meeting notice for Thursday morning, Feb. 6.
Stuto said they are currently “light on details” concerning the sale of this property, but once more details are known from their discussions with the real estate company that represents Stop & Shop “we’ll then release all that information to the public.”