Town of carlisle for the year ending

Part-time drivers @ approx. 30-60 (total) hrs/wk. as needed

(Town funded and partly reimbursed by LRTA)

Newsletter Formatting Consultant Monthly Stipend

(Funded by a Community Chest Grant)

Volunteers: 5,500 hours each year of volunteer time are coordinated by COA staff, resulting in a significant financial savings to the Town of Carlisle, as well as an advanced quality of life to our citizens. If these 5,500 hours were paid at minimum wage ($8/hour), the town saves $44,000. per year, and if performed by staff at Grade 1 ($15/hour) the town has saved $82,500.
WHAT WE DO:

Social Services - (for ALL Carlisle residents, not only seniors!) The COA manages the Senior Tax Worker program, Food Assistance, Fuel Assistance, caregiver support, and the Friendly Visitor program. In addition, the COA makes referrals to our part-time licensed Social Worker or other providers for protective services or other mental health or legal issues. We provide extensive information via phone from the COA office at Town Hall, and links on the COA web site. Our LICSW consultant works with residents and families enabling them to receive supportive services, including help from the Visiting Nurses Association, financial assistance, and providing other information on social programs, which allows residents to age in place.
Physical Needs- The COA coordinates the Meals on Wheels program with Minuteman Senior Services, our federally-designated area agency on aging. The Lowell Regional Transportation Authority (LRTA) transportation program is managed through the COA, and offers rides to medical appointments, grocery and other trips, and offers access to services both in and out of town. The COA offers a wide variety of fitness and exercise programs geared toward seniors of all physical abilities. In addition, we provide blood pressure and podiatry clinics, as well as many meal options each month. We help the Board of Health with annual flu clinics and emergency planning, and were responsible for opening and helping to run the shelter during this year’s October Storm.
Socialization Opportunities- ALL of our programs have the goal of outreach, promoting the ability of seniors to remain socially active as they age and to decreasing the incidence of isolation and depression in the elderly. We accomplish this by men’s and women’s breakfasts, monthly coffees and lunches, day trips, fitness programs and after-lunch programs, as well as a variety of Outreach programs.
Educational/Brain Health Needs- We offer seminars and lectures focused on educating seniors on subjects such as tax relief, housing options, health issues, poetry groups, cultural programs, and much more.
Transportation- The Town of Carlisle is reimbursed by the LRTA for up to $25,715.60 per year, in exchange for the COA management of transportation services. The goal of this program is to help seniors be able to get where they need to be when they need to be there, and maintain their independence, always trying to provide transportation at low-cost. We provide transportation to local medical appointments, local shopping and area events using the COA van, the RecCom van when available and friendly drivers using their own cars. If we cannot provide the transportation service desired by a senior, we help them find what they need through other resources in the area.
2011 Highlights-

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  Our main accomplishment in the past 12 months has been to develop a 3 year long-range plan including budgets for each year. Through data collection and analysis, we have been able to assess the needs of our burgeoning senior population through a combined effort that includes: expanding our clinic offerings, establishing regular transportation routes, acquiring a dedicated Senior Space and supporting the efforts of town departments that can provide tax relief and housing options, to ensure the long term residency of Carlisle’s Seniors.
  

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  Since August this year, we have an Administrative Assistant working 12 hours per week in our office.
  
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  We now receive funds from the Friends of the Carlisle Council on Aging (FCCOA) through a grant, and the COA Director now manages the funds rather than the FCCOA Treasurer.
  
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  Our Transportation Coordinator, Carol Killpartrick, resigned in early December 2011.
  
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  Our Transportation program has grown dramatically due mostly to increased demand for rides to medical appointments. In FY11, our LRTA statistics show in October 64 vehicle hours and 12 work days (most days with more one van in use) compared to FY12 October: 178 vehicle hours and 24 work days (again, most days with more than one van in use.) At this time, we own one vehicle to transport seniors in, and we borrow the Recreation Department’s van when we are able to. The availability of this second van is becoming more and more limited, due to the needs of the Recreation Department. We have been struggling to support the demand with two vans and help from many volunteer friendly drivers. If we do not have use of a second van, many seniors will have to look elsewhere to pay for these transportation services.
  
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  Grants and Reimbursements represent 25% of our entire annual budget.
  

Popular Programs this year:

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  Martial Arts, Boston Symphony Orchestra Open Rehearsal Series, Community Conversations, Ballroom Dancing Classes, Opera and Modern Art Lecture Series, Senior Poetry Group, Senior Moments at Ferns (coffee hour with blood pressure checks), Restaurant Review group, Spring Fling Dance, Texas Hold ‘Em lessons, and always the Monthly Coffee.
  
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  SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs for the Elderly) seminar on Medicare Changes
  

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  Funded by a grant from the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, our Inter-generational Poetry program last year paired senior citizens with Concord-Carlisle High School sophomores, and to great success! Certified Poetry Therapist Patti Russo guided the group through an experience that strengthened bonds between generations, and opened the minds and hearts of all of those involved. We believe it is important to continue this relationship with the school and with the community.
  
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  Our Volunteer Travel Coordinator, Joanne Willens has organized trips to area attractions such as: Museum of Fine Arts, The Monthly Restaurant Review group, Newburyport Day Trip, Stoneham Theatre plays.
  

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  At present we hold 86 individual program opportunities per month.
  

With a little help from our Friends…
The Friends of COA is a volunteer non-profit organization that continues to provide financial support by supplementing programs not funded by the town, state, or other special grants. The Friends have worked closely with the COA since 1994 to enhance many of our programs that directly benefit the senior population. They receive funding from several charitable corporations, but most of their income comes from townspeople through their Annual Drive starting in December and donations given throughout the year.
In 2011 these donations were used to:

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  Provide 20 senior households with Fuel Assistance.
  
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  Support the COA Medical Equipment Loan program.
  
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  Help support meals programs for seniors.
  
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  Subsidize fitness classes, and other exercise programs.
  
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  Help support senior trips and other cultural experiences.
  
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  Support successful senior podiatry and blood pressure clinics.
  
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  Art Matters, Opera Lecture Series (with Friends of the Gleason Public Library).
  

Members_COA_Associate_Board_Members'>COA Board Members COA Associate Board Members

Liz Bishop – Board Chair Nadine Bishop

Verna Gilbert – Vice-Chair Mary Daigle

Elizabeth Acquaviva- Secretary Natalie Ives

Abha Singhal – Treasurer of COA Board Sandy McIlhenny

Lillian DeBenedictis – Board Member Ted Read

Tom Dunkers – Board Member Marjory Stickler

Jim Elgin – Board Member

Phyllis Goff – Board Member

Jean Sain – Board Member

Helen Taylor – Board Member

Joanne Willens – Board Member

HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The main roles of the Carlisle Historical Commission (CHC) are to act as the Historic District Commission for the Carlisle Historic District, which primarily includes the town center, and to act as the Historical Commission for the town as a whole.
The Historic District was created to preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics and architecture of buildings and places that are significant in the history of Carlisle; to maintain and improve the settings for such buildings and places; and to encourage designs compatible therewith.
In its role as the Historic District Commission, the CHC receives, hears, and rules on applications for alterations to structures within the Historic District. During 2011, the CHC reviewed four new applications and issued four Certificates of Appropriateness. The applications reviewed by the Commission were:

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  Reviewed, modified and approved an application for an addition on the back of a house, a deck off the barn, window replacements and other modifications.
  
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  Reviewed, modified and approved an application for permanent signage for the Gleason Public Library front lawn.
  
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  Approved an application for a roof replacement
  
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  Approved an application for resurfacing of pathway between the rear of the parking lot at Gleason Public Library and Church Street.
  

With several new members the Commission also spent time this year reviewing the Rules and Regulations to ensure a solid understanding of our role in the Historic District and in our role as the overall town Historic Commission, a role that charges us with the preservation, protection and development of the historical or archeological assets of the town.

Member Changes: Unfortunately, two long serving members of the Historical Commission decided not to renew. We give a truly heart felt thank you to Sylvia Sillers and Margaret Hilton for their tireless dedication to the Commission over the years. Their leadership and guidance was instrumental to our success and ensured we fulfilled our role in protecting Carlisle distinctive historical character. They are missed.

To fill those roles, Jack O’Connor (Church Street) agreed to become a full member. Ken Grady (Bedford Road) joined as a full member, Annette Lee (Lowell Street) joined as an Alternate Member.
The Commission extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have worked diligently to preserve the historic character of Carlisle, and particularly to the residents of the Historic District for their appreciation of the historical importance of the town center.
Members

Nathan Brown, Chair, Geoffrey Freeman, Neal Emmer, Ken Grady & Jack O’Connor

Alternate Members: Duncan Grant & Annette Lee

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) heard and rendered decisions on seven petitions as prescribed in Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) Chapter 40A (The Zoning Act), M.G.L Chapter 40B (The Comprehensive Permit Act) and the Town’s Zoning Bylaw.
The ZBA consists of three full members that are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Additionally, the Board of Selectmen may appoint up to four associate members to serve on the ZBA. Associate members may attend all ZBA hearings and can serve as a full member when a regular member or members can not sit for a particular hearing. All ZBA hearings are open to the public and are typically held the first Monday of the month at Town Hall when there is a petition to be heard. All hearings are advertised in either the Concord Journal or the Carlisle Mosquito for two consecutive weeks prior to the hearing. Additionally, a ZBA hearing is posted on the Town Clerk’s Bulletin Board no less than fourteen days in advance of the scheduled hearing. The Rules and Regulations of the Town of Carlisle Zoning Board of Appeals and the Town of Carlisle Zoning Bylaws are available from the Office of the Town Clerk at Town Hall for a nominal fee. These documents are also available on the official Town of Carlisle website, www.carlislema.gov, under the “Boards and Committees” menu.
The ZBA is not charged with the enforcement of the Town's Zoning Bylaws. Rather, the Building Commissioner has the initial responsibility for interpreting and enforcing the zoning bylaw. This responsibility includes the duty to enforce the conditions of a variance or special permit issued by the ZBA. If a townsperson has reason to believe that the zoning bylaws or conditions directed under a special permit or variance are not being complied with, the appropriate process is to make a written request to the Building Commissioner to enforce the zoning bylaw or conditions in question. The Building Commissioner’s decision is subject to review by the ZBA.
Ending 2011, the three-member Board is comprised of Kevin T. Smith, Chair, and Ed Rolfe. Associate Board members are Emmanuel Crespo, Marty Galligan, and Lisa Davis Lewis. There is one associate member position that remains unfilled. [Kent Gonzales, Vice Chair submitted his resignation late this year].
In 2011, the Board held a total of seven hearings, addressing the matters listed in Table 1. The hearing on the NOAH/Benfield affordable housing application took place over 14 public hearing days. Table 2 lists a brief summary of the outcomes of each petition heard by the Board. Table 3 lists all active special permits. Finally, Table 4 lists the current board members and their term of service expiration date.
The Board would also like to offer our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the other Town departments, staff and boards that have provided their guidance and leadership upon various occasions.
Looking forward, the Board, in its adjudicative role in support of land-use planning for Carlisle, will remain mindful of its responsibilities to be fair and equitable in the application and administration of local and State zoning ordinances.

Table 1: 2011 Petitions heard by the ZBA

Petitions Heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals
	Granted	Denied	Withdrawn	Extended/Review	Active
Petitions for Variance	1
Applications for Special Permits	2
Comprehensive Permits
Comprehensive Permit Modifications
Appeal of Administrative Decision		4
Earth Moving
Totals	3	4	0	0	0

Table 2: 2011 Hearings

Applicant or Petitioner	Date of Hearing	Date of Decision	ZBA Action	Expires
Robert Hilton	2/7/11 2/17/11	4/4/11	Denied Appeal of Decision by the Zoning Enforcement Officer under Zoning Bylaw 7.4, relative to the Special Permit requirements under Bylaw 3.4.2.4 for the operation of a restaurant or similar place for the serving of food or beverages at Ferns Country Store, 8 Lowell Road.
Timothy Lowinger	04/04/11		Grand a variance under bylaw 7.5 from zoning by laws Section 4.3.2. for the construction of an addition at 352 School Street.
Kathryn Dennison	11/07/11	12/5/11	Grant of a special permit under zoning bylaw Section 3.2.2.8.6 for the continued operation of a stable/horse boarding business at 78 Stearns Street.	12/6/2019
Bonnie Jacobellis	11/07/11	12/5/11	Grant of a special permit under zoning bylaw Section 3.2.2.8.6 to operate a stable/horse boarding business at 164 Fiske Street	12/6/2016
Kevin Bergquist	11/07/11 12/05/11	1/19/12	Denied Appeal of Decision of the Building Commissioner, under zoning bylaw 7.4, to grant building permit under zoning bylaw Section 3.2.1.11.1 to allow a guest house with a kitchen/and-or/stove at 389 River Road
Roberta Lyman	12/5/11	1/19/12	Denied Appeal of Decision of the Building Commissioner, under zoning bylaw 7.4, to grant building permit under zoning bylaw Section 3.2.1.11.1 to allow a guest house with a kitchen/and-or/stove at 389 River Road
Carlisle Planning Board	12/5/11	01/4/12	Denied Appeal of Decision of the Building Commissioner, under zoning bylaw 7.4, to grant building permit under zoning bylaw Section 3.2.1.11.1 to allow a guest house with a kitchen/and-or/stove at 389 River Road

Table 3: Active Permits

Name	Location and Type of Permit	Expiration Date
Kevin Stacey	Landscaping Business 570 West Street Special Permit	4/1/12
Scott Jenney	Landscaping Business 303 Brook Street Special Permit	4/1/12
The Red Balloon First Religious Society	Nursery School, Day Care 27 School Street Special Permit	4/1/14
Bonnie Jacobellis	Horse Stable and Boarding 164 Fiske Street Special Permit	12/6/16
Peter L. and Margit Morey Healthy Pet Co.	Animal hospital 988 Bedford Road Modified Special permit	11/1/15 3/1/10
Ian Sampson	Furniture Gift Shop 43 Bedford Rd (Barn) Special Permit	6/1/10
D-Kon Realty Trust Richard DeFelice Robert Koning	Building for U.S. Post Office 70 Bedford Rd Special Permit	6/30/18 *6/30/11
Kathryn Dennison	Riding Academy and Stable 78 Sterns St. Special Permit	12/6/19
Red Magnolia Realty Trust William and Dean Luther Carlisle Auto Body	Automotive Body Repair Shop 673 Bedford Road Special Permit	11/1/17 *11/15/12
Angelo and Lillian DeBenedictis	Day Care Center 3 Carleton Rd. Special Permit	6/1/13
H. LaRue Renfroe Assurance Technology	Professional Offices 84 South Street Special Permit	No date; review *2/6/14
John Kyprianos	Antique/Collectible Shop 549 Bedford Rd. Special Permit	1/31/17

*These permits require periodic review of conditions for adequacy, without which the permit expires prematurely. The first date is the expiration date for the permit; the asterisked dates are premature expiration dates if no review of conditions has been applied for.