The Charlton Select Board on April 8 held a public hearing and affirmed that the town will not exercise its right of first refusal on a Chapter 61B removal request for land shown on assessor's map 10 block C lot 2.11, located off Gould Road and Cemetery Road. The request was submitted by Francis A. Nero, Esquire, on behalf of Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Boston.

The planning board, board of assessors, conservation commission and water/sewer commission reviewed the petition and reported no objection to the town declining to exercise first-refusal rights. The public hearing record showed no written concerns submitted and no speakers at the meeting raised opposition. The Select Board voted to close the public hearing and then voted to decline to exercise the town’s right of first refusal; the votes were approved unanimously by voice vote.

The action allows the landowner’s requested removal from Chapter 61B to proceed; the board did not provide further conditions or stipulations in the public record.