Selectmen to Talk Leaf Blowers and Rail Trail

Selectmen on Wednesday will hear an update from the Rail Trail Implementation Committee on its progress establishing a trail between Marblehead and Swampscott.

The selectmen's meeting starts at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, with an executive session.

Late last month Rail Committee member Roger Talkov said he would meet with Katharine Klein of the town's law firm Kopelman and Paige to draft a letter to the utility company National Grid.

The letter was to be an eminent domain claim for a 10-foot-wide recreation easement on land extending from Humphrey Street to the Swampscott Middle School, he said.

The Humphrey/ section is just a portion of the corridor. The ultimate goal is to link with the established Marblehead trail section.

The town has standing approval from a town meeting vote for eminent domain action, committee members said.

Talkov said the committee would use money it has accumulated through fundraising for taking the Humphrey Street-to-middle school section.

National Grid owns the entire section.

Talkov said at the February meeting that the utility has stated that it will not voluntarily convey easement rights to their property so long as individuals oppose the trail.

Selectmen have other items slated for discussion during the public portion of their meeting including talks on a leaf blower ban.

In separate business, the panel has two items to discuss behind closed doors:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

• To conduct strategy session in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non union personnel.

• To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the pubic body and the Chair so declares.