Town of Otis, Massachusetts
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
MINUTES August 7, 2023
Meeting via Zoom
7:01 pm – 7:24 pm
ZBA Members: (Present) Geoffrey Geane, James Kauffman, Therese Gould, RoseAnn DeRupo, Wayne Woczyna, Travis Ward, Gordon Middleton
Clerk: (Present) Trisha Tetreault
Public Attendees: None
The meeting was held via ZOOM; Host Larry Gould, Building Inspector
Agenda item #1 – Open Meeting:
• The meeting convened at 7:01 pm. Chairperson Geoffrey Geane opened the meeting.
• There was a quorum; seven voting members.
Agenda item #2 – Approve minutes from previous meetings.
Discussion:
May 2, 2022:
• Motion to approve May 2022 minutes by Geoff Geane, seconded by James Kauffman.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Absent at meeting
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Aye
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
• The motion passed with six in favor and one abstention
February 13, 2023
• Motion to approve the February 2023 minutes by Geoff Geane, seconded by Therese Gould.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Aye
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Aye
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
• The motion passed unanimously.
May 1, 2023
• Motion to approve the May 2023 minutes with Terry’s changes by Geoff Geane, seconded by RoseAnn DeRupo.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Aye
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Aye
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
• The motion passed unanimously.
June 5, 2023
• Motion to approve the June 2023 minutes by Geoff Geane, seconded by Travis Ward.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Aye
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Aye
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
• The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda item #3 – Old Business and New Business/ Items unanticipated by the chair
Discussion:
• Chairperson Geoffrey Geane informed the members that he will no longer be residing in Otis fulltime.
• Geoff will be resigning from the board tomorrow as of 12:00 noon.
• A motion was made to elevate Travis Ward from Associate Member to Member by James Kauffman, seconded by Wayne Woczyna.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Aye
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Abstained
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
• The motion passed with six in favor and one abstention.
• A motion was made to have Travis Ward become the new chair by Geoffrey Geane, seconded by James Kauffman.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Aye
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Abstained
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
o The motion passed with six in favor and one abstention.
Agenda item #4 – Update from the Building Inspector
Discussion:
• Larry Gould stated there would be an application next month.
• Application is for a cell tower on Marcey Road.
• They have already advertised the balloon float in the Berkshire Eagle
• The second application, 1010 Reservoir Road, has not sent the existing conditions in yet
Agenda item #5 – Next Meeting
Discussion:
• Next meeting will be Tuesday September 5, 2023
Agenda item #6 – Adjournment
Discussion:
• Motion to adjourn by James Kauffman, seconded by Therese Gould.
• Members voted as follows:
o Therese Gould – Aye
o James Kauffman – Aye
o RoseAnn DeRupo – Aye
o Wayne Woczyna- Aye
o Travis Ward- Aye
o Gordon Middleton – Aye
o Geoffrey Geane – Aye
• The motion passed unanimously.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:24 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Trisha Tetreault
Zoning Board Clerk