Meeting Videos

Facts serve as the foundational pillars upon which the viability and impact of a potential project within a local community stand. They provide the necessary clarity and objective understanding essential for informed decision-making. Evaluating a project based on facts ensures a comprehensive grasp of its implications on the community's infrastructure, environment, economy, and social fabric. It allows for a realistic assessment of potential benefits and drawbacks, empowering stakeholders to make informed choices that align with the community's long-term well-being rather than merely short-term gains. Ultimately, facts serve as the guiding light, ensuring that decisions are grounded in reality and aimed at fostering sustainable development and growth within the local area.

Contained herein are details regarding meetings and public hearings related to various versions of the planned Rice Pond Village endeavor, located at 17 Rice Road in Millbury, Massachusetts. This compilation also encompasses information about additional projects spearheaded by developers Steven Venincasa and James Venincasa, operating under related or separate limited liability corporation names. These insights facilitate thorough scrutiny of both projects and the individuals steering them. In-depth investigation is essential to understand the identities, behaviors, integrity, motives, and personalities at play, enabling the formulation of an effective strategy to address public concerns alongside decision-makers.

A wealth of material is available, and to streamline your access to specific content within the videos, approximate time codes—showing hours, minutes, and seconds—have been included for your convenience.

Date Source Time Code
4/3/2024 Conservation Commission
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village 		0:55:00±
3/27/2024 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Public Hearing #7 		 
3/13/2024 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Public Hearing #6 		 
2/28/2024 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Public Hearing #5 		 
1/31/2024 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Public Hearing #4 		 
1/10/2024 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Public Hearing #3 		 
12/13/2023 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Public Hearing #2 		 
11/29/2023 Board of Appeals
Chapter 40B Rice Pond Village - Intial Public Hearing 		0:13:04±
11/15/2023 Berlin Conservation Commission
Homes At Highland Ridge 		0:17:05±
11/13/2023 Planning Board  
10/24/2023 Grafton Select Board
Chapter 40B 14 Snow Road
Steven Venincasa responded to a statement from a Grafton resident about the September 5, 2019 incident at the Shrewsbury Town Hall denying the allegation stating "That allegation that I got arrested is false, something that someone made up on the internet and if you are going to believe what you read on the internet you can have a good day. It is not accurate and it's a lie." So, Steven Venincasa essentially proposes disregarding personal perception and accepting only his version. It seems like he might be carefully selecting his words to shape his own narrative. Isn't that the very essence of gaslighting? 		0:53:00±
10/11/2023 Board of Appeals
The Board of Appeals postponed indefinitely action on the request to reduce or eliminate the application base and per unit fees for Comprehensive Permits. 		 
9/27/2023 Board of Appeals
Steven Venincasa and James Venincasa submitted a request to revise the Millbury Comprehensive Permit Rules and Regulations. They aimed to decrease or completely remove the application base and per unit fees. For the Rice Pond Village project under Chapter 40B, these fees amount to $33,800. 		0:33:33±
8/16/2023 Berlin Conservation Commssion
Homes At Highland Ridge 		0:07:12±
7/12/2023 Berlin Conservation Commssion
Homes At Highland Ridge 		1:15:45±
5/2/2023 Sutton Select Board
Chapter 40B The Residents At Pleasant Valley Crossing (99 Boston Road) 		0:37:12±
3/21/2023 Sutton Select Board
Chapter 40B The Residents At Pleasant Valley Crossing (99 Boston Road) 		0:11:48±
2/7/2023 Sutton Select Board
Chapter 40B The Residents At Pleasant Valley Crossing (99 Boston Road) 		0:20:00±
1/10/2023 Board of Selectmen
Declaration of their endorsement of the Chapter 40B LIP agreement for Rice Pond Village. 		 
11/22/2022 Board of Selectmen  
10/25/2022 Board of Selectmen  
10/11/2022 Board of Selectmen  
6/14/2022 Board of Selectmen 0:54:20±
5/24/2022 Board of Selectmen 0:11:59±
2/14/2022 Planning Board
Denial of the Rice Pond Village project (Part 2). 		0:34:06±
2/8/2022 Board of Selectmen
Denial of the Rice Pond Village project (Part 1).
1/24/2022 Planning Board 0:13:17±
1/10/2022 Planning Board 0:47:45±
12/13/2021 Planning Board 0:08:50±
11/22/2021 Planning Board 0:02:30±
11/3/2021 Conservation Commission 0:05:50±
10/25/2021 Planning Board 0:47:08±
10/20/2021 Conservation Commission 0:47:50±
10/6/2021 Conservation Commission 0:00:30±
9/27/2021 Planning Board 2:09:29±
9/15/2021 Conservation Commission 0:03:07±
9/13/2021 Planning Board 1:03:20±
8/9/2021 Planning Board 2:11:50±
8/4/2021 Conservation Commission 0:12:15±
7/12/2021 Planning Board 1:39:00±
6/14/2021 Planning Board 1:06:40±
5/19/2021 Conservation Commission 0:32:50±
5/10/2021 Planning Board 1:18:13±
9/5/2019 Shrewsbury Town Hall
According to reporting from the Worcester Telegram, on September 5, 2019, Shrewsbury Town Hall's surveillance footage captured Paul George exiting the selectmen's meeting room, adjacent to where the Planning Board convened. Steven Venincasa, engaged in conversation with two individuals in the hallway, approached Paul George. He uttered something to Paul George and proceeded to obstruct his path, causing Paul George to maneuver from side to side in an attempt to pass.

Shrewsbury Detective Timothy M. Finacom detailed the incident, stating that Steven Venincasa "assaulted and pushed into Paul George." Specifically, Steven Venincasa positioned himself in front of Paul George as he tried to leave, initiating multiple "chest bumps" and forcefully pushing Paul George against a wall on at least one occasion.

Following these events, a clerk magistrate, established sufficient facts for a guilty finding in the case. The case was adjourned for a year with the possibility of dismissal if no further altercations ensued. 		 
9/5/2019 Shrewsbury Planning Board
Wyman Farms 		0:08:04±

Each of the Town of Millbury meetings and public hearings are recorded and available through Millbury Public Access. Meeting videos from other communities are available through various sources.

Please refer to the Town of Millbury website for future meetings schedules.