Contract Signed for Town Hall Access Lift System

Town's Administrative Coordinator Dies Unexpectedly

Selectmen began laying plans Feb. 6 to replace administrative coordinator Steven Boudreau who died unexpectedly over the weekend.

Chair Nancy Allen said Boudreau's assistant, Sherry Berube of West Street, has been contacted and is willing to discuss taking over the post. Berube, a retired former state worker, is on vacation  for the next three weeks, Terms of Berube's state retirement limit her to working no more than 960 hours a year so any shortfall will likely have to be covered by filling the office assistant post.

For the rest of the month Selectmen plan to keep the office open themselves or with help from volunteers and other town employees. At one level, part of Boudreau's work involved filling requests for town trash bags, dump permits and wood bank vouchers and directing residents to other town offices as needed. He was the main contact for public record requests and served as Americans with Disalities Act (ADA) coordinator. He also created the minutes of Selectboard meetings.

Greater Petersham Community Chorus Planned

Do you love to sing? Are you interested in joining your voice with those of others to create music under the direction of a talented and energetic director?

A group of residents from Petersham and Barre met recently with Nym Cooke, a choral director and teacher at the Eagle Hill School in Hardwick. He has experience directing choruses and an interest in bringing a community chorus to the Petersham area. He is looking for a critical number of committed people (at least 20 – 30 singers, with 8 – 12 men) to sing music of all genres in four-part harmony.

The group would expect members to pay some dues, to be willing to work pretty hard, to attend rehearsals regularly, and to perform in at least 2 concerts per year. The plan is to have a musician to accompany rehearsals and at performances. Young people are welcome to join if they love music and the chance to share their voices. Rehearsals will be at the UU church in Petersham and chorus members are welcome to join from all of the local towns.

The group plans to get together with Nym in early Spring of 2019 to let him know about the level of interest in the greater Petersham community and make further plans.

Broadband Project Timeline Detailed

The Broadband committee said Feb. 1 that the state has signed an agreement that guarantees an $880,000 reimbursement for Petersham's local broadband system.

The payment will be made after the system is up and running.  Town meeting voters agreed to borrow $800,000 for the work only after the state agreed to reimburse the money after the system is installed. 

Chairman Chip Bull said some homes could be connected to the planned new system in time for the June town meeting. Chris Lynch from Matrix Design said 75 percent of town will be hooked up by the time school opens in the fall. He said the system will serve nearly all properties in town and could be fully operational by Christmas.

Utility company "make-ready work" is scheduled to start in early February and be done by the end of April, he said. Bull said the town may decide not to connect to the state's "middle-mile" fiber cables because the cost is prohibitive but will still bear the expense of relocating those cables on utility poles to make room for the town's high-speed cables.

Sweetwater Farm Calls Locals to Join 2019 Vegetable CSA!

 Sweetwater Farm has supplied fresh produce and herbs to Petersham and the surrounding area in past years with a successful CSA. This year the Cherry family has taken responsibility of the fruit and vegetable production of the land and strives to preserve SWF’s longstanding initiative of growing sustainably sourced, delectable food. Their 2019 CSA membership offering will include 22 weeks of vegetables with an eclectically fresh assortment of fruits, herbs, and gorgeous flowers sprinkled throughout. Weekly shares are offered in small, medium, or large boxes.

Solar Guidelines for Historic District Discussed

The Historic District Commission Jan. 10 began a review of proposed guidelines for prospective solar panel installations on buildings in the center of town. Changes to buildings in the district, which runs north and south along Main Street from the common, are evaluated by the commission.

Board members said they have been talking about such guidelines for some years and have studied such rules in other communities. The review was prompted when East Quabbin Land Trust, which owns the Country Store building, told the commission it is planning a solar array at the property. Cynthia Henshaw from the land trust said in an e-mail, "We are preparing an application right now. Not sure if I'll have it together for the (January) 17th or the February meeting date." The next meeting is Thursday February 21, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the library.

Chair Nancy Allen said the commission will likely require property owners in the district to demonstrate that they have made other energy-saving improvements before adding solar. Members said the Commonwealth advises cities and towns to allow solar installations in historic properties. Allen said some communities impose no oversight over solar installations, some have added solar permissions to existing by-laws and some have adopted guidelines.  "It seems we might land on guidelines. This is always going to be on a case-by-case basis," she said.

Accessibility Grant Moves Ahead for Town Hall

The Selectboard Jan. 8 voted to sign and accept a state grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability for $70,000 to install a lift that will connect the upper and lower town halls. The project must be completed in six months and will provide access to both halls and from the outside. It will allow removing a temporary ramp to restore the exterior look of the building to its original classic appearance.

The lower town hall is presently accessible but without an accessible connection to the main hall. Town Hall Access Committee Chairman John Woolsey told the board the committee will reach out to two architects and begin preparing bid documents. The project will be brought to the Historic District Commission on Feb. 17. The main hall is now served by a temporary outdoor ramp donated to the town by Stephanie Selden of Phillips Drive.

A Squirrel in the Stove, an Owl Near the Road

Petersham Animal Control
December 2018

3Dec@7a Resident request for help with known dog that is in yard and will not come in to house. Assistance given.

6 Dec@7p Nichewaug resident reports lost dog. Alerts sent. Assist resident in search. Dog located at 10:30p. Owner to bring to vet, appears fine.

7 Dec@11a Call from motorist with report of injured large bird on Monson Turnpike, caller states owl. Owl located, appeared fine, though not leaving area. Owl flew off several minutes later.

12Dec@3:15p School bus driver and motorist report loose dog on Route 122. En route, another resident call to say they had picked up a dog near 32 and 122. Met finder and retrieved dog. Alerts sent, possible owners called. Owner to pick up dog at 5p.

12Dec@9p Dispatch call regarding dog bite to another dog. Follow up with residents and veterinary hospital.

13Dec Additional follow up regarding above. Quarantine order placed on biting dog (10 day). Reviewed requirements with owner.

13 Dec@8:15a Resident reports cat running between 122 and surrounding roads.

19 Dec@10p Resident call to report dogs ran off. (Early 20 Dec dogs appeared at PPD)

22 Dec@12:15p Owner returned home to find squirrel in unlit woodstove. Attempts to remove failed. Suggested a small trap or contact PAC. Owner will contact PAC agent.

23 Dec@12p Quarantine lifted for dog held for dog bite issue. Paperwork exchanged with owner.

28Dec@10a ACO from surrounding town needs immediate transfer of dog from area to a safe holding zone. Canine moved to shelter for temporary housing.

29Dec@1p ACO from surrounding town to pick up dog housed in shelter.