Nichewaug Moves Another Inch Toward Demolition

The Selectboard agreed Sept. 14 to seek bids for demolishing the Nichewaug Inn and Academy buildings and to schedule a December special town meeting to put demolition before voters again. Impetus for the action was prompted in part by a citizen petition signed by 134 residents. The Nichewaug has a Facebook page. Click Here to visit.

Prompted by questions from the audience, board chair Nancy Allen said the town has yet to receive advice from town counsel regarding the proper use of exemptions from the state conflict of interest laws. The law requires that a Rule of Necessity that exempts a board member from conflict concerns be used sparingly and only when an action is legally required as in meeting a contract deadline or paying a due bill.

Allen is an abutter to the Nichewaug property but the board, presently with two members, cannot function if she cannot participate. Coincidentally, both candidates to fill the third board seat, are also legal abutters to the property.

Allen has been working to draw up demolition bid documents in advance of last night's vote. She said the bid documents will first call for total demolition with a second option for demolishing the building except for the former chapel. A garage on the property that stores town-owned antique fire trucks would remain, she said.

LifePath Building Support Network for Seniors

LifePath, a Franklin County not for profit has invited Petersham to join a growing network of  communities to survey the needs of seniors and provide services. The agency proposes to work with local age councils and volunteers to determine what is needed in its 30 community service area. Nour Strouch told the Selectboard the agency is creating "age friendly" communities. The grant-funded effort has support from Petersham's age council, which already helps Petersham Partners volunteers provide transportation and other services to seniors. The Selectboard welcomed the idea and will consider joining in.

Center School Students Returned August 30

Some 117 elementary students will be returning to the Center School beginning at 8:15 a.m. Monday August 30. About half are school choice students from other towns.

All will be wearing masks indoors and out/ New principal Aaron O'Connor of Barre said the   Petersham students who come to the school on buses will also be masked and bus windows will be open for fresh air. The school ventilation system has been upgraded over the summer, he said.

08/01 @9p dispatch call regarding loose sheep, attempted to reach out to possible owner with no response, update provided to dispatch with plan included

@9:15p contact made with friend of possible owner, to area, animals safely moved to property of owner and secured at 9:45p

08/03 several calls from resident regarding barking dog

08/04 @9:15a call to report lost dog, postings placed on FB and lost dog groups

08/08 @5p caller states beaver causing a flooding condition on road, laws regarding trapping reviewed with homeowner and options given

08/09 @7a LM with highway regarding the issue with beaver causing flooding on road

@9a resident of abutting town called with a request to post lost cat on PAWS FB page, post provided

08/10 @4-6p Pet Safety and Pet Medical Emergency program presented at Athol Library

08/12 @4p and 5p calls from PPD regarding retiles belonging to another party left at the home of town resident, options given, PPD to follow up along with other matters

08/13 @5p lost dog out of Athol sighted in Petersham, to area to set humane trap and satellite camera at location seen

@5:45p resident call regarding deceased bat found in home, contact made with Wachusett AH with plan to have bat dropped off at hospital for submission to State lab for testing

08/14 @6a call from Athol owner of lost dog with a sighting near trap made by a Petersham resident, suggestions given to owner to follow if they are able to go to the area

@8a lost dog safely secured

08/15 @9:30a resident reports found dog that is being held at their home, possible owner contacted, to area to retrieve dog (dog safe)

08/16 @4p FU call with PPD regarding reptiles

@4:15p call from resident regarding loose dog (possible other animal) near 122, to area

@4:45p call from out of town resident regarding porcupine in Petersham barn that has not moved X24 hours, options given, caller will proceed with option

@5:45p resident call for lost dog, FB postings and alerts published, to area to search, feeding station with cell and satellite cameras set

@7p call placed to abutting town PDs regarding lost dog from earlier

08/17 @6a follow up calls to local PDs regarding lost dog, dispatch confirmed a dog was picked up in Phillipston the prior night, spoke with ACO, spoke with owners, dog picked up in from Phillipston ACO

@7a trap set for feral cat staying in local barn

@9:30a cat in trap, transported to animal shelter

@12p call to State lab regarding status of bat submitted in the evening of 8/13. Bat tested negative for rabies, resident who was out of state at the time was notified of result

@8:15p resident call about barking dog, to follow up with possible owner and provide update to caller

08/18 @7a feral cat transported to Second Chance Animal Hospital for exam, neutering, and vaccinations

@8:45a call from motorist stating they picked up a running dog off route 122, met motorist at shelter, dog placed in shelter. No microchip or other form of identification found, local ACOs contacted, Athol ACO gave a possible phone number for a likely owner, contact made with owner and arrangements made for pickup of dog

@10:30a Dog in shelter picked up by owner

@4:15p to Second Chance to pick up feral cat and transported back to Petersham

08/19 @11a barking dog complaint, action taken

@9p call from motorist regarding large bird near Harvard Forest that appears to have been hit by car, to area to remove large deceased turkey

08/28 @12p call from town resident that they had just picked up a friendly dog on route 32, no owner appeared to be in area, met resident at the shelter for transfer. Dog scanned, microchip traced to owner, dog reunited with owner (who was out looking for dog)

@3p Odd acting porcupine on route 32 moved off road by PPD, told officer on duty the area would be checked in an hour or so to be sure the animal had moved

@8:15p call from resident travelling back into town on route 32 and stopped for an injured moose, resident pulled vehicle over stated they will stay on scene, calls placed to State Police and EMS (individual calling believes there is an injured motorcyclist off the road) and Environmental Police (they informed someone would be sent to access moose)

Note, when caller stated the nearest house they could see, it was determined the accident occurred in Athol.

We'll Be Doubling Down at the Dump

Selectboard voted August 24 to add a weekday and three dump hours at the transfer station. Which weekday will be decided later. There will be no change to Saturday hours and no change to the drive up traffic pattern. Under discussion: a dumpster to isolate clean tin cans and an additional container for paper and cardboard.

The board announced a  special election on November 15 to  elect a new member to replace Henry Woolsey who has resigned. He will keep his seat as a member of the Conservation Commission.

Candidates for the seat can take out nomination papers starting August 30 from town clerk Diana Cooley and return them by September 27. Signatures of 20 registered voters are required. Last day for new voters to register to vote is October 26.

The board noted receipt of $376,632 in federal American Recovery Act funding and began ticking off a list of ways to spend it. Fire station renovations to include a washing station for safety gear top the list.

There will be a household hazardous waste day on September 25.

Center School Requires Masking Indoors

The Center School committee voted 2 to 1 August 18 to have students and staff wear masks indoor but not on the outdoor playground. That vote differs from a Board of Health guideline to wear masks indoors and outdoors except where outdoor social distancing is possible and came amid questions about whether state or local rules come first.

Aaron O'Connor of Barre was named interim principal with a review of the appointment in one year. He will oversee the start of this school year.

Members are seeking community comment on their study of whether to withdraw from a current regional system and become an independent school. They promised an interim report in January.