Petersham Common Local News Page

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Virtual Nichewaug Inn Meeting Feb. 24

A virtual public information meeting to discuss the 2020 Opinion Survey about the Nichewaug Inn & Academy property will be held online Wednesday, February 24th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m,

The meeting will be hosted by Montachusett Regional Planning Commission planner Karen Chapman. Last year the commission worked with the town to develop a public opinion survey. The results of this survey will be the focus of this meeting.

Karen will present the data compiled from the survey and will hold a Q&A session following the presentation. Meeting attendees will be muted during Karen's presentation but an online 'Chat" option will be available. For any additional information or questions, please contact Jane at jelynchg@umass.edu.

Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone at
https://www.gotomeet.me/MontachusettRPC/petersham-public-information-meeting

You can also dial in using your phone by calling 1 (224) 501-3412

The meeting access code is 923 510 429

New to ‘GoToMeeting?' Download the application early and be ready when the meeting starts. Click this link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/923510429 ..

65+ Covid Vaccine Clinic Reaches 100 Residents

The Board of Health held a Covid vaccination clinic on Saturday
 at 9:30 a.m. at the Center School gym.

More than 100 town residents 65 years old and older made appointments and
received the first of two Covid vaccine shots. A second is scheduled for March 13.

The clinic was held with support from the Rutland Board of Health and volunteers of the 
Wachusett Medical Reserve Corps.

No On-going Covid Testing at Mahar or Center School

Citing tight budgets and future program costs, Mahar Regional and the Center School have opted not to participate in the state's Covid "pool" testing program for school students and staff. A school spokesperson said while federal funds would cover the first six week cost of the program, the financial burden would fall back on the schools' budgets after that. More than 120 districts in the state have agreed to join the program.

School Supt. Elizabeth Zielinski said the decision was made in part because of the burden the program on the school nursing staff, record keeping and the fact that if a pooled test comes back positive, all participants in that group of tests would have to quarantine. Also the ongoing expenses could rise to $10,000 or more each week. There are many better ways to spend the money, she said.

The state Department of Education website says in part: "Currently, the cost for a district is estimated to be about $50.00 per pool (approximately $5.00 per individual swab in a pool size of 10). There are also additional costs such as a monthly administrative fee and a one-time startup fee.

"Districts and schools may opt into additional contracted services through the Pooled Testing Services Provider, such as delivery of collected specimens to the laboratory, and/or in-person support. The initial 6-week cost coverage can include these optional services, although such support services may be limited, and we ask schools to carefully consider whether such support is strictly necessary. As a reminder, the state will cover the initial 6-week launch of the program, which will run through March 28th, 2021, and districts will cover program costs moving forward.

"Districts are highly encouraged, though not required, to continue participating after the initial six weeks. Districts are also able to change their Pooled Testing Services Provider or add/remove additional services after March 28th, 2021 if needed."

New Transfer Station Monitor Appointed

The Selectboard has appointed Paul Williams of Nichewaug Road as the town's new transfer station monitor. He replaces the late Rick Marsh. Paul is the only person who applied for the post.

Petersham Has Lost a Great Friend

Selectman Frederik (Rik) Marsh died in the morning hours of January 7, 2021 while recuperating from a fall and after spending several days in the hospital.
rik

Whether Rik was supervising and helping residents at the transfer station each week or stopping at the Friday Market for an ear of fresh corn to eat on the spot or taking notes as clerk of the Selectboard, Rik was a central figure in the life of our small town. He kept our July 4 parade, begun as a neighbors' walk around the Old Maid's Mile by the late Beth Cummings, alive and he ran a private stray cat rescue at his West Street home.

An election to fill the vacancy will be held May 17 and will include incumbent Henry Woolsey's re-election bid as well. Selectboard chair Nancy Allen commented as follows:

"The Selectboard is saddened by the unexpected death of fellow Selectman Rick Marsh after a brief illness and our thoughts are with his family at this time.

The Selectboard will be reviewing next steps as allowed by law -- filling the seat by either holding a Special Election or at the next Regular Annual Election which has been set for May 17. Petersham's local election is held on the first Monday of March, but due to COVID19 and as allowed by law, the Town Clerk requested moving the date to May 17, and the Selectboard concurred with that recommendation.

As reviewed with the Town Clerk at the time of taking that action, the hope is that the COVID19 vaccination programs will be further along and surges will have quelled, plus it provided a much-needed break for election workers from the rigorous election processes of Fall 2020. It is unlikely that a Special Election will be inserted into the timeline given the original reason for moving the date and how close any Special Election date would end of being to the May 17th Election.

The key focus of the Selectboard from January thru April is the town's budget. That annual work is a joint effort between the Selectboard and the Advisory Finance Committee working with all town departments and committees. With that primary focus, it is likely that waiting until May to fill the now open seat will work out with no harm done and is logistically best for all including the Town Clerk for her process and for her team of poll workers. This process will be further reviewed at an upcoming Selectboard meeting."

-Nancy Allen

Chair, Petersham Selectboard

Hospitals Must Now Post Their Prices

Good news for anyone who has ever been surprised by medical bills - hospitals must now post their prices for all to see. Kaiser Health News and others are reporting the new requirements.

Hospitals face the new year with new requirements to post price information they have long sought to obscure: the actual prices negotiated with insurers and the discounts they offer their cash-paying customers. That could allow consumers to shop for the best price for nearby services.

The move is part of a larger push by the Trump administration to use price transparency to curtail prices and create better-informed consumers.

As of Jan. 1, facilities must publicly post on their websites prices for every service, drug and supply they provide. Next year, under a separate rule, health insurers must take similar steps.

With the new hospital rule, consumers should be able to see the tremendous variation in prices for the exact same care among hospitals and get an estimate of what they will be charged for care — before they seek it.

Reports:As many as one third of all Americans reportedly struggle to pay medical charges.

Dogs Wil Bark, Racoons Like to Go Into Barns
January 2021

01/01 Cat in shelter delivered to new owner. Rabies certificate provided.

01/04 @10a Teleconference with state agency and resident regarding recent situation. Plan in place for moving forward.

@1p Meeting with MDAR (via Zoom) regarding parameters for rabies clinics outside of veterinary offices. Protocol discussed, verbal submission made.

@5:15p Call from resident regarding dog picked up in Barre. Barre ACO not on duty and PD tied up with another situation. Barre PD requests dog come to Petersham Animal Shelter. Dog to shelter. Information posted on social media.

@7p Call from Barre resident regarding above. Met owner of dog at shelter.

@7:30p Barre ACO and PD updated with owner information.

01/07 @9:30a Conversation with PPD regarding situation in town.

@12p Cat at home in town picked up and brought to shelter for care.

01/15 @2:15p Passerby picked up loose dog on route 122. To area, dog brought to shelter. Owner identified.

@5p To shelter for release of above dog to owner.

01/15 @9p Barking dog complaint

@10:45p Barking dog complaint, unable to make contact with owner

@11:45p Barking dog complaint, owner contact made

01/16 Conversations with owner of above, options discussed. Caller from previous evening and dog owner in conversation.

@4:45p Call from Barre PD regarding dog picked up in Barre near the Petersham line. Barre ACO not available and Barre PD unable to house dog. Dog to Petersham Shelter. FB and other social media contacts posted.

@7p Owner of dog above in touch via telephone, to shelter to release dog to Barre owner.

01/18 @12:30p Call from resident concern about barking dog.

@5p Above resident called to state she continues to hear dog barking and concerned it is an injured dog. To area. Contact made with dog owner.

01/19 Calls regarding above.

01/20 @9:30a Resident call regarding clarification of several animal control laws.

@11:30a Resident call regarding raccoon in barn for two days. Consensus it is a young, healthy animal. Suggestions given to lure animal from location and to remove food source from barn.

01/21 @9:45a Resident call with question regarding dogs that will be staying at a Petersham location for 2-3 months. Requirements explained, resident able to comply.

@10:30a Follow up to raccoon issue, plan appears to have worked, animal gone, owner to call if any further problems.

@3:00p Cat in shelter brought to veterinary facility for rabies vaccination.

01/27 @3:30p Resident call regarding dog that is running loose in woods and backyards. Explained possible hunting dog that may have wandered away from typical group of dogs hunting together. To area, phone call to possible owner. Owner of dog explained there was a malfunction with GPS collar. Follow up with resident.

01/30 Parties interested in adopting cat in shelter in to do meet and greet.

01/31 @9:30a Message from resident of husky type dog in yard (photo sent). Phone calls made to two possible owners.
@12p Cat in shelter transported to new home in Hubbardston.

Open Burning Started January 15

Depending on wind and weather, open burning of brush may start January 15. Open burning permits will be available between 7:30 AM and 12:00 Noon, January 15 through May 1.

Permits are only issued between 7:30 AM and 12:00 Noon.
Permits are only issued on the day that you wish to burn.
No permits are issued in advance due to the potential for changing weather conditions.

Massachusetts allows residents to burn brush between January 15 and May 1, depending on weather conditions. You must obtain permission from the town in which you plan to burn brush.

Some towns served by the New Braintree State Police Dispatch office offer burning permits online at c8burnpermits.com. If you are burning in Petersham, visit the site between 7:30 a,m. and noon to obtain a permit on the day you want to burn brush. Permit availability on a given day will depend on weather conditions.

Regulations

Open burning season is January 15 - May 1.