Selectboard Suggests a New Nichewaug Committee

Faced with a letter from 40 residents asking for a professional evaluation of The Nichewaug, Selectman Henry Woolsey said the board will instead appoint a five-person study committee. The resident's group is asking the town to seek state money for a  planning grant to suggest solutions.

The town remains deeply divided on whether to demolish the buildings or plan to reuse them in some way. Previous study groups and community meetings have not produced a way forward for the historic in and attached school building siince the town took ownership a decade ago.

Realtor Chuck Berube of West Street told the board, "We are a town well divided about what should be done. We need to be open minded to find the proper solution. There is a lot to be gained by getting a further professional opinion." Resident Sandy page of East Street said there "...are a lot of people who would like to see something done with the building." She said it seems the town's current  policy is to let the buildings collapse. Ann Lewis of North Street said she could research solutions that could work without costing the town's taxpayers.

Woolsey said, "We all want to solve this thing," and said he will bring suggested names of five people to the Selectboard meeting in two weeks.

Stephanie Selden of Phillips Drive, a member of that group, said the group asks the town to apply for state funds to evaluate potential uses of the site (including aging-in-town residential options, senior services, child-care and after-school programming, to name just a few of the ideas discussed at the sessions of the Public Forum) and determine what potential uses would warrant and financially support the redevelopment of the site;

The town should also determine best ownership scenario(s), e.g., non-profit (where the owner would not need to meet overhead for profit-making) vs. for profit; and
 identify public and private monies available to fund either full demolition of the building, partial demolition with the re-use of a part, or re-use of most or all of the existing building, and assist the town with the documentation and other requirements necessary to secure them.

The board also plans to schedule one or two information sessions to ask voters whether Petersham should enact a Right to Farm bylaw.

Quabbin Retreat Will Host Narcan Training Session

Quabbin Retreat is hosting a Narcan (naloxone) training session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 21. at the Dana Day Treatment Center, 211 North Main Street, Petersham. The session is open to the public. Pre-registration is recommended but is not required.

Narcan (naloxone) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent overdose by opioids such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. Narcan blocks opioid receptor sites, reversing the toxic effects of the overdose, and is administered when a person is showing signs of opioid overdose. The medication can be given by intranasal spray, intramuscular (into the muscle), subcutaneous (under the skin), or intravenous injection. Narcan is available without a prescription at most major pharmacies.

For more information, contact: Morgan Ban-Draoi, Program Manager at the treatment center
978-724-0010

Chimney Hill Cell Tower Permit Delayed Again

A proposed cell tower at Hall Farm off Quaker Drive will wait another month for permission to get taller. Tower North, the developer, is seeking permission to build a 160-foot tall tower to provide more and better cell coverage than the 90-foot tower already approved by the zoning board. Seven residents attended the continuing hearing which will resume at 7 p.m. December 12 in the lower town hall.

The company has relocated a service road to the tower location on the farm property to avoid conservation land near the site. Zoning board member Brian McEwen asked the company to provide more details about the road and potential rainwater runoff. Member Maryanne Reynolds cited the town's commitment to protecting land from development and asked if the company was considering aesthetics. " I am asking you to provide (cellular) coverage in a way that does not harm the town." she said.

Company spokesman Joseph Perrera said a single tower at 160 feet could expand cell service in town and allow multiple cell carriers to bring reliable cell service to Petersham. An alternative could prove to be building several shorter towers at multiple locations. Michael Dolan, a company attorney said, "You can have competing interests that can co-exist." He said the Hall family and developer are going a good job of minimizing impact of the site and tower on the surrounding landscape.

Shorter or Taller, from Archers to Zombies - and a Penguin Family

Concerned about possible high winds and heavy rain on Thursday, town officials joined other area communities in moving Halloween to Saturday. Trick or treat came to town at 4:30 p.m. on November 2 as dozens of ghosts and goblins joined more than a dozen scarecrows on the town common. There were plenty of treats and no reported "tricks." Treats were available at numerous homes, at the library and at The Country Store.

A parade of horribles led by a fire truck started near the town common at 6 p.m. and ended at the Lions club annual Halloween party in the town hall from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Photos  courtesy of Stephanie Selden.

Selectboard, Assessors Set 2020 Tax Rate

In a brief October 30 meeting, Selectmen and Assessors set the fiscal 2020 tax rate at $17.37 per thousand of assessed value. an increase from the current rate of  $16.93. Assessor Dana Kennan told the board the town's total valuation increased $6.7 million as properties were revalued and rose to $159,310,618. Kennan said the average home, is now assessed at $251,312, up from $241,830 and an average home will pay $271.11 more in taxes in the coming tax year. Some 89 percent of the total tax base is found in residential property, he said.

Scarecrows Arrive in Petersham

The Selectboard voted Sept. 24 to provide a yard truck for the wood bank at the transfer station. The former fire department Dodge pickup will be refurbished by the highway department and will be used off road at the transfer station to move wood to storage bins after it is cut and split.    

Jordan O'Connor from the Forest and Shade Tree Committee said wood vouchers for residents will be available from the Selectmen's office and pickup began Nov 2.

schedule is November 16 and December 7 – snow dependent

Vouchers for the Town of Petersham Community Wood Bank are available to Petersham residents starting on Friday, October 4, 2019. The vouchers may be obtained at the Town Offices, 3 South Main Street in the Selectboard’s office (open Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm). The vouchers will be made available on a first come, first served basis with priority given to residents receiving fuel assistance. Vouchers will be issued for one (1) crate of dry, split & stacked wood stored at the Transfer Station (open every Saturday from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm). One voucher per household may be applied on a monthly basis if needed and as supplies last.

The moisture content of the wood is monitored to ensure that only suitably dry wood is safe for release.

Wood may be picked up at the Transfer Station (route 122) after Saturday, November 2, 2019. Simply bring your voucher and give it to the Transfer Station attendant. Each voucher will have a number that corresponds to a numbered crate. Please remove your wood within a three week time period after voucher issuance. For more information contact Jordan O’Connor joconnor@JOAarchitects.com.