FinCom Raises Concerns on Dec. 6 Nichewaug Vote

The Advisory Finance Committee has put the finishing touches on its advice to voters for the Dec. 6. special town meeting. A final draft of the FinCom report recommends against two articles calling for partial demolition of the complex. The committee recommends that voters adopt an article calling for total demolition but "with reservations."

That language would seem to contradict a statement attributed to Selectboard Chair Nancy Allen that was published in the Athol Daily News last week that the Finance Committee "strongly supports" the demolition proposal. Allen, a Nichewaug abutter,  has promoted complete demolition for more than 10 years.

The draft report describes the AFC reservations and includes: The borrowing and spending proposals are outside the regular annual budget process; the actual cost of the demolition proposals remains unclear; the impact on the tax rate cannot be precisely calculated;  the cost of importing expensive fill to dump into the cellar hole has not been computed; future costs associated with preserving parts of the complex could be substantial and bringing the proposals to a special town meeting could attract fewer voters to decide these issues than would attend an annual town meeting.

The report concludes: "... there is also a cost associated with taking no action now. From a financial standpoint, the best-case outcome is that doing something later will cost more than it would now. However, we worry that any such increase will not be balanced by a similar increase in family income for many of our residents over that same period. Also, given the town’s inability to reach an agreement regarding the future uses of the property, it seems unlikely the town would be deemed eligible for grant monies for demolition any time soon.

The report also says, "The worst-case outcome of inaction is that the problem will be addressed under emerging circumstances and mitigation may be extraordinarily expensive. Beyond financial risk, the buildings continue to pose risk to the health and property in the center of town."

The articles call for the town to borrow $500,000, take $100,000 from a stabilization fund and spend $121,000 of Covid relief money on the project. A two-thirds majority is needed to approve the borrowing. For full text of the AFC report click here

Roy Nilson, publisher of this news and information website for the past 27 years, is a Nichewaug abutter..

FinCom to Study Cost of Nichewaug Demo Warrant Articles

Selectboard Chair Nancy Allen presented her proposed special town meeting warrant articles to the Finance Committee Nov. 9. The three articles call for total or partial demolition of the Nichewaug buildings. Seven companies have responded to Allen's request for proposals with bids ranging from $558,000 to $1.2 million plus related costs.

Allen proposes that the town take a loan for $500,000, add $121,000 of Covid relief funds and withdraw $100,000 from a stabilization fund to cover most of project-related costs. She said an estimate of the tax rate impact of such a loan would not provide an accurate picture of the impact on taxpayers.

A special town meeting is set for Dec.6 to consider total or partial demolition and acting on the project.

Glasheen Road Marijuana Farm Proposed

Kaitlin and Bart Walsh of Green Origin Farm on Glasheen Road brought their plans for a secure one-acre marijuana garden and related processing operation at their remote 24.62-acre Glasheen Road farm location to the Selectboard on Oct. 26. They will be seeking a host community agreement as allowed under state law.

Kaitlin said no retail sales are planned for the site. A community meeting is required before the plan can be implemented, About 20 residents attended the  session. She said three of four other fields will remain open and undevekoped.

Bart Walsh described the plan as featuring a fenced, one-acre growing area and a 1200-square foot processing and storage workshop. The garden will be outdoors and partly in two high tunnels. The couple plans to file an application soon with the state Cannabis Control Commission and to host a community information session in town hall. There is no plan to use high-energy growing lights, he said

The Board also discussed articles to be presented to voters in December that propose  full or partial demolition of the Nichewaug complex on the town common. That discussion will continue in one week.

 Allen Declares Nichewaug an "Emergency"

Citing continuing deterioration but no specific recent changes to the town-owned Nichewaug property, Selectboard chair Nancy Allen Sept. 28 declared the Nichewaug an "emergency" and said, "The building has to go."  The declaration was apparently intended to qualify the demolition costs to be partly paid for with federal Covid relief funds. The board pays less than $5,000 annually on property maintenance (lawn mowing and an intrusion alarm system). The property is not insured.

In recent days, Allen has published a Request for Proposal to demolition contractors on state websites, invited local police and fire chiefs to re-state their safety concerns and secured a written opinion from the town's lawyer that she is free to act on Nichewaug issues despite  her conflict of interest as an abutter. She is scheduling a Dec. 6 special town meeting to seek voter approval to demolish the structures. Some 22 residents attended a two-hour public information session in town hall Nov. 21 and heard Allen re-state her case for tearing down the buildings using a $500,000  borrowing, $100,000 from the town stabilization fund and federal Covid relief funds..

Both Police Chief Dana Cooley and Fire Chief Dana Robinson support demolition over safety concerns. Cooley said intrusions by curiosity seekers have fallen to fewer than one per year. Some 19 residents attended the board meeting.

Roy Nilson, publisher of this news and information website for the past 27 years, is a Nichewaug abutter..

Roy Nilson, who compiles this website, is also a Nichewaug abutter.

ACO Call Log Summary
October 2021

10/02 All day training for equine rescue response session with MSPCA.*
@5p Motorist call regarding loose dog on Common. To area, owner contacted and dog was returned to home.

10/03 Multiple calls with Phillipston ACO and PD regarding found cat in Phillipston that may be a missing cat from Petersham

@12:45p Call from motorist for loose dog on Route 122. To area, dog identified and owner contacted.

10/04 Additional time with Phillipston ACO and PD

10/06 @7a Resident call for cat trapped, requests information about what to do next. Found cat posting on Petersham PAWS and shared to surrounding town ACOs. As per standard protocol. Cat to shelter for stray hold.

10/12 @7a Cat in shelter to Second Chance, North Brookfield, for veterinary exam, vaccinations, and neuter. No contact from previous attempts to locate an owner.

@5p Pick up of above cat from Second Chance, animal returned to shelter.

10/13 @7p Above cat transferred to a feline sanctuary.

10/14 @9:30a Resident call for two large dogs in yard, homeowner has not seen them previously. Likely owner contacted, met individual at the location. Both dogs secured.

10/17 @9:15a Resident call for lost dog spooked by smoke alarm and bolted from pet sitter. Owner out of state for the weekend. Suggestions given.
@10:15a Lost dog located and safely returned to home.
@3:30p Resident reports missing cat since early morning. Notices placed on FB and contact made with surrounding town ACOs. Owner to post flyers in area.

10/18 @10a Petersham resident call to report lost dog seen in Greenfield that resembles flyers seen locally. Calls to ACOs and Franklin County Animal Shelter

10/19 @1:30p Resident call to report dog has been missing for over 2 hours and dog has never done this previously. Suggestions given. Dog returned to door during second conversation with owner

10/20 @7:45p Dispatch call for loose horse. Description given by dispatch and owner identified. Call placed to owner who reported she would be on scene in a couple minutes to retrieve horse. PPD arrived. Dispatch notified owner on scene.

10/21 @1p Follow up with Athol resident regarding ongoing issue with known Petersham dogs that have been coming on property.

10/22 @3p Call from resident regarding issues related to beaver dams and possible options. Information given

10/26 Several calls from resident regarding cat issue

10/30 Workday at shelter for installation of new flooring

*A day long training session for equine owners and first responders was arranged by Petersham AC and the State of MA Animal Response Team (SMART) through MSPCA/Nevins and conducted at Windswept Farm.