Select Board Agenda--6/30/2010

TOWN OF ASHFIELD
SELECT BOARD MEETING AGENDA
(Preliminary and Subject to Change)
June 30, 2010 Immediately following STM

1. OLD BUSINESS
Town Warrant time card review (continued from 06/23/10)
Police Dept. FY2010 budget adjustments

2. NEW BUSINESS
FY 2011 Appointment/Reappointments

FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
Select Board Meeting – July 14, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.
Select Board Meeting – July 28, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.

Town Hall Reorganization

A reorganization plan completed at the Select Board meeting last night aims to open Town Hall to the public for more than its current two days per week.

After talking extensively to town employees over the last few weeks, town administrative offices liaison Norm Russell presented a plan that separates the Town Administrator, Town Clerk, and Town Treasurer’s positions, all currently held by one person. Russell explained that, if the town can hire a new clerk at a lower hourly rate, that would free up funds to expand the hours of other employees, allowing Town Hall to be open more days of the week.

Russell also said that they hope to find a candidate with computer experience, since part of the clerk’s duties is to be keeper of public records, a position that today requires familiarity with computers. Until a new Town Clerk is found, the Assistant Town Clerk will fulfill the clerk’s duties.

Russell’s plan will couple the position of Town Treasurer and Town Collector. The current Treasurer will become Assistant Treasurer, so someone will be available to generate payroll when the Treasurer is on vacation.

After discussion, Chair Dave DeHerdt summed up next year’s proposed appointments as follows:

Town Administrator/Assistant Treasurer: Maryellen Cranston
Town Clerk: vacant
Town Collector/Treasurer: Laura Blakesley
Assistant Town Clerk: Nancy Dunne and Maryellen Cranston

All appointments are for one-year terms. Appointments are expected to be made at tonight’s Select Board meeting, following the 7 p.m. Special Town Meeting at Sanderson Academy.

David King

Agenda for Tonight's SB Meeting--6/29/2010

Due to our being unable to convene our open session meeting yesterday, the Select Board will bring all agenda items from yesterday's cancelled meeting to its posted meeting for tonight. I anticipate that the Select Board will conclude its presentation of the STM Warrant to the Finance Committee at approximately 8:45 p.m., after which the Board will continue in open session to address the open meeting agenda items from Monday, June 28, 2010.

R. Dave DeHerdt, Chair
Ashfield Select Board


Editor's note: The agenda for yesterday's cancelled meeting is posted below. Scroll down and click on "older posts" or click on the item in the archives.

The Unposted Meeting--An Opinion

After yesterday's posting "mishap" and all the other issues going on in town hall, I hope people are finally getting the fact that the police department isn't the only problem in town hall. All the other postings made it up. Friends helping friends-- looks pretty bad for the town not being able to control employees.

The board allowed it to go on too long. They have had many chances to deal with this prior to the end of the appointment season, and now it's too late. Their selective discipline has been the board's downfall to this point.

They finally get the guts to put one of the real problems in front of them, thanks to Chief Cotton, in executive session, and look what happens. The board's chance to make it right both procedurally and morally has come and gone. That person will leave with a perfect personnel file and another law suit to come.

Now let's deal with the un-posted meeting in the proper way. We can't allow any employee to hide behind an illness as a reason for mistakes or misdoings. If that employee can't do the job they have, then have them take a leave until they are well enough to do it right. My sympathy is there, but you have a town to run.

John Svoboda

Town Hall Bulletin Board

Sewer Commission, Tue. 6/29 @ 6:00pm
Select Board, Tue. 6/29 @ 7:30pm
Finance Committee, Tue. 6/29 @ 7:30pm
Assessors, Tue. 6/29 @ 7:00pm
STM – Wed. 6/30 @ 7:00pm @ Sanderson
Select Board, Wed. 6/30 @ Sanderson after the STM
Planning Board, Thu. 7/1 @ 7:30pm
Police Chief Search Committee, Fri. 7/2 @ 7pm, Fire Station
Police Chief Search Committe, Fri. 7/9 @ 7pm, Fire Station
Conservation Commission, Wed. 7/14 @ 7:30pm

Special Town Meeting Warrant

To see the articles to be voted on at tomorrow evening's Special Town Meeting, go to Ashfield's official website: http://www.ashfield.org, click on "calendar" in the upper left of the page, then click on "Special Town Meeting" on June 30. A pdf file of the warrant will open when you click on "description."

Please remember that the Special Town Meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., is at Sanderson Academy, since there are handicapped access issues at Town Hall.

Ruth Julian

Today's Select Board Meeting Cancelled

Select Board Chair Dave DeHerdt reports that this afternoon’s scheduled Select Board meeting was not posted by the Town Administrator, so the meeting must be cancelled and re-posted. He said the open meeting law prohibits the Select Board from convening the meeting, since doing so would be a violation of the 48-hour posting requirement.

Ruth Julian

Call for Models

Twenty females needed, all ages, to wear vintage clothing, sizes 2,4,6,8,10,12, and 14. Fitting sessions will be held in mid-July for a Follow the Thread Fashion Show on Sunday, August 8, at the Ashfield Community Hall.

Please contact Jackie Cooper at 413-628-0262

Great News for Wind Energy Discussions

Since last Sunday, when I called for a break on the subject, I have been wrangling with myself about how to handle the wind energy discussion. And getting nowhere.

As an open blog, the Ashfield Town Common faces liability issues every bit as stringent as those of a newspaper...with no legal staff and no corporate structure for protection. This was particularly nerve-wracking when I was posting wind energy pieces and comments, since the blog was being read all over the country and the world. I'm not kidding--from Texas to Tasmania, everybody wanted to know about Ashfield's potential wind energy projects.

Also, as a volunteer, I can't afford any more time than I'm already putting in. Ashfield provides quite enough grist for the mill without including a subject that stirs so many hearts to fervor.

I have been wishing all week that a way could be found to let everyone discuss the subject at whatever length they desire. And my wish has been almost magically granted. David Kulp has created a website for Ashfield e-mail lists, including a place to discuss wind energy projects. I think it will be the go-to place to discuss the issue. (There is a mechanism to subscribe or unsubscribe, making it a members-only list and protecting it from the liability issues that limit the blog.)

Without further ado I give you http://ashfieldtalk.org/wind.

Ruth Julian

A Window into the Past

Flowers aren't the only thing blooming on Main Street.

I couldn't help but to stop by in awe at the wonderful window display at the Ashfield Historical Society Museum. Thank you to all who made it possible.

Dreams of days gone by. A beautiful blushing bride adorned in a beautifully hand-stitched wedding gown. (Okay Grace, were there treadle machines at that time?) Under-garments, such as a pair of bloomers and lovely petticoats sewn for her special day. A Shaker basket holds sewing items and there is a display of old items for cleaning clothing.

Stop and take a look, you'll be glad you did.

Karen Sullivan

Editor's Note: The Museum is open from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturdays throughout the summer. There are more wonders within.

Site Visit, Anyone?

Good Citizens of My Town,

As many of you may know, there is a Planning Board hearing on July 1st at 7:30 p.m. at town hall regarding a special permit for erection of a 50-meter temporary meteorological tower here at Journey's End farm, the Leue property.

If any of you would like to visit the Leue family site off of Cape St. near the Goshen town line that is the subject of this one year meteorological study, I would be happy to give a tour of the site (known as top of the world) on this coming Monday or Wednesday at 10:00 AM. At that time I can also answer questions about our planning process, and perhaps dispel some of the wild rumors that are circulating.

If interested, please drop me a line at journeyend@earthlink.net, or call me at 628-4768.

Hope to see you at the meeting.

Cheers,
Mark Leue

Agenda for Monday's SB Meeting

TOWN OF ASHFIELD
SELECT BOARD MEETING AGENDA
(preliminary and subject to change)
June 28, 2010 @ 3:30 p.m.

1. EXECUTIVE SESSION
• Employee Disciplinary Hearing

2. OLD BUSINESS
• Finalize Appointment List (continued from 06/23/10)
• Town Hall Reorganization (continued from 06/23/10)
• STM Warrant (prepare presentation of STM to Finance Committee)
• Town Warrant time card review (continued from 06/23/10)
• Police Dept. FY2010 budget adjustments

FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
• Select Board Meeting with Finance Committee – June 29, 2010 @ 7:30 p.m.
• Special Town Meeting -- June 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. (Sanderson Academy)
• Select Board Meeting – June 30, 2010 immediately following STM (Sanderson Academy)

Approved Minutes for SB 6/16 Meeting

Meeting called to order at 7:02 pm.

Minutes

Motion was made, and seconded, to approve the open session minutes of June 9. Vote in favor was unanimous. Motion was made, and seconded, to approve the executive session minutes of June 14. Vote in favor was unanimous.

Discussion occurred regarding Mr. Masse’s request to enforce the cease and desist order against Sonam Lama. Dave will put the issue of enforcement on the June 23 agenda.

Liaison Reports

Highway – Discussion occurred as to whether the highway superintendent is reappointed. The Board will have the highway superintendent’s name on the reappointment list.

Town Hall – The goal is to make town hall so the public feels welcome. Job functions and structural changes may need to occur in order for that to happen. The Board would like to have town hall open one night a week for a year and monitor traffic. The select board liaison will hold full staff meetings. He would like to have improved access to town hall staff by creating more windows.

Another improvement discussed was having a town hall building monitor. This would be a volunteer position that would educate groups about the building and the upper hall floor. After a group has used the building, this person would report back to the select board on the condition of the building/floor.

Police Chief Search Committee – The committee will implement town counsel’s suggestion on the CORI release. The ad will be placed on the internet. The goal is to review applications by the second week in August.

Regional Police Services

The Board revisited the issue of a regional police services study thru the FRCOG. The feeling was that it was wrong to pursue this avenue when we are actively searching for a full time chief.

Old Business

Wired West – If anyone is interested in being the alternate representative for Wired West, please let the Select Board know.

Street Lights – The Board discussed the street lights to keep on. The Board agreed to keep the 2 lights on at Spruce Corner, the light at the entrance to the upper park, and the light at town hall. There is still money in the special town meeting article to leave on one more light.

Town Website Email

Discussion occurred on how to handle email on the town website. Charlie Heath from the website committee is looking to move the server to gmail. This will be further discussed at the first Board meeting in July.

Kennel Fund

Animal Control Officer, Warren Kirkpatrick, gave the Board a letter stating that $8000 a year should remain in the revolving dog fund. The Board will discuss establishing a stabilization fund for the balance to be saved for an up to date kennel.

Notice of Public Hearing

The Board received a notice of public hearing for a special permit to erect a temporary meteorological tower at 1837 Cape Street. The planning board hearing is July 1 at 7:30 pm.

Clear Sky Application

Motion was made, and seconded, to reconsider the application for the use of town hall by Clear Sky Energy on June 17. Motion was made, and seconded, to amend the application as follows:

“Upon new information that Clear Sky will be utilizing an individual during the informational meeting on June 17 and that individual also being a public official in the Town of Ashfield, the use of town hall application is hereby amended to require that prior to the commencement of that private public informational meeting that the public official fully disclose his role during the meeting and any private interest he may represent regarding wind siting issues in the Town of Ashfield. Also he must disclose that he is not participating in an official public capacity because he cannot be impartial. Because of the nature of the meeting and the nature, if they exist, of private representation of private interests, that he cannot be impartial as it is deemed in a public capacity. This disclosure needs to be stated at the commencement of the meeting and approximately thirty minutes into the meeting. The meeting is to be halted and the disclosure stated for a second time for any citizens who arrive late to the meeting.”

Vote in favor was unanimous.

Application to use Town Hall

The Board discussed the application to use town hall by a wind study group on July 8. They still need to get the approval of the fire and police chiefs. The fee is $55 plus a security deposit. The same requirement will be placed on this application as the previous. Motion was made, and seconded, to approve the application to use town hall by the wind study group on July 8. If any individual who holds a public office participates in the meeting, the same requirement will be put forth as the Clear Sky application.


New Business

Someone at town hall will be asked to draft a form letter to send to all individuals up for reappointment. Norm will meet with the town administrator to review the reappointment list for the June 23 meeting.

Meeting Schedule

June 23 at 7 pm
June 28 at 3:30 pm – Disciplinary Hearing
June 30 after special town meeting at Sanderson

Motion was made, and seconded, to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing disciplining a town employee. The board will not reconvene in open meeting. Roll call vote: Norm, yes; Doug, yes; Dave, yes.

Meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Town Administrator

Approved Minutes of SB 6/14 Meeting

Meeting called to order at 7:06 pm.

Old Business

Special Town Meeting – The Board reviewed the proposed warrant for the June 30 Special Town Meeting. Discussion occurred regarding which street lights to keep on. The Board felt that there was no reason to keep the light on at Buckland Road. The Board decided to keep the three lights on at Spruce Corner and the one light on at town hall.

The Board wants the town administrator to research why a check was sent to Janice Howes.

Motion was made, and seconded, to approve the Special Town Meeting warrant. Vote in favor was unanimous.

Appointment List - The Board wants the town administrator to review the list to ensure accuracy. The Board discussed changing the appointment terms for collector, town clerk and treasurer to 1 year to maintain consistency. The Board would like the town administrator to create a form letter that can be mailed out to individuals up for reappointment.

After further research, the Board determined that the town had accepted MGL chapter 48, sections 42-43 in 1967. The Board has the authority to appoint the fire chief. The fire chief in turn appoints the firefighters.

The highway superintendent does not have the authority to appoint, so his name should be on the list as well as the employees.

The police chief’s name is not on the list because we have an interim chief who is under contract. His contract expires on June 30. The Board may consider extending his contract until September 30.

Norm will sit with the town administrator to go over the list of appointments for the June 23 meeting.

Town Report – There were errors in the 2009 town report. A correction sheet will need to be made for next year’s report.

Windmill Letter – The Board reviewed the proposed letter for a final time. Our state senator, Ben Downing, will be added to the list of recipients. The town administrator will put the letter on town letterhead. Dave will then sign the letter for it to be mailed out.

New Business

Police Chief Search Request – The police chief search committee made a request of the Board to consult town counsel to see if the language is correct for the CORI request form. Motion was made, and seconded, to approve the use of town counsel by the police chief search committee. Vote was unanimous.

Meeting Dates – The Board will meet at town hall on June 16 and June 23. The Board will meet after the Special Town Meeting at Sanderson on June 30. The Town Administrator will be asked to contact Phil Pless to see if he will act as the temporary moderator on June 30. Phil will be asked to come to the June 23 select board meeting to review the warrant.

When the finance committee meets to review the warrant, the town administrator will post a joint meeting so that the select board can attend.

Mail

Sonam Lama received a cease and desist order from the Building Inspector. This addresses Richard Masse’s concerns from the last meeting.

The Department of Revenue sent a second request for materials to make a payment in lieu of taxes for two parcels. The materials had been previously sent by assessor’s clerk, Faye Whitney. She will resend.

Discussion occurred regarding the state’s request for the town to adopt a zero tolerance for not using seat belts and traffic violations. The Board decided that it was not for zero tolerance of anything other than sexual harassment.

There are no restrictions on the deed for the highway garage. The town administrator will be asked to investigate if there are restrictions on the USDA grant funding.

Motion was made, and seconded, to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing disciplining a town employee. The board will not reconvene in open meeting. Roll call vote: Norm, yes; Doug, yes; Dave, yes.

Meeting adjourned at 8:26 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Town Administrator

Re: The Police Department's Safe

At least the Chief found more in that safe than Geraldo Rivera found in Al Capone's safe. Was the booze still good?

Ray Cassidy

Easier Dump Permits, Licenses, Etc.?

At last night’s Select Board meeting, Town Administrative Offices Liaison Norm Russell reported that he is still working to find a way to keep Town Hall open more often. He hopes to add one day and one evening (6-9pm) on different days, so Town Hall will be open for at least a few hours on four days of the week.

David King

Keeper of the Hall

At last night’s meeting, the Select Board agreed that the town hall needs its own special guardian.

After several concerned citizens complained about the damage to the floor of the upstairs hall after a recent meeting, Select Board member Norm Russell, with the strong endorsement of the Town Hall Building Committee, suggested appointing a town hall steward.

The Select Board would still approve permits for the use of the hall, Russell said, but applicants would then be referred to the steward, who would make sure they knew what they needed to know to care for the building. The steward might also be present at the event to make sure the building is not damaged.

The board voted unanimously to create the unpaid position, contingent on a review by town counsel to make sure the position would not require a town meeting vote.

David King

On? Off? None of the Above?

A number of residents attended last night’s Select Board meeting to express dissatisfaction with the current street lights. Several agreed with Ricki Carroll that the lights, which bathe residences in the middle of town in bright, orange light all night, are extremely annoying. Board Member Doug Field also reported that he’d heard from more residents who wanted them off.

But some spoke in their favor. Nancy Hoff, while acknowledging the feelings of residents, said that the lights in town are needed for safety, especially in the months of the year when it gets dark before town businesses close. Rick Chandler said they are a visual cue that motorists are entering town and serve to slow traffic.

But no one was completely satisfied with the current lighting system. After hearing a number of suggestions for improving it – keeping the lights on only six months of the year, putting them on timers so they shut off after businesses close, even installing new, lower light posts that would direct the light only to where it’s needed most – the board voted to establish a committee of between three and five volunteer members to look into the issue.

In the meantime, the board agreed to propose an amendment to Article Two of the warrant at next week’s Special Town Meeting to restore the lighting line-item to its 2010 level. DeHerdt said that the lights can always be turned off, but that it would be expensive to turn them off, then have to turn them back on.

There were certain lights everyone agreed on. The four lights mentioned at last week’s meeting – two in Spruce Corner, the Town Hall light and the light at the Belding Park boat ramp – will remain on. The light above the tennis courts and two lights at the end of Buckland Road will be turned off.

David King

Police Safe Contents Revealed

Chief John Cotton has finally cracked the last remaining unopened police department safe.

This small safe, bolted to a windowsill in the police department offices, has been impossible to open for more than a year. It is outfitted with both a number pad and a key lock, but the pad is not functioning and the key went missing.

Reporting at tonight’s Select Board meeting, police liaison Dave DeHerdt said Cotton finally contacted the safe’s manufacturer with the serial numbers and was able to obtain a new key.

When, with the help of a little WD-40, he opened the safe, he found an open bottle of vodka, an open bottle of Captain Morgan rum, and ammunition for a variety of weapons, including a black powder gun. Since the police department doesn’t own a black powder gun, Cotton is trying to discover if this ammo might have been confiscated.

DeHerdt said the reason the keypad wasn’t working was that it was physically shut off from inside the safe.

David King

Candidate Meet-and-Greet This Saturday

Paul Mark is a hard-working, progressive Democrat making a run for State Representative in a competitive, open seat being vacated by current Rep Denis Guyer. You may have seen Paul and his crew campaigning outside of town meeting.

Paul is hosting a meet-and-greet for voters to ask him questions and learn about his policies on issues like education funding, job creation through cooperatives and small businesses, and securing affordable high-speed internet. Join Paul to chat about issues that are important to all of us. He’ll be at Elmer’s on Saturday, June
26th, from 3-5pm.

Steven Hoeschele

Upcoming Concert

Monday night, July 19th at the First Congregational Church, at 7:30 p.m., two great choruses, House Blend from Vermont and Cantoria from France, will join forces and provide an incredible musical event in town.

Cantoria started in the 1980's and is based out of the town of Villaines-les-Rochers, near Tours, France. Over the years they have upheld a tradition of exchanges and shared musicship, including twinning relationships with choruses in Belgium, Portugal, England,and the United States. Now under the leadership of Fabienne Goupille,the group continues to expand its repertoire, which includes a wide variety of music, including, among others, sacred music, gospel,and contemporary songs.

House Blend, a group formed in 2006, is a collective of veteran singers from Vermont and New Hampshire devoted to the collective exploration of a cappella songs from around the world. Their repertoire includes precisely blended early music, contemporary arrangements by local composers, songs from American Folk traditions such as spirituals, soulful gospel, Appalachian, and jazz, as well as lush Italian and Spanish ballads, South African Freedom Songs, village music of Italy, France, Quebec, and the Republic of Georgia, Renaissance madrigals along with anything else they can think about.

This is a rare event and if you have never been to this sort of concert before it is a real treat, with something for everyone. These two combined groups will provide enough energy to lift your spirits and knock your socks off! Tell your friends and neighbors, we hope to see you there.

Ricki Carroll & Jamie Eckley 628-4568

Town Hall Bulletin Board

Town hall building committee, Mon. 6/21 @ 7pm
Park commission, Tue. 6/22 @ 9am
Conservation Commission, Tues. 6/22 @ 7:30pm
Select Board, Wed. 6/23 @ 7pm
Police chief search committee, Thu. 6/24 @ 7:30pm, fire station
Historical Commission, Thu. 6/24 @ 7:30pm
Sewer Commission, Tue. 6/29 @ 6pm, treatment plant
Board of Assessors, Tues. 6/29 @ 7pm
Special Town Meeting, Wed. 6/30 @ 7pm, Sanderson Academy
Planning Board, Thu. 7/1 @ 7:30pm--Hearing
Board of Health, Tue. 7/20 @ 7pm

Draft Select Board Meeting Agenda

TOWN OF ASHFIELD
SELECT BOARD MEETING AGENDA
(preliminary and subject to change)

June 23, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.

1. MINUTES
Open Meeting Minutes of June 14, 2010
Open Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2010
Executive Session Minutes of June 16, 2010

2. APPOINTMENTS
Fall Festival application (Sandy Lilly) @ 7:15 pm.
Cultural Council @ 7:30 pm.

3. LIAISON REPORTS
Emergency Services (Dave)
Highway Department (Doug)
Emergency Manager (Doug)
Town Administrative Offices (Norm)
Town Hall Committee (Norm)
Police Chief Search Committee (Doug)
Other Boards & Committees (Doug)
Franklin Regional Council of Governments (Dave)

4. OLD BUSINESS
Street Lights (Final Consideration of citizen concerns)
Appointments for FY2011
STM presentation responsibilities and notes review
Town Hall Administrative Offices Reorganization

5. MAIL

6. NEW BUSINESS
Expiration of Interim Chief of Police Contract
Review of Town Warrant Payroll (Employee Timesheet Issue)
Upper Hall (Floor Preservation) Issue

7. VOTES/SIGNATURES
Extension of Interim Chief of Police Contract

8. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
Select Board Meeting
(Executive Session Disciplinary Hearing)—June28, 2010 @ 3:30 PM
Special Town Meeting -- June 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Select Board Meeting -- June 30, 2010 directly following STM (Sanderson Academy)

9. PUBLIC FORUM (If needed)

On Energy Responsibility

This blog has become a very windy place. But isn’t it time we considered just what kind of energy we think Ashfield should use? I challenge anyone to come up with a method of electrical generation that’s perfect and causes no hardship or inconvenience to anyone anywhere.

And I’m not talking about what might be available at some future date. I know everyone in this town is sufficiently well-informed to know that the ice caps are melting now, the weather is crazy now, and the electricity we are using at this moment--I to write this, you to read it-- is making the planetary problem worse.

By “we” I do not mean some generic “we as a species,” or “we as a nation.” I mean we Ashfielders, who, at this very moment, are plugged into a grid sucking electricity made in many different ways, but all involving the risk, hardship, and sometimes complete destruction of places and people far away.

My dear friends and neighbors, is that fair?

Isn’t it time to ask ourselves and each other how we can do our bit? Right now Ashfield’s electricity meter is running in the wrong direction. I would be so very proud of us if we could at least consider our responsibility to reverse it.

In the meanwhile, I think we should take a break from all this windiness.

Ruth Julian

Wind Turbines, Ashfield's 21st Century T Rex's

I like wind energy. But technology is advancing at such a clip that putting up these turbines would be erecting T-Rex dinosaurs before they even hit the ground.

I would rather see individual windmills per house (i.e. Jay Leno vertical cylinder concept) and allow the homeowner to benefit from its production. But that of course doesn't line the pockets of stockholders.

We have all these big brains right here in Massachusetts, MIT and the like, to formulate possibilities for each home by grid and known solar and wind facts. Then through software, analyze the data, print out combinations of energy concepts relevant to that one site and give tax credits for building it.

If the lot or a prior home did not have the % needed to capitalize on return value, then I would rather see progress put the emphasis on each individual to conserve their energy by their own consumption and not rely on magna grids to provide abundance of energy to the cost of environment and displacement of nature.

This can be achieved through the daily data of energy usage the electrical companies already have in place regarding each home and the State providing tax credit to the individual homeowner or renter who's data deceases and/or goes below averages.

The partnership of electrical companies, individual, and State, coupled with the energy saving unit credits, could be worked out by higher IQ's than mine and instantly available within a year I bet. The software and data are already in place
by the electrical companies.

I am also for any landowner to develop his or her own parcel in the manner which generates highest best use and return - I agree with our freedoms and freedom of choices.

But I rather promote what WMECO is already doing, huge panels. Construct these on the ridges. They are low impact. And then send the energy back to Ashfield not to the Northeast grid for people far away to plug in more things. The owner would be paid for the output. And when technology advances with solar it is low impact to disassemble panels and erect other high-tech ones.

Let's not produce wasteland of large windmills which will be obsolete before the last one is constructed along NE's most prized highland properties. Let's not desecrate this land we call home.

Sometimes our Mother, nature herself shapes our destiny. Mother nature is already throwing huge storms across USA in places never heard of being hit before. Her storms or world storms tested the dinosaurs once before, perhaps these dinosaurs too shall be tested, and gone before someone else's daybreak.

SM Corbett

Industrial Landscape

I’d like to offer a few thoughts on having a huge, industrial, power-generating facility in our neighborhood.

This facility, when in full operation, generates enough noise that you can’t have a normal conversation anywhere in its vicinity. Even at idle, it produces a steady background noise that can be heard throughout town. The health effects of this background noise have never, to my knowledge, been properly studied.

It also has a permanent and widespread effect on the landscape, changing the visual character of the town in profound ways. And this is not to mention the effect on the local environment, particularly the salmon migration.

Salmon migration, you say? Well, yes. I’m talking about the dam in Shelburne Falls. What did you think I was talking about?

Seriously, last Thursday night, I heard a lot of objections to the possibility of bringing wind turbines to Ashfield. It occurred to me that many of them would also apply to the Deerfield #3 power generating station in Shelburne Falls – the Shelburne Falls dam.

This station, in operation for about a century now (producing 7MW of electricity, by the way – more or less what the wind towers would produce), is everything I described. A water release is not only noisy, it is also dangerous to anyone who might be downstream. Since there is no fish ladder at the dam, it does interrupt any possible salmon migration.

And yet I would bet that, when you look at the dam, with the pooled water behind it and the potholes beneath, you don’t say, “What a huge, ugly industrial complex.” I find it beautiful. Given the number of postcards of the dam for sale around Shelburne Falls, I gather I’m not alone in that.

A lot of clear-thinking, intelligent people are worried about how the towers, which are admittedly huge, would affect the way the town looks. This is a reasonable worry. These things are new, and no one knows how we’ll feel about them twenty or thirty years down the road.

But a century down the road, the dam in Shelburne Falls is integral to the beauty of the town, to the point that no one thinks of it as a functioning power generating station. The iron bridge and Bridge of Flowers, both of which were doubtless considered industrial-age eyesores when they were new, now attract tourists from all over the northeast. Having a view of them actually enhances property values.

When I see pictures of the huge turbines springing out of the woodland, spinning lazily, I’ve got to admit, I find them beautiful. Even if you find them strange at first, they may well grow on you until, a century from now, it will be impossible to picture Ashfield without them.

David King

Geography Quiz - Test Your Knowledge

QUESTIONS based on ranking in the 50 states from largest to smallest.

1. Where does Massachusetts rank in land mass? (a) 42, (b) 37, (c) 45

2. Where does Massachusetts rank in population? (a) 29, (b) 14, (c) 25

3. Where does Massachusetts rank in density? (a) 22, (b) 3, (c) 11

4. Where does New Hampshire rank in population? (a) 41, (b) 34, (c) 38

5. Where does Vermont rank in population? (a) 45, (b) 49, ( c) 42

6. Where does Minnesota rank in population? (a) 29, (b) 15, (c) 21

ANSWERS

1. The answer is (c). Massachusetts has the 45th smallest land mass in the country followed by New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware.

2. The answer is (b). Massachusetts ranks 14th with a population of about 6.5 million people.

3. The answer is (b). Massachusetts ranks 3rd in density with about 825 people per square mile. Only New Jersey and Rhode Island are more crowded.

4. The answer is (a). New Hampshire ranks 41st with a population of about 1.3 million. New Hampshire ranks 21st in density with approximately 147 people per square mile.

5. The answer is (b). Vermont ranks 49th with a population of about 680,000. Vermont ranks 30th in density with approximately 67 people per square mile.

6. The answer is (c). Minnesota ranks 21st with a population of about 5.2 million. Minnesota ranks 31st in density with approximately 65 people per square mile.

Source: WorldAtlas.com
Submitted by Amelia Maloney

Clear Sky Presents Its Case

About 90 residents came out to Town Hall last night for a presentation by Clear Sky Energy, LLC, about the possibility of bringing wind turbines to Ashfield.

The half-hour presentation, led by Clear Sky’s President Joe Santolucito, covered the benefits of wind power both to the world at large – a clean, renewable energy source – and to Ashfield in particular. These latter include estimated tax revenues of $200,000 per year, $150,000 in local spending during construction, and five local operation and maintenance jobs once the turbines are running.

According to the presentation, the turbine’s pylons will range between 260 and 330 feet in height. With the vanes, the turbines could be as tall as 440 feet. Other physical details were elicited during the question and answer period that followed the presentation. The pylons would have a circular footprint on the ground about 25 feet in diameter. The access road built to bring equipment and components to the site would be about 30 feet wide and unpaved. After construction was completed, the road would be rehabilitated to be 15 feet wide. Each turbine will generate an average of 700 kilowatts, with a maximum output of two megawatts.

Santolucito could not answer some questions because many details – such as how many turbines will be built and their exact location – depend on the results of further studies. One of the next steps mentioned in the presentation is the erection of a 150-foot meteorological tower to measure wind strength at the site. He did say that Clear Sky foresees erecting between four and ten turbines on Ridge Hill in the vicinity of the power lines. They would use the existing power line right of way to string their own transmission lines to the substation on Baptist Corner Road. A Clear Sky engineer said the configuration of the power substation would determine whether the power generated by the turbines will be used by Ashfield directly or will feed into the grid to be used throughout the northeast.

Many questions were raised about noise generated by the turbines. The presentation cited studies showing that wind turbines don’t present a health risk. Andrew Wells challenged these studies, citing a study of 22 residents near the Mars Hill Wind Farm site in Maine. Clear Sky said that part of the development process would be a sound study at the proposed site, and that Clear Sky would bring in experts to address these concerns in the future.

Roger Howes said he had once stood at the base of a working turbine in Hull, Massachusetts, and was able to carry on a normal conversation.

Near the end of the evening, Clear Sky Project Manager Mark Pappalardo asked for a show of hands of people who might wish to travel to Lempster, New Hampshire, to view a wind farm project similar to the one proposed for Ashfield. When a large number of hands went up, he offered to organize a bus trip so interested citizens can experience the impact of a wind farm for themselves.

Many residents objected to wind turbines on the grounds of noise, environmental impact, and effect on the scenery. Harry Dodson questioned how green wind power really is.

But Mary Snow told a story of Erik Erikson, the developmental psychologist, that she said she hoped participants would take home with them. When asked by a student, “What is the meaning of life,” Erikson replied, “Compared to what?”

David King

Wind Storm Approaching

The town is preparing on several fronts to face the question of whether wind power will come to Ashfield.

At last night’s meeting, the Select Board reviewed their approval of the use of Town Hall for this evening’s informational meeting. Board Chair Dave DeHerdt said that, since the board voted to approve the meeting, they have discovered that Clear Sky LLC, the company hosting the meeting, has asked Town Moderator Buz Eisenberg to moderate it.

DeHerdt proposed that they amend the approval so as to require Eisenberg to announce twice, once at the beginning of the meeting and again after the meeting is underway, that he is not acting in his official capacity as Town Moderator. He is also to disclose his interests, in his private capacity as an attorney, with any of the parties involved in wind turbine sitings in town.

The board also received notice of a Planning Board hearing for a temporary, 50-meter-tall meteorological tower to be erected 3000 feet east of 1837 Cape Street. DeHerdt explained that this tower would be erected by ECHO for Sustainable Development, a nonprofit sustainable energy group. It would measure the strength and steadiness of wind at the site over the next 15 months. He also said that these measurements are a precursor to possible wind turbine siting. The hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on July 1, 2010, at Town Hall.

The board also approved a request for the use of Town Hall by Harry Dodson, of the Ashfield Wind Study Group, for an informational meeting. The speaker at the meeting will be Eleanor Tillinghast, president of Green Berkshires, Inc. The board approved the request with the same restrictions that applied to the Clear Sky meeting and subject to approval by the Police and Fire Departments. The meeting is scheduled for July 8, from 7-10 p.m.

David King

More to Come on Town Hall

Liaison to Town Administrative Offices Norm Russell reported last night that he has talked with the Town Hall employees and former liaison Ted Murray.

Russell said he didn’t foresee anyone not being reappointed, but hoped to reorganize job descriptions and hours so as to keep Town Hall open at least one additional day per week.

“My goal is that, hopefully, this time next year, people will come in and say they really feel welcome and comfortable coming into Town Hall and things are working for them.”

Russell had some doubts about the utility of keeping the Hall open one evening a week. He said he spoke to Town Collector Laura Blakesley about a time some years ago when Town Hall did have evening hours. He said she remembered the one resident who used the Town Hall in the evening. He did point out that, on the other hand, the town drop box is seeing a lot of use. Board Chair Dave DeHerdt suggested that evening hours might not be necessary now that residents can conduct some business through the town’s web site.

Russell said that employees also liked the idea of a weekly staff meeting with the Select Board liaison, a practice begun by Murray. “The town administrator had not reacted very positively to it,” he said, but other staff members found it helpful.

DeHerdt agreed to put a more detailed examination of Town Hall reorganization on the agenda for next week’s meeting.

David King

Lights Once Again

At last night’s meeting, the Select Board finalized the list of street lights that will be left on.

After viewing the lights in Spruce Corner, Board Member Doug Field recommended that the light at the corner of Watson Spruce Corner Road and Spruce Corner Road be turned off. The two lights on Plainfield Road and Spruce Corner Road will be left on.

At the request of residents Ann Lilly and Phil Nolan, they’ll also be leaving on the light by the boat ramp at Belding Memorial Park. Board Member Norm Russell reported that Phil sees people going down to the lake to fish at night. The light would provide them safe access.

Including the Town Hall light, that will be a total of four lights left on. The warrant article for the June 30 Special Town Meeting contains enough funding for five lights.

“If people want to battle for a light at Special Town Meeting,” Chair Dave DeHerdt said, “we have a slot open.”

David King

Thanks to Phil Nolan

While discussing other matters at last night's meeting, Select Board Member Norm Russell mentioned that Phil Nolan, owner and operator of Neighbors on Main Street, pays a monthly fee to maintain the public phone booth in the Neighbors’ parking lot. Russell said that since most of Ashfield doesn’t have cell service, this public phone (the only one in town) is an important asset.

“Phil does a lot of stuff for town, and we appreciate it,” Russell said.

David King

Broadband Volunteer Needed

The Select Board is looking for a public-minded citizen to be an alternate delegate to Wired West, the community-owned company working to bring broadband access to the hilltowns.

At May’s Annual Town Meeting, the town voted to enter negotiations with other hilltowns to bring broadband internet access into the area. Last week, the Select Board appointed David Kulp to represent the town with Wired West. At last night’s meeting, they announced that they also need an alternate delegate.

So if you’re interested in helping bring broadband to Ashfield, let the Select Board know. You can e-mail them at selectboard@ashfield.org.

David King

Wind Energy 101

Clear Sky Energy, LLC. is a Massachusetts based wind energy creator that is looking forward to hosting an informative meeting on wind energy. The meeting is being held on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Ashfield Town Hall. Please come listen, learn, and ask.

Mark Pappalardo
Clear Sky Energy

Select Board Agenda for Wednesday

TOWN OF ASHFIELD SELECT BOARD
MEETING AGENDA
(preliminary and subject to change)
June 16, 2010 @ 7:00 pm

1. MINUTES
• Open meeting minutes from June 9, 2010
• Executive meeting minutes from June 14, 2010

2. APPOINTMENTS
• None

3. LIAISON REPORTS
• Emergency Services (Dave)
• Highway Department (Doug)
• Emergency Manager (Doug)
• Town Administrative Offices (Norm)
• Town Hall Committee (Norm)
• Police Chief Search Committee (Doug)
• Other Boards & Committees (Doug)
• Franklin Regional Council of Governments (Dave)

4. OLD BUSINESS
• Alternate for Wired West Governing Board
• Reappointment request
• Joint Police Services Study (FRCOG inquiry)

5. MAIL
• Items requiring SB action
• Items of public interest

6. NEW BUSINESS
• Clear Sky Public Informational Meeting
(Clarification of public vs. private)
• Reappointment form letter

7. VOTES/SIGNATURES
• Application for Use of Town Hall by Harry Dodson

8. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
• Select Board Meeting – June 23, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Special Town Meeting -- June 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
• Select Board Meeting -- June 30, 2010 Immediately following STM (Sanderson Academy)

9. PUBLIC FORUM

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
• To Consider Discipline of Town Employee

Notice of Cancelled Meeting

The Police Chief Search Committee meeting scheduled for this Thursday evening (6/17) has been cancelled.

Thanks for Improving Public Safety

I just wanted to say thanks to our librarian Anne Judson for getting an orange cone big enough that it may last longer than some of the others in front of the library. This has been an ongoing issue. There have been times when a person using a walker has tried to cross the street and has been caught in the middle of the street with cars passing on either side.

The library is important to this town. It should not be dangerous to get to it. The state has said that a crosswalk is not possible in this area. The cones and the stop for pedestrians sign seem to be the best solution. Now if we could just get people to pay attention to these before the children using the library this summer are put in harm's way.

Thanks again to Anne.

Cindy Carney

Special Town Meeting Warrant Finalized

Except for a review by Town Counsel, the warrant for the Special Town Meeting of June 30 is in place.

Article 1 appropriates $31,700 from available funds to make the last payment on the damages from the ice storm of December, 2009.

Article 2 restores funding for some of the town’s street lights. At the Annual Town Meeting, voters decided to turn off all of the street lights as a cost-cutting measure. After gathering input from the town, the Select Board voted tonight to provide funding for three lights at dangerous points in Spruce Corner.

At last week’s meeting, the board had also discussed the possibility of keeping two lights on at the beach and parking lot. Since then, Board Chair Dave DeHerdt has found that these two lights are paid for by the Park Commission. They will remain on.

The light in front of Town Hall will also be kept burning, not only to illuminate the flag, but to light the entrances to Town Hall and the Fire Station, which could be useful for emergency workers called out in the middle of the night.

Article 4 transfers $74 to pay for local Council on Aging expenses that were missed in last year’s budget process.

The Special Town Meeting will be held at Sanderson Academy. Town Moderator Buz Eisenberg will not be available, so a substitute will be found.

David King

A Lawyer's Words of Wisdom

"One welcomes challenges and in that spirit one does not mind life's hurdles - depending upon who put them there."

John Svoboda

Town Hall Bulletin Board

Website Committee: Mon. 6/14 @ 3 p.m.
Selectboard: Mon. 6/14 @ 7pm (STM warrant)
Belding Library Trustees: Mon. 6/14 @ 7:30 p.m. (Belding Library)
Assessors: Tue. 6/15 @ 7 p.m.
Board of Health: Tue. 6/15 @ 7pm
Selectboard: Wed. 6/16 @ 7 p.m.
Planning Board: Wed. 6/16 @ 7:30 p.m.
Police Chief Search Committee: Thur. 6/17 @ 7:30 p.m. (Fire Station) CANCELLED

Monday's Select Board Agenda

TOWN OF ASHFIELD SELECT BOARD
MEETING AGENDA (preliminary and subject to change)
June 14, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.

1. MINUTES
• (No minutes for approval/vote)

2. APPOINTMENTS
• (No appointments)

3. LIAISON REPORTS
• (No reports)

4. OLD BUSINESS
• Finalizing Special Town Meeting Warrant for Posting.
• Review of List for Reappoints to insure accuracy.
• Final approval of letter to State Legislatures re: Wind siting bill.

5. MAIL
• (No mail)

6. NEW BUSINESS
• Police Chief Search Committee request to confer with Town Counsel

7. VOTES/SIGNATURES
• (None)

8. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
• Select Board Meeting – June 16, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Select Board Meeting –June 23, 2010@ 7:00 p.m.
• Special Town Meeting -- June 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
• Select Board Meeting—June 30, 2010 directly following STM

9. PUBLIC FORUM (If needed)

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
• To consider the discipline of a town employee.

Lost Sheepdog

Animal Control Officer Warren Kirkpatrick reports that he picked up a stray sheepdog last night on John Ford Road in the Spruce Corner neighborhood. The dog is a gray and white un-neutered male weighing close to 100 pounds. The dog has no identification and is not wearing a collar, though it had been clipped. It was extremely hungry when found.

"In 28 years, I've never picked up a sheepdog," he said.

If you are the owner of Ashfield's first lost sheepdog, or have information about where he belongs, please phone 628-3811.

The Curmudgeon Files #4

Lest we think that Curmudgeonry is strictly a male affliction, consider Dorothy Parker. She was a gifted author, poet, and screenwriter who wreaked havoc on the literary world for more than fifty years. “The first thing I do in the morning,” she once commented, “is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” Alexander Woollcott described her as “a combination of Little Nell and Lady Macbeth.”

As a literary and theatrical critic for such publications as Vanity Fair, Esquire, and Cosmopolitan, she liberally dispensed vitriol on many prominent actors and budding authors. Her review of a book by a later-day best-selling author included: “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force. This isn’t just plain terrible. This is fancy terrible. This is terrible with raisins in it.” The disgruntled author later characterized her as “something that would eat its young.”

During an intermission of a stage performance by Katherine Hepburn, Parker asked a companion, “Shall we go home or go back in and watch her run the gamut of emotions from A to B?”

Despite her running rough-shod over New York society, no fashionable cocktail party was without her. She was a heavy drinker, and admitted that “three drinks and I’m under the table; four drinks and I’m under the host.”

Her married life and myriad affairs were legendary. “I require three things in a man,” she once said. “He must be handsome, ruthless, and stupid.”

Upon hearing of the death of President Calvin Coolidge, she asked “How do they know?”

Two Dorothy Parkerisms are still used by stand-up comics to this day: “Men don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses” and “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone.”

She died June 7, 1967, in New York.

Ray Cassidy

Town NIMS Certification

The town is scrambling to keep up with the NIMS (National Incident Management System) training.

According to Emergency Management Director Doug Field, the training, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is required of first responders, the Emergency Management Director, police officers, fire fighters, and members of the Select Board. The training is often complicated, with the Fire Chief, Police Chief and Emergency Management Director required to take eight courses. If town officials are not fully qualified by September 30, the town may lose its eligibility for federal funds.

Fortunately, Field said, the courses are free, and many are available online and can be completed within a few hours. Some courses required of fire fighters and police officers, though also free, require a time commitment of 20 to 30 hours for in-person training.

Field said that he and Fire Chief Del Haskins are nearly qualified and expect to be fully qualified by the deadline. The Fire Department is also fully qualified.

Field also reported that three years ago, “our administrative assistant was told to put it in to the Federal Government that Ashfield was fully qualified. We weren’t.”

Resident Suzanne Corbett asked specifically if our prior Emergency Management Director was qualified. Field replied that he was not.

David King

Calming Tension Over Public Records

The Select Board is trying to calm former town officials in the wake of an e-mail concerning the public records law.

Massachusetts law requires all former officials to turn over all public records, including e-mails, to their successors, then swear under penalty of perjury that they have done so.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, former Town Treasurer Janet Swem challenged an e-mail sent to her by Town Administrator Maryellen Cranston. She said the e-mail required former officials to print out their official e-mail correspondence and turn it over to Cranston.

Norm Russell, the Select Board liaison to Town Administrative Offices, said that Cranston had not communicated with the Select Board before sending the e-mail. Chair Dave DeHerdt explained that the board’s policy is that any electronic public records, such as e-mails, should be put into PDF format and forwarded to Cranston. The documents will be more accessible if stored electronically, where they can be searched by keyword. “State law recognizes that certain public records are kept in electronic form,” DeHerdt said.

Paul Swem of Baptist Corner Road complained of tension created by Cranston’s e-mail and asked if the board could ask her to send a new e-mail with clearer guidelines as to what’s required in order to defuse the tension. DeHerdt said that the tension was unnecessary, that former officials only need to “affirm that they no longer have possession of public documents which, by law, they are not authorized to retain after they’ve left public office.”

As to how far back in time the law applies, Russell asked Town Counsel Donna McNichol, who felt three years was far enough. McNichol held that the law is designed to prevent violations of the open meeting and public records laws, and the statute of limitations on these laws is three years. The board’s policy is to recover records only from officials who have held office since the town elections in May, 2007.

When Janet Swem asked why correspondence with the Town Treasurer should be sent to the Town Administrator, DeHerdt replied that all public documents are kept by the town’s custodian of public records – the Town Administrator, in Ashfield’s case.

DeHerdt also addressed the question of what constitutes a public record, saying that routine administrative matters such as discussions of when a meeting is scheduled don’t rise to the threshold. It is only when an e-mail contains information that was used by a board or town department in making a decision that it becomes a public record.

Janet Swem also asked about deleted e-mails. She said she often deleted routine requests for matters such as account balances after she had replied to them. Russell said that former officials weren’t required to recreate records that are now gone.

DeHerdt said, “We have been very lax with regard to public documents.” Once people adjust to the new standards, things will be much easier.

DeHerdt will be meeting again with Cranston to clarify what is and is not required so she can send a revised e-mail to former officials.

“The goal here isn’t to give people a hard time,” Russell said.

David King

Reappointments Out in the Open

For the first time in many years, the Select Board will be reappointing town officials – everything from Town Administrator to Field Driver -- out in the open.

Town Administrative Offices Liaison Norm Russell said on Wednesday night that Town Administrator Maryellen Cranston had received several e-mails from appointees, asking that they not have to request reappointment. Russell felt it was inappropriate to simply automatically reappoint officials year after year. “For all I know they could have just moved away.”

Board Chair Dave DeHerdt said that, for years, appointments were done en masse by slate, usually at the last minute, but that it was now time to “bring things back out into the light.”

“People didn’t even know we had a Registrar of Voters until we started digging,” DeHerdt said.

Often the officials in question weren’t aware they’d been reappointed. Board Member Doug Field said that he had been appointed as Fire Chief 22 years ago on a six-month probation. “Until this day, I didn’t know I was off of it.”

DeHerdt pointed out that being a Select Board member requires a lot of work, and often it was considered easier to simply vote the slate without considering the appointments individually. But he felt that the least the Board could do is to ask appointees to affirm that they actually want the job.

“This is the first year we’ve had a list of reappointments before the day of reappointment,” DeHerdt said.

The reappointments need to be made before the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.

David King

Street Lights Revisited

At last week’s Select Board meeting, Chair Dave DeHerdt asked interested citizens to let him know which street lights they wanted to see on.

At this week’s meeting, Sherry Jourdan recommended that the three lights in Spruce Corner should be left burning. Jourdan, who said she often had to drive the road, explained that all three lights illuminated particularly dangerous points, especially in a heavy fog.

Anne Yuryan suggested that the light by the town beach be kept on to prevent vandalism. This suggestion agreed with Chief Cotton’s recommendation, reported at the 6/2 meeting.

DeHerdt suggested they contact Doug Cranson to arrange for a Boy Scout to raise and lower the flag daily, so they could turn off the light by Town Hall.

DeHerdt recommended that the board visit the Spruce Corner and beach lights to confirm they are necessary. But most Ashfield street lights will definitely be shut off on July 1.

David King

Draft Letter from Select Board on H4687

The Select Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to send the following letter.

To: State Senator Stanley Rosenberg
State Representative Dennis Guyer
State Representative Stephen Kulik
State House, Boston, MA
From: Select Board, Town of Ashfield
Re: H.4687 Wind Energy Siting Reform Act

Dear Senator Rosenberg and Representatives Guyer and Kulik:

Citizens in our town have spoken with the Board regarding H.4687. Some have expressed opposition, others support.

When it comes to H.4687, the Board has two major concerns:

1.) The apparent expedited and top down controlled procedures established by the Act and how it threatens or otherwise impacts local control through the ordinary use of municipal bodies to effect a well reasoned and equitable response to wind energy siting issues;
2.) The rushed manner by which this Act was presented to and passed by the Senate and presented to the House as demonstrated by the lack of hearings before appropriate committees and the absence of any such hearings in Western Massachusetts, the area of the state in which it can be reasonably anticipated that the preponderance of sitings will occur.

So that we may stay abreast of this rapidly developing issue, the Board would appreciate a response regarding our concerns as well as timely updates regarding the procedural progress of the Act.

Sincerely,

R. Dave DeHerdt,
Chair, Ashfield Select Board

Opening Up Town Hall

The Select Board is working hard to open Town Hall for more hours during the week.

In his report as Liaison to Town Administrative Offices, Select Board Member Norm Russell said that he had met with Town Administrator Maryellen Cranston and hopes to meet soon with other town employees prior to the reappointments. Saying he was new to the Board, he then asked for clarification as to whether it was the job of the Select Board and his job as Liaison to meet with town employees to understand what they do and how effectively Town Hall is operating. “Because I didn’t necessarily get that impression.”
Board Chair Dave DeHerdt said, “That’s our job.”
“That’s what we were elected to do?” Russell asked.
“Yes,” the Chair replied.

DeHerdt also said that he was looking at the job descriptions of Town Hall employees to find a way to reorganize the operations so that Town Hall might be open more than two days a week. In particular, he said he is considering the effect of combining the jobs of Town Clerk and Town Administrator, since it was after these two jobs were joined, ostensibly for the sake of efficiency and cost savings, that Town Hall hours were reduced.

He said the Board was trying to figure out what happened and what needed to be changed to both open up Town Hall to the public and get the work done that needs to be done. He also pointed out that there are employees in Town Hall five days a week, but that the offices are open to the public for only two.

Former Town Treasurer Janet Swem asked whether anybody’s hours had actually been reduced in the restructuring that left Town Hall less available to the public. DeHerdt replied that the hours weren’t really reduced, simply reorganized. That was why the board was revisiting the question of organization.

Former Administrative Assistant Priscilla Phelps expressed her frustration that the current town employees don’t work together. She said that, when she worked at Town Hall, the different employees were familiar with one another’s jobs and covered for each other. Even though there were only four employees, they managed to keep Town Hall open four days a week and still get all their work done. She said we now have “closed doors and little cubbyholes” so that everyone does only their own job. “We were public servants, and that’s not happening anymore.”

Former Town Clerk Anne Yuryan also commented that, when she was training with long-time Town Clerk Eleanor Ward, she was taught that they were here to serve the public. She agreed that that doesn’t seem to be happening any more.

Suzanne Corbett also complained of Town Hall employees spreading private information through town, citing an occasion when she visited Town Hall for a form and learned by the time she got home that an e-mail about her visit was circulating on the internet.

Ricki Carroll suggested that the town look into bringing in volunteers to do basic services such as handing out forms. But Karen Sullivan said that she had once tried to volunteer and was told by Assessor’s Clerk Faye Whitney-Lussier that it was too much work to train somebody. “That’s an attitude that has to change if anyone is to volunteer,” she said.

DeHerdt said, “We have a job in front of us.”

David King

Chief Against Nunez Reappointment

At last night’s Select Board meeting, Interim Police Chief John Cotton recommended that Sergeant Kristina Nunez not be reappointed to the Ashfield Police Department, since she is “difficult to work with.”

At the annual town meeting in May, voters eliminated the sergeant’s position in favor of a full-time chief and 30 hours of reserve officer time, to be divided among four reserve officers. But Cotton’s recommendation, if followed, would mean that Nunez would not be eligible for any of the reserve officer positions.

Cotton cited numerous instances where Sergeant Nunez displayed “poor decision making skills.” The first occurred just after he took office in March, when she requested five days of personal time. When the chief checked with the Town Administrator, he found that she did not have the time accrued.

Cotton went on to say that, twice since then, Sergeant Nunez misinformed him on the time of important events. In one case, the misinformation nearly left the town’s Memorial Day Parade unprotected. (See “Chief Cotton to the Rescue,” reported here earlier this month.) Cotton said that, when he asked Nunez how she had gotten the time of the parade wrong, she told him “she was just winging it because she would not be involved” and that he should have asked someone else.

The other was a meeting at Sanderson Academy regarding security following the problems in police staffing at the Special Election held there in January. Nunez informed Cotton that the meeting was at 7:30 p.m. and that he didn’t have to attend. Cotton showed up at 7:15 p.m. to find the meeting in full swing with Nunez already present.

He then cited a major security breech, when Nunez left the cruiser key ring unattended on the ground in the unsecured parking lot of the Highway Department. (See “Have Keys Will Travel” and “The Great Cruiser Keys Caper” in the February archives of this blog.) This ring contained not only the keys to the cruiser, but keys to the town garage fuel pumps, Town Hall, the Police Department offices, and the Knox Boxes that allow the keyholder free access to a number of homes and business in Ashfield.

“We were fortunate,” Cotton said, “that a town citizen saw the keys, secured them, and turned them over to the Select Board in a timely manner.”

Nunez’s care of the town’s cruisers also came under fire. When Cotton took office in March, he found that Nunez, the highest ranking officer in the department since John Svoboda’s suspension last summer, had allowed the registration on the Explorer and inspections on both cruisers to lapse.

Then, after the Explorer was finally reregistered, Cotton entrusted its inspection to Nunez. Four weeks after the registration, Cotton took the vehicle in himself. He also ordered Nunez to replace the studded snow tires in the Taurus by May 1, in accordance with state law. By May 7, this had not yet been done, so Cotton took care of the matter himself.

Select Board Member Norm Russell asked if the cruisers were being used during this time and was told that they were being regularly used for patrols, including traffic stops, despite their illegal status.

Cotton reported that the handling of the cruisers was part of a pattern of poor follow-through on assigned tasks. After the security problems during the Special Election in January, then Police Liaison Ted Murray had asked Nunez for a report on what had happened. That report was not completed until April.

Shortly after taking office, Cotton found that one of the department’s firearms was missing. He ordered Nunez to report it as stolen in a nationwide computer system. When she had not done so some months later, he asked why and was told that it was a “very low priority on her list of things to do.” When he informed her that it was now at the top of her priorities list, she questioned his authority to do so.

Cotton said he often receives e-mails from an iphone at two or three in the morning, saying that Nunez will not be on time the following day. Even simple things like unpacking the department’s new fax machine took several weeks, and Cotton eventually had to do it himself.

When Board Chair Dave DeHerdt asked how Nunez spent her time on duty, according to her logs, Cotton said that it was hard to tell, but that the logs contained a lot of security checks on town residences. He acknowledged the importance of security checks but said that reporting a stolen firearm was even more important.

Cotton did highlight Nunez’s strengths, such as her extensive knowledge regarding domestic violence and familiarity with the court system. He said she is skilled at clerical work, knows the department’s computer system, and is aware of grant opportunities available to the town. She is also familiar with the Massachusetts General Laws. He commended her involvement in the Triad program and the talks she gives at Sanderson Academy on matters such as bicycle safety.

But on the whole, Cotton felt that he could not recommend her reappointment.

Cotton did recommend the reappointment of Officer Jarek Konopko, citing Konopko’s punctuality, dedication, and willingness to learn. “I think he’s an asset to the police department,” Cotton said.

David King

Ashfield Website Goes Live

Ashfield's official website is now live and chock full of information about the town and all its functions. Check it out at http://ashfield.org.

Up for Re-Appointment Before July 1

Ag Commission (3 year)
Robyn Crowningshield
Nancy Garvin (associate)
Joel Arsenault

Conservation Commission (3 year)
Lester Garvin

Zoning Board of Appeals (1year)
Anne Yuryan, Associate

Historical Commission (3 year)
Mollie Babize
Gerard McGovern
Steve Gougeon

Town Administrator (1 year)
Maryellen Cranston

Municipal Town Clerk/Treasurer (3 year)
Maryellen Cranston

Assistant Municipal Town Clerk (1 year)
Nancy Dunne

Town Collector/Assistant Treasurer (3 year)
Laura Blakesley

Registrar of Voters (1 year)
Nancy Intres

Registrar of Voters (2 year)
Susan Gambino

Emergency Manager (1 year)
Doug Field

Fire Chief (1 year)
Del Haskins

Fire Department (1 year)
Asst Chief Alan Taylor
Captain Mark Hurley
Captain Bryan Mollison
Lt. Matt Haskins
Lt Michael Purcell
Doug Field
Deb Craven
Angela McCartney
Bill Burnett
Alan Surprenant
Donna Sarro
Doug Mollison
Tiertza Schwartz
Jeffery Dufresne
Susan Urquhart
Kyle Walker
Kyle Meservey
Damion Mccartney
Lisa Bolognani
Geoff Roske
Sue Roske
Andre' Chapet
Jacob Niquette
Sunil Leue
Joey Teller
Lynn Taylor
Penny Mollison

Aux List
Jo Burnett
Fred Howes
John Svoboda
Walt Craven
Karen Haskins
Dianne Field

Police
Kristina Nunez
Jarek Konopko

Auxiliary
Elizabeth Lesure
Walter Zalenski

Animal Control Officer
Warren Kirkpatrick

Fence Viewers
Alden Gray

Field Drivers
Roland Townsley
David King

Surveyor of Wood and Lumber
Ramon Sears

Town Hall Bulletin Board

Agricultural Commission 6/8 @ 8pm
Select Board 6/9 @ 7pm
Ashfield History Project 6/9 @ 7pm
Conservation Commission 6/9 @ 7:30pm
Police Chief Search Committee 6/10, 6/17, 6/24 @ 7:30pm
Belding Library Trustees 6/14 @ 7:30pm
Board of Health 6/15 @ 7pm
Board of Assessors 6/15 @ 7pm
Planning Board 6/16 @ 7:30pm
Park Commission 6/22 @ 9am

Scheduled, Not Yet Posted:
Select Board 6/16, 6/23 @ 7pm
Special Town Meeting 6/30 @ 7pm

Amended Select Board Agenda

TOWN OF ASHFIELD SELECT BOARD
MEETING AGENDA (preliminary and subject to change)
June 9, 2010

1. MINUTES
• open meeting minutes from June 2, 2010
• executive session minutes from June 2, 2010

2. APPOINTMENTS
• Senior Center Task Force at (7:00)
• Nan Parati (7:30)
• Interim Police Chief (7:45)

3. LIAISON REPORTS
• Emergency Services (Dave)
• Highway Department (Doug)
• Emergency Manager (Doug)
• Town Administrative Offices (Norm)
• Town Hall Committee (Norm)
• Police Chief Search Committee (Doug)
• Other Boards & Committees (Doug)
• Franklin Regional Council of Governments (Dave)

4. OLD BUSINESS
• Senior Center Strategic Plan Implementation
• Legal opinion Letter from Town Counsel
• Windmill Siting Letter
• STM Warrant Items
• FRCOG Joint Police Chief Study
• Scope of retroactive application of GL 66 Section 14 (Public records turnover/oath requirement)

5. MAIL

6. NEW BUSINESS
• Reappointments for FY 2011 preliminary discussion/review
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)

7. VOTES/SIGNATURES
• Northampton Cycling Club (sent to Police and Fire for review on 6/2)
• Street Light (vote to turn off remaining street lights or place on STM Warrant for funding).
• Appointment of Paullette Leukhardt to Website Committee

8. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
• Select Board Meeting – June 16 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Select Board Meeting – June 23 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Special Town Meeting -- June 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

9. PUBLIC FORUM

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
• To Discuss potential Litigation

Select Board Agenda for Wednesday

TOWN OF ASHFIELD SELECT BOARD
MEETING AGENDA (preliminary and subject to change)
June 9, 2010

1. MINUTES
• open meeting minutes from June 2, 2010
• executive session minutes from June 2, 2010

2. APPOINTMENTS
• Senior Center Task Force at (7:00)
• Nan Parati (7:30)
• Interim Police Chief (7:45)

3. LIAISON REPORTS
• Emergency Services (Dave)
• Highway Department (Doug)
• Emergency Manager (Doug)
• Town Administrative Offices (Norm)
• Town Hall Committee (Norm)
• Police Chief Search Committee (Doug)
• Other Boards & Committees (Doug)
• Franklin Regional Council of Governments (Dave)

4. OLD BUSINESS
• Senior Center Strategic Plan Implementation
• Legal opinion Letter from Town Counsel
• Windmill Siting Letter
• STM Warrant Items

5. MAIL

6. NEW BUSINESS
• Reappointments for FY 2011 preliminary discussion/review
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)

7. VOTES/SIGNATURES
• Northampton Cycling Club (sent to Police and Fire for review on 6/2)

8. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
• Select Board Meeting – June 16 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Select Board Meeting – June 23 @ 7:00 p.m.
• Special Town Meeting -- June 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

9. PUBLIC FORUM

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
• To Discuss potential Litigation

Maytag Dishwasher Recall

Please see the website listed below to find out whether or not your dishwasher is on the list of those being recalled.

Maytag dishwasher recall 2010 has been posted on the www.maytag.com website.

The recall is due to reports of dishwasher heating element problems resulting in fires.

Paullette Leukhardt

Home Rule and Wind Power

It was reported on this blog that Andy Wells recommended that the Select Board formally oppose state bill H.4687, the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act, which trumps local zoning control of placement of turbines. Paul Swem replied that this was a "NIMBY" response to a greater good and that opposing it did not necessarily represent the will of the people. For the Select Board to oppose the legislation could even be illegal, Paul suggested.

Andy has experience with wind farm installations and has been involved with reform of turbine projects in other parts of the state that are sited too close to homes or that damage the environment. I'm a friend and neighbor of Andy's and I also share his cautious attitude. As a clean, renewable resource, wind is an attractive energy solution. But just the same, there's very good reason to be worried about a turbine in your backyard -- pejorative term aside. But to that issue in a moment.

What is at issue in front of the Select Board is relinquishing local zoning control. Home rule is a much treasured part of our Massachusetts town governments and any town should naturally be wary of losing local control and deferring to the state, which could mandate against the town's best interests. The law overrides town regulations on placement of industrial wind turbines as well as associated roads and transmission lines.

It is natural for the Select Board to oppose such power grabs regardless of opinions on wind farms. Furthermore, we elect the Select Board to represent us and expect the board to do their duty and take actions on behalf of the town -- including voicing dissent regarding proposed state legislation, which is legal and appropriate.

Now all that said, modern wind turbines are indeed a very big deal that we all should be worried about. Money, politics, and a poorly regulated industry combine to cast a pall over the expansion of wind energy into western Massachusetts. There is significant monetary incentives for developers and landowners to build turbines and this money is what is partly behind the legislative push for a law to expedite wind farms and it also is encouraging proposed turbine sites in less than ideal locations such as Ashfield. Furthermore, there is a major political effort in Boston to build thousands of new wind turbines in the state -- not much around Boston, of course, but on the coast and the western part of the state -- regions where small populations have little impact on legislative decisions. This new legislation will further erode our regional and local strength. Lastly, the wind energy industry is currently poorly regulated with respect to the impacts of turbines. We can have faith that the state will do the right thing and through this bill establish environmental regulations for wind turbines (as yet to be determined) that are appropriate across the commonwealth. We can hope that allowed exemptions to environmental safeguards will be in the best interests of all. Or we can take pause and worry that significant commercial and political interests will shape the use of wind energy in ways that will negatively impact our town's character, our property values, and well-being.

A decade ago many Ashfield residents were opposed to the construction of telecommunication towers. While that concern might have abated over time, I suspect that almost everyone still would object to a tower built, say, beside Ashfield Lake Beach or on the town common. Similarly, many would probably object to 200 foot turbines looming over our town center and pulsing light and noise 24 hours a day. All are extreme examples that would never likely come to pass, but this is exactly why we have local control of planning and zoning: to ensure that those things we value -- low noise and light, good health, an attractive, peaceful and sustainable community -- are maintained. And those values are all part of the total environmental equation.

I'm sure that all of us acknowledge the importance of energy independence and clean energy production, but that doesn't mean that all solutions regardless of impact are appropriate. I particularly resent the implication that challenging wind turbine plans is inappropriately sowing discontent at a time when the town should be healing from past disagreements. To question the placement of wind turbines and to resist relinquishing zoning authority to the state is part of wise and thoughtful self-government. I hope that all of the turbines that will be proposed in Ashfield will be adequately set back from residences to eliminate health concerns, minimize annoyances, and preserve our beautiful landscape. I suspect that there are appropriate locations to achieve these aims even in Ashfield, but I'm not naive enough to expect the state and developers to just get it right. Diligence is our responsibility.

David Kulp

Barbara Zalenski Recuperating

Barbara Zalenski is recovering at the Buckley Healthcare Center in Greenfield and would love to hear from her friends and neighbors. Her address is Barbara Zalenski, Buckley Healthcare Center, Room 316, 95 Laurel Street, Greenfield, MA 01301.

Grace Lesure

What Price Accessibility?

The plans to make Town Hall handicapped accessible again are taking shape.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Select Board member Norm Russell, liaison to the Town Hall Building Committee, reported that the committee now has at least a rough idea of the cost of bringing the Town Hall up to code. He said the cost will run to “thousands of dollars rather than tens of thousands.”

According to Russell, the committee is trying to create enough space to pull a van up to Town Hall for unloading. This may mean moving the flagpole, though only a few feet. The committee is also looking into moving the Police Department to the new town garage, to open up more space for offices in Town Hall.

One move the committee is not considering is a way to make the upstairs stage handicapped accessible. The cost of a lift from the floor to the stage level would run tens of thousands of dollars.

David King

Lights Out for Ashfield?

At next Wednesday’s meeting, the Select Board will be voting on whether or not to shut off the town’s remaining streetlights. Select Board Chair Dave DeHerdt has invited any interested citizens to come and express their views.

Ricki Carroll of Main Street brought material to last night’s meeting showing that light pollution interferes with melatonin production. She also complained of lights shining in her windows at night.

According to DeHerdt, Police Chief John Cotton has said that the only lights he sees a need for would be at places such as the beach, where young people might congregate at night. Lights at such locations would allow patrolling officers to see immediately if anything is amiss.

When asked about funding for the lights, DeHerdt explained that, if the Board votes to keep the lights on, the town will have to appropriate the necessary funds at a special town meeting. Funding for the street lights was not included in the budget approved at May’s Annual Town Meeting.

Board Member Doug Field explained that at least one light will remain on. The town is required by law to illuminate the American flag flying in front of Town Hall.

David King

Layoff at the Highway Department

As of July 1, the Highway Department will be losing an employee.

At Wednesday’s Select Board meeting, Chair Dave DeHerdt reported that Highway Superintentent Tom Poissant has made the personnel cut mandated by the town at May’s annual town meeting. John LaBelle, the department employee with the least seniority, has been informed that he will be laid off as of July 1.

David King

Ashfield.org Good to Go Soon

The long-awaited Ashfield website, www.ashfield.org, (link not yet available) will be ready to go live within “a week or two,” according to Juliet Jacobson, chair of the Website Committee.

The site, as Jacobson showed the Select Board on Wednesday evening, will contain a wealth of information about Ashfield. You will be able to find meeting times (neatly organized on a calendar page), hours of operation for various town departments, and contact information for town officials. You’ll be able to download forms for anything from burn permits to dog licenses, or view the minutes of town board meetings. You can even find maps of hiking trails around town.

The Town Clerk will use the site to post warrants for the annual town meeting and special town meetings. The Police Chief Search Committee will even use the site to post the chief’s job description and application forms.

The site will also include links to various Ashfield organizations, such as the Belding Memorial Library, the Ashfield Historical Society or the Ashfield Town Common blog. Ashfield businesses are encouraged to submit links to their websites as well.

Jacobson stressed that the site, though “launchable,” is not finished. The committee is still seeking information from some town departments. Once the site is up, they will also invite feedback from the public – anything you would like to see, or see improved, on the site, please let them know.

The Select Board voted unanimously for the committee to go ahead with the launching of the site. The link will be provided here as soon as the site goes live.

David King

Wind Power Revisited

It seems that Ashfield may be officially opposing H. 4687, the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act. The bill, currently coming for a vote before the Massachusetts House of Representatives, would fast-track wind energy projects by giving the state the authority to override local planning and zoning boards.

At last week’s meeting, Andrew Wells of Bailey road asked the Select Board to craft a letter opposing the bill. At tonight’s meeting, Wells and Lauren Preston Wells spoke against the bill, arguing that they support wind power but feel the bill unfairly robs towns of local control.

Speaking as a concerned resident rather than a blog reporter, I suggested that some residents feel strongly in favor of the bill. If the Select Board opposes the bill, they will not be speaking for all of Ashfield’s citizens.

Select Board chair Dave DeHerdt asked board member Norm Russell to craft a letter based on what he had heard this evening. The letter will be presented for a vote at next week’s board meeting. The public are invited to attend and voice their opinions on the matter.

The full text of H. 4687 is available here.

A representative of Clear Sky Energy, LLC, the wind development company interested in development here in Ashfield, will be present at the June 16 Select Board meeting.

David King

Chief Cotton to the Rescue

A snafu in the police department nearly left the Memorial Day parade unprotected. “Fortunately,” said Select Board Chair Dave DeHerdt, “Chief Cotton was on hand.”

In his police liaison report at tonight’s Select Board meeting, DeHerdt explained what happened. Cotton had asked Sergeant Kristina Nunez when the Memorial Day parade was scheduled to take place and was told it was at noon. Accordingly, Cotton arranged to have Officer Jarek Konopko on duty by 11 a.m.

Then the chief found that the parade was actually scheduled for 10 a.m. When he was unable to reach Konopko, Cotton arranged to have the fire department help him manage traffic to keep the parade safe. DeHerdt credited Konopko for showing up promptly at 11 a.m.

DeHerdt also reported that Cotton will appear before the Select Board next week to present his recommendations for which officers to reappoint to the police department for the new fiscal year, beginning on July 1. At the same meeting, he will be presenting preliminary designs for both a uniform patch and a paint scheme for the cruisers. The new designs will more clearly distinguish Ashfield police officers from State Police officers.

David King