I want to tell Chief John Cotton thank you for being the officer on duty during the 2010 Ashfield Memorial Day parade. I am aware that Chief Cotton was the sole representative of the Ashfield Police Department. He managed the traffic and ensured the safety of all participants and bystanders.
For the past 16 years or so (that I have memory of) there has always been this wonderful parade during the morning of Memorial Day. Many times there has been a band from the local school district and always there have been tributes expressed for the soldiers of the many wars, all being remembered at the Plains cemetery.
Chief Cotton, thank you for joining us on this day for Ashfield’s annual parade event. Your help and assistance was very much appreciated.
Paullette Leukhardt
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Some Thoughts on Ashfield and Wind Power
To The Moderator, Ashfield Town Common,
And……
To our citizens, one and all:
Regarding a very recent blog post entitled:
~ Maybe in Our Backyard?
~ Could wind energy be coming to Ashfield?
The simple answer that jumps to my mind is: probably not. And let me add, sadly not.
Energy related matters have a perverse way of dividing the most civil of citizens. Local, regional, and national polls consistently show that large majorities of citizens feel we should:
- use less energy;
- develop energy sources that lead to less dependence on foreign oil;
- depend more on clean, renewable sources of energy rather than fossil fuels;
- and on, and on, and on.
Following quickly on the heels of any such poll come concrete initiatives to deal with the issues enumerated above. And sadly, all too often NIMBY comes racing out of the closet to strike at the hearts and minds of all who want to effect change.
After reading about Mr. Well’s appeal in David King’s post, I just had to hit the internet. As is often the case, I ended up on Wikipedia, wondering if there was a NIMBY entry. Indeed – read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY. From there, I went on to Google the issue of wind farms and found a powerful read from Change.org. Give it a look-see here: http://environment.change.org/blog/view/nimbyism_vs_wind_energy_battle_continues.
I stand opposed to NIMBY stances that citizens often take when the good of the public is subjugated to the desires of a few. In addition, and with equal fervor, I also stand opposed to our town, by way of its Selectboard, taking a formal stand on the matter of a wind farm. In my humble opinion, we are not nearly ready to take on any issue that has the power to pit one citizen against another – no matter how important, no matter how seemingly benign. Ashfield has come through a particularly tough year. Our wounds are still too deep, our nerves still too frazzled, our Selectboard still too young as a working team to tackle such a potentially divisive issue as the development of a wind farm.
I don’t think there is any doubt that we have all moved forward, and progress continues to be made. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that lawsuits (plural) remain to be settled, lost emails have yet to be recovered, and wounds beg for time to heal.
The issue before us, as outlined in Mr. Wells' appeal, is to have the Selectboard formally take a stand in opposition to H. 4687. I would suggest that in doing so, the Selectboard would need a full measure of finesse, a gallon of luck, a bit of legal advice, and the wisdom of Solomon tossed in for good measure. I feel the costs associated with drafting such a potentially divisive letter are simply too great a burden to bear for our town in the sensitive state we are still in.
Are there alternatives? Indeed there are. A phone call to our State Representative costs nothing but time. A letter penned to that Representative costs a mere 44 cents in postage. Another venue for individual opinions are the editorial pages of our three local and regional newspapers. Why not start there? Let all our voices and opinions be heard! And in fairness to the Selectboard, let’s not burden them with the task of attempting to frame an opinion that will need to speak for all of the citizens they were elected to represent.
Paul Swem
Baptist Corner Road
And……
To our citizens, one and all:
Regarding a very recent blog post entitled:
~ Maybe in Our Backyard?
~ Could wind energy be coming to Ashfield?
The simple answer that jumps to my mind is: probably not. And let me add, sadly not.
Energy related matters have a perverse way of dividing the most civil of citizens. Local, regional, and national polls consistently show that large majorities of citizens feel we should:
- use less energy;
- develop energy sources that lead to less dependence on foreign oil;
- depend more on clean, renewable sources of energy rather than fossil fuels;
- and on, and on, and on.
Following quickly on the heels of any such poll come concrete initiatives to deal with the issues enumerated above. And sadly, all too often NIMBY comes racing out of the closet to strike at the hearts and minds of all who want to effect change.
After reading about Mr. Well’s appeal in David King’s post, I just had to hit the internet. As is often the case, I ended up on Wikipedia, wondering if there was a NIMBY entry. Indeed – read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY. From there, I went on to Google the issue of wind farms and found a powerful read from Change.org. Give it a look-see here: http://environment.change.org/blog/view/nimbyism_vs_wind_energy_battle_continues.
I stand opposed to NIMBY stances that citizens often take when the good of the public is subjugated to the desires of a few. In addition, and with equal fervor, I also stand opposed to our town, by way of its Selectboard, taking a formal stand on the matter of a wind farm. In my humble opinion, we are not nearly ready to take on any issue that has the power to pit one citizen against another – no matter how important, no matter how seemingly benign. Ashfield has come through a particularly tough year. Our wounds are still too deep, our nerves still too frazzled, our Selectboard still too young as a working team to tackle such a potentially divisive issue as the development of a wind farm.
I don’t think there is any doubt that we have all moved forward, and progress continues to be made. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that lawsuits (plural) remain to be settled, lost emails have yet to be recovered, and wounds beg for time to heal.
The issue before us, as outlined in Mr. Wells' appeal, is to have the Selectboard formally take a stand in opposition to H. 4687. I would suggest that in doing so, the Selectboard would need a full measure of finesse, a gallon of luck, a bit of legal advice, and the wisdom of Solomon tossed in for good measure. I feel the costs associated with drafting such a potentially divisive letter are simply too great a burden to bear for our town in the sensitive state we are still in.
Are there alternatives? Indeed there are. A phone call to our State Representative costs nothing but time. A letter penned to that Representative costs a mere 44 cents in postage. Another venue for individual opinions are the editorial pages of our three local and regional newspapers. Why not start there? Let all our voices and opinions be heard! And in fairness to the Selectboard, let’s not burden them with the task of attempting to frame an opinion that will need to speak for all of the citizens they were elected to represent.
Paul Swem
Baptist Corner Road
Friday, May 28, 2010
Maybe in Our Backyard?
Could wind energy be coming to Ashfield?
Resident Andrew Wells, of Bailey Road, appeared before the Select Board yesterday morning to encourage them to craft a letter opposing a bill that is soon coming up for vote in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Wells said that H.4687, the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act, would allow the state to override local laws regarding the siting of wind turbines. The act also limits a town’s ability to appeal state decisions.
Wells also said that there is a wind developer looking into leasing property on Ridge Hill for wind development.
Select Board member Norm Russell agreed to look into the matter and craft a letter that will be discussed at the next Select Board meeting.
David King
Resident Andrew Wells, of Bailey Road, appeared before the Select Board yesterday morning to encourage them to craft a letter opposing a bill that is soon coming up for vote in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Wells said that H.4687, the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act, would allow the state to override local laws regarding the siting of wind turbines. The act also limits a town’s ability to appeal state decisions.
Wells also said that there is a wind developer looking into leasing property on Ridge Hill for wind development.
Select Board member Norm Russell agreed to look into the matter and craft a letter that will be discussed at the next Select Board meeting.
David King
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Park Plans Pass Muster
The State Attorney General’s office has approved the work being done on the Belding Memorial Park.
Assistant Attorney General Kerry Kosla met this morning with the Select Board, Highway Superintendant Tom Poissant, and Park Commission Chair Nina Coler to review the work that has been done on the park thus far and the plans for completion of the restoration project.
Milo Belding willed the land to the town for use as a public park in the 1920’s. For many decades, the town used the two buildings on the land to house the town’s Highway Department. Now that the new highway garage has been built on Cape Street, the town is restoring the land for use as a park according to the terms of Belding’s deed.
Much of the restoration work has been done by the Highway Department. Last year, the area below the two structures was graded and the hillside seeded in rye to prevent erosion.
Park Commissioner Nina Coler presented Ms. Kosla with the Commission’s plans for the remainder of the restoration. She then took Ms. Kosla, the board, and several interested spectators on a tour of the land and buildings.
The plans Coler presented envision two possible scenarios. In both, the flat land below the hillside will be further graded, covered in clean fill, and seeded, at a total cost of $23,400. An additional $5000 is set aside in both plans for trees to screen the property from neighboring lots, plus a few specimen trees. Both plans also include $23,500 for repairs to the historic post-and-beam hay barn and $3,600 to paint both structures.
The two plans differ on the fate of the enclosed four-bay shed built in the 1920s and expanded in the 1950s. In one, the back three bays of the shed – the oldest and least structurally sound – will be converted into an open pavilion overlooking the park at a cost of $43,400. In the other, the back three bays will be simply demolished at a cost of $7,720. Ms. Coler reported that she will be meeting with a structural engineer tomorrow to see whether the back three bays can be salvaged. She also said that, if the current shed building can’t be salvaged, she hopes the town will build a pavilion, with public restrooms, on the site, though such a building is not required to fulfill the terms of the Belding deed.
Kosla asked Poissant about a timeline for the completion of the grading work. He replied that he hoped to have it finished by fall, though it depended heavily on the weather. The work done so far was scheduled for last summer but had to be put off until last fall because of heavy rain throughout the summer.
In the end, Kosla said that the Attorney General’s office is satisfied with the progress so far and with the plans for the future. The AG’s office is supervising the work, having found, many years ago, that the use of the park for a town garage was in violation of the Belding deed.
David King
Assistant Attorney General Kerry Kosla met this morning with the Select Board, Highway Superintendant Tom Poissant, and Park Commission Chair Nina Coler to review the work that has been done on the park thus far and the plans for completion of the restoration project.
Milo Belding willed the land to the town for use as a public park in the 1920’s. For many decades, the town used the two buildings on the land to house the town’s Highway Department. Now that the new highway garage has been built on Cape Street, the town is restoring the land for use as a park according to the terms of Belding’s deed.
Much of the restoration work has been done by the Highway Department. Last year, the area below the two structures was graded and the hillside seeded in rye to prevent erosion.
Park Commissioner Nina Coler presented Ms. Kosla with the Commission’s plans for the remainder of the restoration. She then took Ms. Kosla, the board, and several interested spectators on a tour of the land and buildings.
The plans Coler presented envision two possible scenarios. In both, the flat land below the hillside will be further graded, covered in clean fill, and seeded, at a total cost of $23,400. An additional $5000 is set aside in both plans for trees to screen the property from neighboring lots, plus a few specimen trees. Both plans also include $23,500 for repairs to the historic post-and-beam hay barn and $3,600 to paint both structures.
The two plans differ on the fate of the enclosed four-bay shed built in the 1920s and expanded in the 1950s. In one, the back three bays of the shed – the oldest and least structurally sound – will be converted into an open pavilion overlooking the park at a cost of $43,400. In the other, the back three bays will be simply demolished at a cost of $7,720. Ms. Coler reported that she will be meeting with a structural engineer tomorrow to see whether the back three bays can be salvaged. She also said that, if the current shed building can’t be salvaged, she hopes the town will build a pavilion, with public restrooms, on the site, though such a building is not required to fulfill the terms of the Belding deed.
Kosla asked Poissant about a timeline for the completion of the grading work. He replied that he hoped to have it finished by fall, though it depended heavily on the weather. The work done so far was scheduled for last summer but had to be put off until last fall because of heavy rain throughout the summer.
In the end, Kosla said that the Attorney General’s office is satisfied with the progress so far and with the plans for the future. The AG’s office is supervising the work, having found, many years ago, that the use of the park for a town garage was in violation of the Belding deed.
David King
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Agenda for Morning Select Board Meeting
TOWN OF ASHFIELD SELECT BOARD
MEETING AGENDA (preliminary and subject to change)
Thursday, May 27, 2010 @ 11:00 a.m.
1. VOTES/SIGNATURES
Fire Truck Grant commitment for Town 5% contribution
2. APPOINTMENTS
Belding Park View with Park Commissioner, Highway Super, Town Counsel and Assistant Attorney General
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION
If needed.
MEETING AGENDA (preliminary and subject to change)
Thursday, May 27, 2010 @ 11:00 a.m.
1. VOTES/SIGNATURES
Fire Truck Grant commitment for Town 5% contribution
2. APPOINTMENTS
Belding Park View with Park Commissioner, Highway Super, Town Counsel and Assistant Attorney General
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION
If needed.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Exhibit Opening Thursday
World War II Veterans Voices, an exhibit produced by Jacqueline Cooper, opens Thursday evening at the Senior Center, 7 Main Street, in Shelburne Falls. A preview from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, will feature signing of the the exhibit prints by local veterans, 1940's music, and refreshments.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Town Hall Bulletin Board
Board of Assessors Tue. 5/25 @ 7pm
Park Commission Tue. 5/25 @ 9am
Conservation Commission Wed. 5/26 @ 7:30pm
Select Board Thu. 5/27 @ 11 am
Park Commission Thu. 5/27 @ 11 am
Historical Commission Thu. 5/27 @ 7:30pm
Senior Citizen Task Force, Thu. 5/27 @ 4pm
Board of Health, Tue. 6/1 @ 7pm, public hearing,
Private Well Regulations Updated
Select Board Wed. 6/2 @ 7pm
Ashfield History Project, Wed. 6/2 @ 7pm
Planning Board Wed. 6/2 @ 7:30pm
Belding Library Trustees Mon. 6/14 @ 7:30pm
Board of Health Tue. 6/15 @ 7pm
Park Commission Tue. 5/25 @ 9am
Conservation Commission Wed. 5/26 @ 7:30pm
Select Board Thu. 5/27 @ 11 am
Park Commission Thu. 5/27 @ 11 am
Historical Commission Thu. 5/27 @ 7:30pm
Senior Citizen Task Force, Thu. 5/27 @ 4pm
Board of Health, Tue. 6/1 @ 7pm, public hearing,
Private Well Regulations Updated
Select Board Wed. 6/2 @ 7pm
Ashfield History Project, Wed. 6/2 @ 7pm
Planning Board Wed. 6/2 @ 7:30pm
Belding Library Trustees Mon. 6/14 @ 7:30pm
Board of Health Tue. 6/15 @ 7pm
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