Nicole Daviau started Tuesday as the new librarian at Porter Memorial Library in Blandford. (Photo by Amy Porter)
BLANDFORD – At Tuesday’s meeting, Town Clerk Mary Kronholm introduced the new librarian for Porter Memorial Library to the Board of Selectmen. Nicole Daviau, a lifetime resident of Blandford, also serves as the assistant librarian at Gateway Regional.
“This was my childhood library,” Daviau said about Porter Memorial Library. Tuesday was her first day.
Selectmen Eric McVey and William Levakis reviewed a revised social media policy for town officials. Selectmen chairperson Cara Letendre was absent. McVey said the policy applies to all elected officials, and appointed committee members and officials.
“If you say stuff on social media, it is very hard to discern whether you’re saying it as an individual or as a representative of the town,” McVey said. Levakis suggested distributing the policy to all heads of departments.
Town administrator Joshua Garcia said the policy only addresses individual postings, and doesn’t mention town and department pages. He said he would like to add those sections. The board agreed to post the policy, and add the sections later.
Garcia also said that he and Kronholm were making a list of all town-wide appointed positions, in order to update them for vacancies, expired and inactive members. “Once we get a handle on where we are, we will prepare a press release on open positions,” Garcia said.
The selectmen, in a joint meeting with the Conservation Commission and Planning Board, also heard from several residents seeking redress from the town. Thomas and Rayette McMann of Herrick Road said their neighbors, who are selling their home, have described it as having a motocross track.
”There are no authorized motocross tracks in town,” Thomas McMann said, adding that motocross has to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act pertaining to noise. He said tracks must have engineering and site plans, and be high enough above neighbors and have walls to deflect noise. “They’re below our barns,” McMann said.
McVey said if someone wants to have their kids ride around on their property that’s one thing, but if it’s to be used for motocross events; that needs authorization. “The bigger thing is truth in advertising. The seller shouldn’t be advertising an authorized motocross track,” he said.
McMann said they had previously spoken to the neighbors, and agreed on a time on Thursday nights for them to use the track; but that it has extended to Saturday and Sunday nights. He said his concern in advertising is if someone buys it who might think it’s an authorized track. “My land value will diminish,” he said.
McMann asked the Board of Selectmen if they would write a simple, informative letter saying that it’s been brought to your attention. “We’re asking the town to take this simple initiative,” he said. He said his neighbors recently brought in bulldozers and built a two-mile track.
“I agree with you that before they built anything like that, it should have been permitted,” Levakis said.
“I’m tired of the noise,” Rayette McMann said, adding that her neighbors across the street have now said they want to build a motocross track behind their home. “As a former teacher, I don’t want to dampen any kids’ recreation,” she said, but said the town should offer basketball and baseball, and she would volunteer to help, having played basketball. “We don’t want to take, we want to give. I truly believe Blandford doesn’t want motocross,” she said.
McVey said it’s a dispute between two landowners, but steps into advertising. He said the letter would have to go to the landowner and the realtor. He agreed to consult with the Blandford Town Counsel before writing the letter.
Another issue brought to the board was from Stefanie and Matthew McGinty regarding the Sun Pin Solar Project on Otis Stage Road (Route 23) that abuts the land where they are planning to build a home. The solar project has received approval from the Planning Board.
Stefanie McGinty said they’re not opposed to it, but are concerned about the wetlands on the property.
Matthew McGinty said they had initially planned for a driveway on that side of their property, but were told by the Conservation Commission that it was on wetlands. He said they spent tens of thousands of dollars to re-perc their other lot, move the house plan and create a second curb cut. “We’ve always been told that it was a wetland,” he said.
Now he said the solar company put in a driveway on that side which will cross their property, and has damaged their lawn. McGinty said they tried to be proactive with the solar company and request a 150 foot buffer, but were told “no.” Since then, the McGintys have hired an outside company and also spoken to a MassDOT representative, who has authority over Route 23, and both said the area was wetlands.
McGinty said he also learned that Sun Pin never had a survey done for the solar panels.
Levakis said that solar companies have to put up a bond, and if they’re causing damage to the property, they could seek damages from the bond. Kronholm added that the Planning Board hearing was on Sept. 20, and the thirty day window for appeal ends on Oct. 15.
McVey suggested they file an appeal of the Planning Board decision for a proper buffer, and a claim for damages from the town. He said the Planning Board asked for a 100-foot buffer from the panels in the rear, which should apply to all abutters.
McGinty said there was another step the company skipped besides the surveyor. He said they already had a driveway and a curb cut for logging over the summer, which is considered an alternative assessment.
“We want to deem this wetlands. We don’t want a pond in our yard to back up,” McGinty said, adding, “We just want a fair standard applied.”
