The Hubbardston Report
January 2020
This Month
January and February bring us Frozen Assets! The 2D outhouse will be located on Williamsville Road at The Country Hen pond starting in the beginning of February. Here we will watch and wait for the ice to thin enough that the outhouse sinks. Closest guess of the actual sink time wins a $300 gift card, 2nd closest guess wins a $150 gift card, 3rd closest guess wins a $75 gift card, and 4th closest guess wins 1 flat of eggs for 8 weeks courtesy of The Country Hen! Good luck to all who submitted their guess forms!
Thank you to our sponsors of Frozen Assets...The Country Hen, Broberg Insurance, JP McCarthy & Sons, Pirner Logging & Land Clearing, Hands Down Massage Therapy, Proulx Family Financial, Handy Lou’s Home Improvement & Greenland Farm.
January
The FY21 budget process begins in earnest in January when regional assessments and department requests become more clear. The Town Administrator will take these numbers and assemble the year's first budget draft. This draft is then presented to Town Officials on March 3, 2020. Once presented, the budget will move the Finance Committee for additional considerations and be readied for the town's Public Budget Hearing on April 13th. This year's Annual Town Meeting with be held on June 2, 2020.
Grant writing and projects were an executive focus in January with news that Hubbardston received status as a Green and MVP community. Both planning grants will allow town officials to prepare for future challenges to include lowering energy costs and ready for the effects of climate change. The Green Communities Grant, a total of $136,000 in state funds, will allow Town Officials to tackle energy reducing capital projects this spring to include the library boiler, municipal lighting systems throughout town and several projects in the Hubbardston Center School. The MVP grant will assemble a group of Town Officials to update Hubbardston's Hazard Mitigation Plan and assess areas/infrastructure vulnerable to flooding and storm damage. The team will create a report that will receive funding consideration from the state next fall.
Three capital improvement projects continued their progression this month highlighted by a completed Senior Center Kitchen Renovation and substantially completed low-library roof replacement. The Town Administrator is also working closely with town IT consultants to complete computers replacements in the fire, police and DPW departments.
The Town Administrator continued touring Hubbardston businesses with the Economic Development Committee this month, visiting Jahan at Edward Jones Investing and Kelli from Go Green Manufacturing. These informal meetings provide us with great information for addressing challenges faced by existing and new Hubbardston businesses. This information will help shape decisions and recommendations about town bylaws, planning and expenditures.
The Town Administrator recognized this month the DPW for their work around the New Year's holiday, fighting back against a second three day storm. He also recognized Executive Assistant Bobbie Thibault and Town Clerk Laurie Reed for exceeding standards during their first six months in newly assigned and difficult positions. Their work continues to make sure Hubbardston staff is providing efficient and high quality resident services.
This Month
The Senior Book Club met and discussed The Boys in the Boat. The Family Book discussion book this month is Among the Hidden by Margaret Patterson Haddix. Our cube display is set up to show staff book and video recommendations. Chris attended a CWMARS Strategic Planning Focus Group, to offer feedback in where we want CWMARS to be in five years. Chris has also registered for the American Library Association webinars geared towards rural libraries. We have confirmed our spring events, in March we will have a talk on Container Gardens date to be determined, on April 9th a talk on pollinators and on May 7th we will have Mary Vartarasian talk about honey bees. We are also finalizing the Summer 2020 Reading Program event dates. In last year’s survey, more evening hours was the most requested service the recipients asked for, so the Trustees voted to extend our hours. We are now open Tuesday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The annex roof is being repaired to fix the leaks that occur when it rains. In February we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day, and Black History month.
DPW crews completed the following work in January in addition to regularly assigned duties:
- Brush Mowed Mt. Jefferson, New Westminster, Halfrey, Route 62 and Twin Hill Roads
- Up-cut Flagg Road and Hale Road Extension
- Provided continual on-call treatment for icy and snowy conditions
This Month
We continued to collect taxes this month after helping to set the FY20 tax rate. All taxes were due to our office by February 3.
We are continuing to focus on properties in tax title for past tax collection, working with the Town Administrator to develop strategies to improve our collection rates.
Please see the following notice from our office:
The Treasurer/Collector's office is no longer accepting payments at our Fitchburg PO Box. Please forward all real estate and excise tax payments to the following address:
Town of Hubbardston
Attn: Treasurer/Collector
7 Main Street, Unit 10
Hubbardston, MA 01452
January was a busy month in the office with processing census forms and dog licenses. A new voting machine was ordered which will be used starting at the Annual Town Election. A poll pad was also ordered, which will be used during early voting and check in for Annual Town Meeting. I will plan on holding open sessions with the voting machine and poll pad for Residents to come and view the new machines and ask questions prior to the June election.
February will continue to be busy with the upcoming Election. I spent 3 days in training at the Devens Conference Center with the Massachusetts Town Clerk Association. Training focused on the 2020 Elections and the Voter Registration Information System. The Voter Registration deadline for the Presidential Primary is 8pm on Wednesday, February 12th. The office will remain open until 8pm to accept registrations.
Early voting will be held in the Library Basement Offices the week of February 24th with the following hours:
Monday, February 24th - 9am-6pm
Tuesday, February 25th 8am-4pm
Wednesday, February 26th 8am-4pm
Thursday, February 27th 8am-4pm
If you are unable to vote during early voting hours or in person on March 3rd, please contact the Town Clerks office for absentee ballot information.
March will be spent on Elections, with the Presidential Primary scheduled for March 3rd. The polling hours will be held from 7am-8pm and will be held in the Hubbardston Center School Gym.
This Month
Open burning season starts January 15th and goes through May 1st. An open burning permit from the fire department for fee of $10 dollars is required.
On the afternoon of January 18th, Engine 1 responded to Maple Street in Gardner on the 2nd alarm for a fire in a large 2.5 story occupied apartment building. Thanks to quick, aggressive interior firefighting the majority of the building was spared from the fire.
On Saturday January 25th, Car 1, Engine 1 and Engine 2 responded to Adams Road for a chimney fire. Companies found an active fire in the chimney of a single family 1 story ranch. It took over two hours of hard work to extinguish the stubborn fire; however damage was limited to the chimney flues with no extension to the house.
Statistics:
Calls:
Total Calls 54
Fire 7
EMS 28
Public Service 7
Haz-Mat 0
Vehicle Accidents 9
Alarm activation 3
Inspections:
3 Residential Smoke/CO
Staffing:
1 Fire Chief/Paramedic
2 Full time Firefighter/Paramedics
2 Full time Firefighter/EMT
2 Call Firefighter/Paramedics
4 Call Firefighter/EMT
2 Pier Diem Firefighter/Paramedics
1 Call Firefighters
This Month
This was a relatively active month for the Hubbardston Police Department despite working shorthanded. We said good-by to Patrolman Michael Amann, who took a position with the Ashburnham Police Department. Consequently we initiated a process to replace his full time position, as well as attempt to fill a part time position due to Officer Garcia taking a job with the Fitchburg Police Department. Through all this the officers continue to be motivated and dedicated to the safety and security of the residents of Hubbardston.
Sgt. Couture was able to secure a grant for a new prescription medication disposal box for the police department lobby. This box will replace the old one that is outside and the HPD will receive money for placing this box.
This Month
The Conservation Commission met on 1/7/2020, during this meeting they held a RDA hearing for National Grid to place utility poles on Bemis and New Westminster Rd, the Board found in the way of no further action needed National Grid is okay to move forward. Tony and Rick completed site walk on Mt Jefferson Rd for a new house, residents are okay to move forward with land clearing Board members asked owners to come into meeting on 2/4/2020 to discuss future house plans. Board continued review of the Malone Rd Conservation restriction on Malone Rd.
This Month
Taxpayers who wish to, have been filing for Tax Bill Abatements. Any property owner who feels his/her assessed values are incorrect or disproportionate should file for an abatement by February 3. 2020. All request are processed individually and notice of decision sent in a reasonable time frame applicant.
Personal property “Forms of List” have been mailed out to select property owners who have a business. If you received this request from the assessor’s office, please fill them out and return to the assessor’s office as soon as possible.
Ongoing assessor’s activities for February, March and April include:
- Building permit inspections
- Abatement inspections and review
- Motor vehicle excise
- Periodic/Cyclical property inspections.
This Month
In January, the Planning Board Office worked on the following projects:
- There were two joint meetings involving the Planning Board in the month of January. To see those videos please go here. (NOTE: There were also two cancelled meetings in the month of January due to lack of quorum.)
- The Planning Board Operational Procedures and associated process checklists (estimated time of completion – Feb).
- Completed employee performance evaluation.
- Collaborated with MRPC with regards to the outstanding Master Plan Chapters in progress (and quoting on future / final chapters).
- Performed 6 month maintenance of Planning Board accounts in association with the town accountant.
- Compiled the Planning Board annual report.
- In addition to these items, the Planning Board Office worked on the other documentation to support Planning Board meetings.
Next Month
The Planning Board Office will continue to work on:
- Continue work on Special Permits / Operational Procedures / Filing projects as listed in the previous month (towards the end goal of improving efficiency).
- Schedule Planning Board Member training with CTPC regarding Zoning Overlay districts.
- Follow up with Affordable Housing RFP.
Building Department
This Month
This month the Building Department saw a total of the thirteen electric, building, gas and plumbing permits.
With the quick preview of spring we had many residents stopped in to discuss potential projects when the nicer weather comes.
Admin was busy with continued meetings with Viewpoint our new online permitting software. A lot of time was spent working with our programmer updating forms and fee’s as well as learning the ins and out of the program. Next we will be importing the Master Address Table to the program and setting up online payments. Once those two steps are complete and all unanticipated bugs will be worked out and we will be ready to go live! We are very excited for this to roll out!
Cultural Council
The Hubbardston Cultural Council is pleased to announce that $5,559.00 has been awarded to area artisans, educators and performers. Funding is provided by the Massachusetts Legislature through the Massachusetts Cultural Council which then allocates funds to each community. There were 27 applications received by the council for grants from which 15 applicants were ultimately chosen.
These events, presentations and performances will be showcased at locations in Hubbardston such as the Senior Center, Hubbardston Public Library, Hubbardston Center School, the annual Hubbardston Fair at Curtis Recreation Field which will be held on June 27th or at the annual Hubbardston Field Day also at Curtis Recreation Field, which will be held this year on September 19th.
Performances will include a magical potter’s wheel, blacksmith demonstration, an evening of pastel painting, dragon balloon twisting, a creative workshop of gizmos and gadgets and other arts and cultural events. For a complete listing of events and venues with dates to be determined, please visit the Hubbardston Cultural Council Facebook page.
About Us
Email: admin@hubbardstonma.us
Website: www.hubbardstonma.us
Location: 7 Main Street, Hubbardston, MA, USA
Phone: 978-928-1400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TownofHubbardston/
Twitter: @hubbardstonma