The Hubbardston Report
April 2020
This Month
Responding to the COVID-19 outbreak was the primary focus of the Executive Office in April. The Town Administrator, Board of Selectmen, Emergency Director, Public Safety leaders and Board of Health responded to federal, state and local guidance, implementing many measures to combat the deadly disease. Updated information about the town's response can be found on the red emergency banner on the town Web site.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and in consultation with federal, state and local officials, the Town of Hubbardston implemented the following measures:
- All schools and non-emergency chidcare serviced are closed for the school year
- The Board of Selectmen declared a local state of emergency effective March 25
- Town offices are closed to the public until May 18, 2020
- Town employees are ordered to work from home wherever possible
- Playground equipment, athletic courts and the skate park are closed until May 18, 2020
- Non-essential businesses are closed to the public per the Governor
Public safety and town office functions continue despite the closures. Residents are encouraged to interact virtually with all departments to limit exposures; however, staff will do everything they can to make sure residents receive services. Each department is open and answering phone calls, emails and mail within 24 hours.
The FY21 budget process needed adjustment after the outbreak of COVID-19 and the corresponding economic shutdown. Revenue projections for the coming year are falling as federal, state and local officials projected limited new revenues and assistance. This means deeper cuts or one-time funds to bridge the economic troubles. All departments are looking at potential cuts as town officials prepare for Annual Town Meeting.
Both Town Meeting and the Annual Election have been postponed. The Annual Town Meeting will now be held Tuesday, June 23, 2020 per order of the Moderator and the Annual Election will be held June 30, 2020 per order of the Board of Selectmen. Both measures are being taken in order to provide the maximum amount of information and safety possible for our residents. More information about the Annual Town Meeting can be found here.
Despite the current short-term challenges facing the department, the Town Administrator engaged local officials and volunteers in long-term planning sessions as part of the town's Massachusetts Vulnerability Planning (MVP) grant. This process will result in long term plans and actions items to help the town prepare for climate change impacts. The initial three workshops identified action items to be presented to the town during an upcoming learning session. This session, open to the public, will be held virtually in May.
Infrastructure projects continued this week as the town looks to finish FY20 repairs/purchases and complete two major roadway projects. The first project will reconstruct Gardner Road North from 1000 feet North of Williamsville Road to the Gardner Line. This $5+ million project will be completed this summer and is fully funded by the state. Local paving projects around Flagg Road will begin in July.
The Town Administrator had the following recognition for staff members in April.
Gerry Parker (town offices) was recognized for his impact during the COVID-19 crisis, increasing his workload to help sanitize the town offices. His work is allowing town staff to safely continue the work of government to include public safety.
Chief Perron (police) was recognized for his quick reactions to the COVID-19 crisis to include assisting in the emergency response plan and advising the Town Administrator on necessary safety measures. The Chief has also been a strong public voice for residents during the response.
Chris Barbera (library) was recognized for her efforts in her first year as director managing library services in a now virtual world. Her efforts to conduct virtual storytime and other remote library options have kept the town's main symbol running despite COVID-19.
Stay safe everyone and help each other!
This Month
Due to the State of Emergency on Massachusetts, we remained closed to the public during the month of April. While we have implemented a work from home program for staff, we continue to be onsite working on our collection.
The book drop is still open for returns, though due dates have been pushed to July 1, 2020, so patrons may hold onto their items without fear of overdue fees. Patrons are able to reach us through Messenger, Facebook, E-mail and telephone.
Miss Michele has been posting videos on our Facebook page, offering a mini Story Time on Wednesdays. On Fridays, we are thankful that many town employees have been generous with their time and their favorite books to read for Friday story time. So far Town Administrator Ryan McLane and I had read on Friday and we have an employed filled line up for you in May. Be sure to check out our Facebook Page on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. to see who will read to us next.
We continue to share website links on our Facebook page that offer free programs for everyone, such as the Tower Hill Botanical Garden, the Library of Congress and Doodling by ImprovBoston. We have been in contact with our spring and summer program presenters. Some of them are looking onto either a video presentation or live stream of their program, if social distancing requirements remain intact in the summer.
We are keeping our Facebook paged updated, along with our Website. We are learning to update the Library portion of the Town Website so it will be more in line with our library website. The MBLC and the MLS have been offering a number of webinars and zoom meetings for programs that were to be held this spring, so we are keeping up to date with what is going on in the library world. Finally, we miss our patrons and are looking to seeing them all again.
This Month
In April the Department of Public Works continued to keep Hubbardston’s roads safe during this snow and ice winter season. DPW Crews also completed the following projects:
- Replaced two sections of rotted culvert pipe on Williamsville Rd. for next year’s paving project.
- Replaced and added a culvert on Mt Jefferson Rd. along with widening the road for better drainage
- Completed brush mowing on Pinecrest and Lombard Roads
- Gravel patched numerous roads in town
- Oversaw the start of the Gardner Road North paving project (TIP)
- Graded Birches Road and part of Mt. Jefferson Road.
- Completed street sweeping on Worcester Road, Main Street, Elm Street, Williamsville Road and part of Kruse Road
Continue grading roads
- Continue sweeping roads
- Start preparations for the Flagg Road paving project
This Month
Although we are working from home, the Treasurer/Collector’s Office continues to process bi-weekly payrolls and accounts payable checks, collect and post taxes, process departmental turnovers, Municipal Lien Certificates, and answer phone calls and emails.
With Real Estate and Personal Property taxes due on May 4th, there has been a large volume of mail to process. Because of the Stay at Home order, we cannot open to the public to collect taxes at this time. We suggest making payments online through our website, mailing your payment, or leaving your payment in the secure dropbox outside the Town Clerk’s office. The Board of Selectmen voted to waive fees and penalties on late payments of excise, real and personal property taxes as well as betterments if the payment is made after its due but before June 30th, allowed under Section 11 of the Covid-Relief Act.
In an ongoing attempt to lower spending and create more efficiency, the Treasurer/Collector’s office is in the process of updating its human resources portion of the office by moving our employees to an online system to access their payroll records. Forms for employee benefits are being updated and will be available soon on the Town’s website for easier access.
Next Month
We will begin the Land of Low Value process on several properties that have been in tax title for many years and have an assessed value under the state’s limit of $22,862. This process enables the Town of Hubbardston to eventually take ownership of these properties. They can then be auctioned and put back on the tax rolls.
This Month
The department continues to follow state and local official, as well as Heywood Hospital for the latest information on handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently the fire department is adequately supplied with PPE due to our reserve supple as well as generous donations by town residents. Emergency responses have return to normal levels during the month.
On April 16th, Car 1 and Engine 2 responded to Summer St in Barre on the working fire assignment. The fire involved a strip mall and caused extensive damage to a liquor store.
Thanks to quick, decisive actions by the first arriving Barre companies and aggressive tactics by all firefighters operating on scene the other stores located in the strip mall were saved.
On April 23rd Engine 1 and A1 joined area fire and police departments to pay tribute to the hard-working staff of Heywood Hospital.
Last day of Open Burning season was May 1st.
April Statistics
Fire 6
EMS 37
Public Service 6
Haz-Mat 0
Vehicle Accidents 5
Alarm activation 1
Total Calls 55
Inspections:
Fire suppression system inspection for gas station, 35 Main Street
Staffing:
1 Fire Chief/Paramedic
2 Full time Firefighter/Paramedics
2 Full time Firefighter/EMT
2 Call Firefighter/Paramedics
4 Call Firefighter/EMT
1 Call Firefighter
This Month
April saw the ongoing pandemic shift configuration of 2 officers on at all times. The month saw a 5x increase in domestic disturbance calls and 6x increase in mental health issues. Having 2 officers on at a time has enhanced public safety and backup arrival times dramatically.
We continue to monitor the parks and playgrounds around town in a manner that is fair and safe for the community. Phone in complaints have been the new norm and we are returning calls as soon as practical.
The state (MEMA) has provided us with personal protective clothing and N95 masks, as well as a litany of cleaning supplies to keep the police station and cruiser as clean as possible.
In the coming month we will be monitoring new guidance from the state regarding closures etc. We continue to maintain a major presence on social media to keep towns people updated.
April Statistics
5 arrests
3 citations
6 accidents
24 investigations
Emergency Management
The Emergency Management Department along with the other town safety departments concentrated its efforts this past month on responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Over the past month we have procured supplies for the town departments, participated in numerous conference calls with the Massachusetts Management Agency (MEMA) and the Federal Management Agency (FEMA). We have begun the process of reviewing the documentation that will be required to be submitted to receive Federal disaster aid under the Presidential Declaration (FEMA-4496-DR-MA) of March 27,2020.
This Month
The Conservation Commission met virtually on April 7th. As of now we have not been called out for any site walks. All applications are available online and can be submitted via email and we are still doing site walks at a socially acceptable distance. Please make sure to contact ConCom at inspect@hubbardstonma.us before starting any projects.
This Month
The Board of Assessor’s has received and is reviewing the annual submissions for 3ABC’ for tax exempt properties.
Real estate abatements have been completed for this year.
Work is beginning on the annual interim revaluation. This process will last until final value and tax rate is set later this Fall.
The assessor’s staff continues to work primarily from home during the COVID-19 crisis. Christina Sutcliffe has been monitoring all phone calls and office emails, as well as regular mail. Between Christina Sutcliffe and George Bourgault, all inquires are being addressed within a reasonable timeframe.
Ongoing assessor’s activities for May, June and July include but are not limited to the following:
- Building permit inspections and review
- Motor vehicle excise
- Periodic/Cyclical property inspections.
- Reviewing real estate sales, interim revaluation.
- Assessor admin training provided by RRG staff
This Month
Going into April, the Planning Board Admin is still getting adjusted to working from home, but the work is getting done. I appreciate the patience of each resident who has called in during this time and been put on “mute” for a 6-year-old.
So, in April, the Planning Board Office worked on the following objectives:
- There was one virtual Planning Board meeting in the month of April. To see that video please go here.
- The Planning Board has been working with MRPC with regards to the Master Plan Chapters that are still slated to be worked on this year (albeit remotely).
- Though the proposed bylaw amendments are not on hold until the Fall, the Planning Board is still discussing and working on these documents to move forward with those documents once a physical Town Hall is possible.
- The Planning Board and its Admin have been involved in the MVP (Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness) Meetings to prepare for the effects of climate change.
- The Planning Board Office was excited to hear that the RFP (Request for Proposal) for the Affordable Housing on Ragged Hill Road is ready for review by the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen.
- The Planning Board website has been under construction this month (thank you for your patience) with the hopes that its new links and information will make the website more user-friendly.
Next Month
The Planning Board Office will continue to work on:
- Continue updating the Planning Board Website for improved information and efficiency.
- Continued involvement in the MVP grant meetings.
- Continued cooperation with MRPC and town boards to move the Master Plan forward.
- Improved remote efficiency.
This Month
The Building Department is working remotely as of now, please submit all applications via mail or leave in drop box in front of office. We are in the final phase of going to online permitting, software is going live within the next week, building staff will take a few weeks to attend trainings before going live. All inspections are still being conducted via Facetime. We currently have seven permit applications under review.
The inspectors will be working reduced hours; all inspections will be taking place between 8am-1pm. We appreciate your patience as a very hands on department navigates the world of virtual inspections!
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