The Hubbardston Report
September 2020
Special Events
This Month
Field Day was held on September 19th. We had great weather. It was a bit chilly but no rain! Lots of people came out to enjoy the music, grab some food and check out all the crafters and artisans. We had a lovely ceremony from the Hubbardston Lions Club, dedicating the Bandstand and a new memorial bench to David Tattan. Overall, it was a good day enjoyed by all.
Next Month
The Hubbardston Light Fight is coming! This year the Hubbardston Light Fight will be the first three weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights) of December from 5-9pm. Categories this year include: Traditional/Classic, Go Big or Stay Home and introducing, a businesses category. Deadline to sign up is December 1st. You can find entry forms, prizes & official rules below:
This Month
Town Officials continue to update the Hubbardston COVID-19 Town Web site. This site provides residents with information about metrics and response. The state is now providing community-level data (available here) which is helping towns make evidence based decision for service-delivery and response. Hubbardston continues to be a low-risk community, but officials are still asking residents to follow all social-distancing measures and health guidelines to prevent community outbreak.
The majority of Executive Office efforts this month were spent preparing for the Special Town Meeting held at the Hubbardston Center School on September 24. Residents approved several important measures to include finalizing the FY21 Operating and Capital Budgets, approving the Quabbin Regional School District's revised FY21 assessment and approving an easement that will allow the Rutland Regional Emergency Communication Center to construct a tower that will improve dispatch and cell service. For more information about the Special Town Meeting, visit this site.
Infrastructure projects continued this month as September saw a life-extending pavement maintenance project completed on Hale, New Templeton, Old Princeton and Healdville Roads. The Town Administrator toured these roads and the Route 62 and Evergreen Bridge projects with the DPW Director in order to provide the Board of Selectmen with updates on their progress. The necessary bridge projects are helping to secure Hubbardston infrastructure for years to come, but will cause detours.
The Town Administrator had the following recognition for staff members in September.
"I would like to recognize all of the stakeholders responsible for helping our youngest residents return to school. The efforts of our Superintendents, teacher/staff and School Committee members was nothing short of heroic, working to interpret state guidelines, keep students and their families safe and open the doors in time. In Hubbardston I would like to send a special thanks to Principal Jill Peterson for her efforts over the summer and her continual communication with our public safety officials. Additionally, I would like to thank Sergeants Couture and Forte and Officers Blood, Bergeron and DiPietro for their extra efforts resulting in smooth drop-off procedures for parents. Finally, I would like to thank Chief Perron and Travis for their foresight in reserving space, cones and signs capable of directing traffic and keeping Main Street moving and safe. This was an extraordinary effort with the end of result of allowing our students the best chance possible at a new normal."
Stay safe everyone and help each other!
We submitted the State ARIS report this month, and will submit the financial report in October. These two reports are required to maintain State Certification, which allows us access to all the other libraries in the state. The numbers for curbside pickup have dropped slightly, probably due to the library offering open hours, those number have increased. The 23rd Annual *Virtual* Road Race was held on September 12, 2020. We had 98 registered runners and walkers this year. We want to thank Mark Wigler and the Road Race Committee for organizing this each year. We also offered a “Blind Date with a Banned Book” for Banned Book week this year. And we are starting the senior Book Club again with the Senior Center on October 28th at 11:00 am. The book is the “the Lost Girls of Paris” by Pam Jenoff. We are holding two in October; Building Fairy Houses and a Pastel Class, both through Maichack Arts. We will update you next month on those programs.
This Month
Finished the preventative maintenance project on Hale, Healdville, New Templeton and Old Princeton Road totaling 5.18 miles. This application filled pavement imperfections, preventing water damage and increasing the life of the road’s pavement.
Graded with dust control on Halfrey, Birches and Mt. Jefferson Rd.
Added hot patch to Dogwood North, New Westminster, Barre, and Thompson Roads in addition to the Slade Building entrance and parts of Main Street.
Completed brush mowing on Hale, Flagg, New Templeton and Gardner Roads in addition to sections of Route 62.
Replaced a culvert on Thompson Road in addition to edging to open up drainage.
Continued to oversee the Gardner Road Paving Project and the Route 62 and Evergreen Road Bridge Projects.
Swept New Templeton, Hale and Healdville Roads.
Next Month
- Continue to grade roads
- Continue sweeping roads
- Start planning next year’s paving projects
- Present Winter Operations Plan to the Board of Selectmen
This Month
Our office saw a record number of requests for Municipal Lien Certificates this month due to many sales and refinances. Twenty-nine certificates were created and sent out. The monthly average is twelve.
We have been preparing for our annual audit with Scanlon & Associates by pulling and uploading the required documents to them and filling out the required documents as the audit will be done mostly remotely this year.
We are continuing to collect all past due taxes from previous years by sending letters to taxpayers as well as turning older outstanding taxes over to our deputy collector, Kelley & Ryan.
Next Month
We will be finishing our tax title taking for FY19. Letters will be mailed to taxpayers still owing FY2020 real estate taxes. Second quarter FY2021 taxes are due on November 2. October also will have three payrolls and three accounts payable warrants to process instead of the usual two.
Fire Department
This Month
September saw us welcome back the students at the Hubbardston Center School. In coordination with Principal Jill Peterson we were able to craft a plan to allow the safe drop off and pick up of students. This process has been very successful and the coordination and cooperation between the Police Department and the school has been remarkable.
The officers continue to work the details within town in an attempt to improve roads and maintain the safety of the motoring public. The completion of Rt. 68 is just about here and the roadway looks fantastic.
Officers continue to proactively patrol neighborhoods and respond to quality of life issues brought to our attention.
We continue to monitor the public regarding social distancing and masking, and have provided masks to those without and educated the residents we have come in contact with.
We continue to deal with the temporary loss of Detective Chatigny, and await his speedy recovery.
We continue to maintain a major presence on social media to keep towns people updated.
October is breast cancer awareness month and we will once again begin to sell pink patches. All proceeds will go to pinkrevolution.
September Statistics
6 arrests
24 citations
3 accidents
10 incidents investigations
This Month
The Conservation Commission is working with Mass DEP and DCR on a wetland issue on West Comet Pond this has been our main focus for the last month. We also have preparing for an RDA hearing for our October meeting for 69 Gardner Rd, applicant is looking to install a fence within the wetland vegetation boarder.
Town Clerk
This Month
September was spent working on the State Primary and Special Town Meeting. Although both were different due to COVID restrictions, both were completed safely and in compliance with all laws. Dog Licenses are now 6 months overdue and Animal Control has started issuing fines for non-compliance. Local late fees have been waived for the remainder of the year however licensing is a state requirement and late fines will be charged accordingly. If you are currently waiting on a Veterinarian appointment, if you no longer own your dog or your dog has since passed, please contact the Town Clerks office directly to ensure your file is marked accordingly. Dog licensing can be done in person by appointment or online by clicking the following link: https://unipaygold.unibank.com/customerinfo.aspx
Next Month
October will be a busy month leading up the November 3rd General Election. The last day to register to vote in the November 3rd election is Saturday, October 24th. If you are already a registered voter, no action is necessary. You may check voter status by clicking on this link.
If you are NOT a registered voter you may register online by clicking this link or you may register in person during our in person registration hours to be held on Saturday, October 24th from 2pm-4pm and from 7pm-8pm.
If you have questions regarding your registration, please contact the Town Clerks office directly by phone at: 978-928-1400 x202 or by email at: tclerk@hubbardstonma.us Early voting hours will be held from October 17th – October 22nd and October 24th – October 29th with specific hours listed on the Town Clerks page or by clicking this link. All vote by mail requests will be mailed out ASAP once the ballots are received in office. Once your ballot has been mailed, you may track status by clicking here.
Zoning Board of Appeals
This Month
The ZBA held a variance hearing for 8 Morrow Lane, variance was granted for front and side setbacks for a garage. We are also in receipt a second application for setback variance for garage. This hearing will be held early November.
This Month
The Board of Assessor’s continues to use Zoom meetings in an effort to comply with the current COVID-19 situation.
Work is nearing completion on the annual interim revaluation. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has approved the Assessor’s valuation adjustments. We will be having our classification hearing in the sometime in the next few weeks to determine and confirm the single tax rate. The FY 2021 tax rate should be known shortly after.
Currently, we are still phasing in office hours as follows:
Tuesday-George Bourgault, and other hours by Christina Sutcliffe have are being conducted remotely.
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, usually between 24 to 48 hours.
Ongoing assessor’s activities for October and November 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
- Processing Chapter applications and Statutory exemptions that are due October 1, 2020
- Classification Hearing
*** Please note the Planning Board is looking for a full-time member to serve until the next Town Election. If you are interested, please email bos@hubbardstonma.us ***
This Month
September saw the Planning Board welcome its new Associate Member, Erica Dack. The Public Hearing that was schedule for September did not occur due to technical difficulties and so the Planning Board intends to work further on the bylaw amendments for submission to the Town’s 2021 Warrant. The Planning Board arranged an extension of the Public Hearing involving 36 Gardner Road. That Public Hearing will now take place on October 1st.
Next Month
The Planning Board Office will be working on:
- Continued cooperation with MRPC and town boards to move the Master Plan forward
- Continued improvement in efficiency of the Planning Board Office and meetings
This Month
The Building Department is still seeing a steading flow of permits coming in through Viewpoint our new online permitting software. We are gearing up for our annual safety inspections in October for all establishments who serve liquor on site.
Board of Health
The Board of Health was busy the month of September Chair Cathy Hansgate was out conducting perc and septic inspections every week. Three food inspections and the inspection of field day also took place! Mallory and Judie have been working on our EDS book, this book will become a guide with any and all information needed for an emergency dispensary site. An Emergency dispensary site is a site where vaccine can be distributed in mass quantity if needed!
We have been actively monitoring all Covid activity including Halloween and trick or treating. The Board of Health has been working with the Senior Center to conduct a Flu Vaccine Clinic for Seniors and Employees. Mallory is working with the state and has begun training on the MIIS (Massachusetts Immunization Information System) in hopes that we will be able to organize and hold our own town wide flu clinic.
This Month
September has been a busy month. We had a very successful yard sale. We had accumulated many items donated by people in town and it was a financial success!
On September 5th and 6th, we participated in the Annual Town wide yard sale. Many of the Seniors not only contributed goods, but volunteered their time to make this event a wonderful success. Monies earned were added to the COA Donation Account.
The next week was very busy with preparations for our soft opening September 15th. The first event was Coffee with Friends. We had 7 very brave souls in attendance. It was very cold. Bingo was also held that day. The Seniors who attended were very grateful for the opportunity to gather again.
The Walking Club started September 14th and has continued every Tuesday and Thursday.
Our Seniors also participated in the Hubbardston Field Day on September 19th. One booth was hosted by the Friends of Hubbardston Seniors. They sold raffle tickets and masks. The Golden Agers also had a booth. Baked goods (baked in the Senior Center kitchen), pumpkins, and a few raffle prizes were offered. Both these efforts were successful.
On September 21st, we were given permission by the Board of Health to use the inside of the Senior Center with restrictions. Coffee with Friends had been held outside, but Bingo was inside. We have a maximum capacity of 8 people (including the volunteer leaders). The Seniors are very excited about this new development.
An electric recliner was donated and immediately found a new home. Please remember that should you have a need for any specialty medical equipment we will help you get it.
In October, we will be continuing holding small (8 person max) functions in our Senior Center. These events will include Coffee with Friends on Monday and Wednesday mornings, Bingo on Monday’s, the Walking & Club on Tuesday and Thursday, paint class on Thursday and other various events. Please look at our Facebook page hubbardstonseniors@facebook.com that will keep you up-to-date with more events as we continue to open our space for our Seniors.
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