Board supports Hamant restoration

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE - The board of selectmen learned of the building inspector’s resignation, agreed to send a letter of support for the Hamant Brook project, mulled nominees for an unsung heroine, and heard an update on the lack of progress to fill the former Ames space, among other business at their regular meeting Monday night.

Wight out

Beleaguered Building Inspector Erik Wight is resigning effective Feb. 26. Selectman Thomas Creamer asked Interim Town Administrator Michael Racicot to do an exit interview with Wight.
“Exit interviews at least give us a chance to gain some insights,” Creamer said.
An advertisement has been posted on the Massachusetts Municipal Association Web site with an application deadline of Feb. 18.

Shout-out for trout

Trout Unlimited has requested a letter of support for the Hamant Brook damn removal and restoration project.
Selectman Scott Garieri had reservations. He said he would first like to know if there are any expenses for the town.
Carol Childress was on hand to explain. She said the grant was only for Trout Unlimited’s grant application for $48,500.
She said that grant “has nothing to do with any cost to the town whatsoever.” She added the grant money is a small portion of the larger Hamant Brook restoration, which will cost about $900,000 and will be paid mostly by Millennium Power Partners.
The board approved the letter of support.

Unsung heroines

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is seeking nominations for unsung heroines of Massachusetts in 2010.
“Does the board have any suggestions of a strong unheralded woman they see as making a Sturbridge a better place?” Racicot read aloud.
Creamer said a few candidates came to mind. But foremost for Creamer is Senior Center Director Barbara Search. “I look at what Barbara Search has done for the seniors in this community and certainly as far as I can see, the seniors here in Sturbridge have a much better quality of life than what might have occurred had Barbara not been here,” he said.
Anyone can submit a nominee by visiting mass.gov/women.

Tractor Supply coming to Ames?

“Do we know any further update on what’s going on with the Ames building?” Garieri asked Racicot.
“There’s a big dispute over what (Tractor Supply wants). They want an outside display,” Racicot said. Typically, those stores have a fenced in area outside where they showcase merchandise.
Creamer, a former Planning Board member, noted that would create a parking capacity issue.

Other business . . .

After a department head budget meeting, Racicot reported, “It’s an austere year but it should be stable. We think the estimates we came up with and the assumptions we used were conservative but livable.”
As for capital improvements, he said the budget would allow for not much more than $150,000.
As for betterment, there’s $80,000 available to be spent on betterment request.
“Obviously, we have a lot more requests than we have money,” Racicot said.
The two percent loan made available to the town with the governor’s visit to the wastewater plant last week Racicot said will save the town as much as $1.7 million in interest on the sewer upgrade.