CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Conservation Commission’s job is to work to
protect Pepperell's natural resources. We do this in several ways. For
example, we are the local administrators of the Massachusetts Wetlands
Protection Act and the Pepperell Wetlands Protection By-Law; we plan for and
manage the Town's Conservation Land; we work with and advise other Town bodies such
as the Planning Board and the Building Inspector's Office on natural resources
issues, and we provide information to Town residents.
The Wetlands Protection Act and the Pepperell
Wetlands Protection By-Law are designed to provide a review process for
projects that could affect our valuable wetlands. In simplified form, the Act
says that no one may fill or alter a wetland without a permit. Under the Wetlands
Protection Act, the Commission’s job, which we do with the help of our
administrator, is to review applications and decide about wetland permits. Our
By-Law provides further protection for some types of wetlands. This is
time-consuming, but vital work. Healthy, functioning wetlands protect our
water supply, provide flood control, prevent pollution, and enrich our
community's wildlife habitat. The Wetlands Protection Act usually applies to
any project if it occurs in or near wetlands. Typical projects include new
buildings and driveways, changes to existing buildings or landscaping, and
improvements to roads or utilities.
Our records of Wetlands Protection Act
applications for the past 5 years are shown in the table below. The drop in
the number of applications in 2008 & 2009 is a reflection of the general
downturn in construction activity.
|
Wetlands Protection Act Applications
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
Notices of Intent (This is an application for a permit
to perform work that may alter a wetland. The permit is called an Order of
Conditions.)
|
24
|
13
|
18
|
7
|
8
|
|
Requests for Determination of Applicability (This is a
request to determine if a Notice of Intent needs to be filed.)
|
9
|
22
|
11
|
12
|
10
|
|
Extended/Amended Orders of Conditions
|
9
|
4
|
12
|
4
|
10
|
|
Abbreviated Notices of Resource Area Delineation (This
is an application for certification of a wetland location, usually used for
planning or design purposes.)
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
|
Requests for Certificates of Compliance (After a
project is complete, the Commission issues a Certificate of Compliance if the
project was done as required under the Order of Conditions.)
|
15
|
25
|
27
|
17
|
12
|
|
TOTAL APPLICATIONS
|
59
|
67
|
71
|
40
|
41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building Permit Applications reviewed
|
142
|
138
|
82
|
82
|
79
|
2009 was
the second year of a multi-year project to control water chestnut in the Nashua
River. Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an invasive exotic plant
that had spread to cover nearly 45 acres of Pepperell Pond during the past 10
years. Under the management of the Nashua River Watershed Association,
mechanical harvesting of the plant was done for several weeks again during the
summer. The Commission expects that if 2 or 3 more years of mechanical
harvesting can be done, any remaining water chestnut plants will be able to be
controlled by hand-harvesting from canoes.
This year we added detailed trails maps of the
publicly accessible lands in the north-central part of town to our web page.
This includes the Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell Springs, the Heald Street
Orchard, Keyes Conservation Area (Oak Hill St.), the Nissitissit River Wildlife
Management Area, and many other parcels. We invite you to visit our page on
the Town’s web site by going to www.town.pepperell.ma.us/conservation. Our
page details the workings of the Commission, including upcoming meeting dates
and agendas, minutes to past meetings, access to permit applications, and
information about Pepperell’s conservation lands.
Please call the Conservation Commission office,
978-433-0325, if you would like to ask questions or give comments about
wetlands permit applications, conservation land, or other natural resources
issues. We are seeking volunteers to help maintain our trails and also welcome
reports of unusual wildlife or plant sightings. Our Conservation
Administrator, Ellen Fisher, staffs our office in Town Hall Monday through
Thursday.
Robert
Elliott, Chairman Kristina Masterson Linda Moody Robert
Rand
Patricia
Swain Rice Jeffrey Sauer Peter Steeves
INSPECTION DEPARTMENT
Appointed Positions:
Harry Cullinan, Inspector of
Buildings
Rudolph F. Schultz, Local
Inspector
John Dee III, Electrical
Inspector
Ralph Gilmore, Assistant
Electrical Inspector
John Cryan, Plumbing Inspector
Eugene Douglas, Gas
Inspector/Assistant Plumbing Inspector
Robert Russell, Assistant Gas
Inspector
Susan H.
Smith, Assistant to the Inspectors
During the past year as the Inspector of
Buildings, with the assistance of my assistant Susan Smith, the Department
issued 283 building permits, replied to Notices of Intent which are required to
be approved prior to the Town Clerk issuing a Business Certificate, resolved
numerous zoning complaints, inspected all school buildings and public buildings
and inspected and issued certificates of inspections to numerous businesses as
required.
The Department processed a steady number of
applications throughout the year for new construction and remodeling, wood
stoves and energy improvements despite the continued economic problems in the
financial institutions which have stopped all speculative building. Permits
were issued for 21 single family homes. Emerson Village, the 40B project off Nashua Road,
is very active and going smoothly with approximately 10 homes sold.
The Building Department also issued 171 electrical
permits, 160 plumbing permits and 137 gas permits, with the majority of these
permits requiring the inspectors to provide a minimum of two inspections
In addition to the normal field work, all the
inspectors are required to attend schooling throughout the year to maintain
their licenses and certifications.
Building Department staff is available to answer
your questions and address any concerns at
978-433-0329.
PLANNING BOARD
The Planning Board serves the Town of Pepperell
by reviewing and permitting development throughout the community under the
jurisdiction of the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 41, Sections 81A-GG,
Subdivision Control Law, and Chapter 40A, the Zoning Act. The Planning Board’s
authority is defined in the Subdivision Rules and Regulations and the Zoning
Bylaws of the Town.
The Board approved a three unit multi-family
development on Parker Hill Way. Additionally, the Board approved an extension to
a special permit for a multi-family development on Shawnee Street. A site plan was approved for the Pepperell Family Pharmacy
expansion and the site plan approval for a recycling facility on Nashua Road
was re-issued. An amendment was made to a special permit for Riverside
estates to allow a homeowner on Deerfield
Drive to construct a farmer’s porch
and authorization was given for a homeowner to reconstruct a driveway on Jewett Street through the provisions of the Scenic Road Act. Hearings remain
ongoing for an application for a site plan review of the Shattuck Oil facility
on Groton Street. A handful of ANR lots were approved by the Board
throughout the year.
The Board spent the better part of the 2009 year
overseeing the completion of Village Estates off Park Street to prepare
for the fall 2009 special town meeting acceptance of the roadways, Village Road and Pond Circle. They continue to work towards final acceptance
of both Julia Lane and Beaver
Creek Circle.
The Annual Town Election left the current Planning
Board in tact with Mr. McHugh being elected to another five-year term. Board
elections resulted in leaving the current officers in place. Stephen Brittain
was appointed for another term as the Associate Member.
Amendments were drafted and hearings were held for
updating several sections of the Protective Zoning Bylaws. These amendments
mostly addressed requirements for common driveways, multi-family residential
developments, and home occupations, as well as, several other minor errors in
the language. All of the proposed amendments were approved at the Annual Town
Meeting.
Additionally, the Annual Town Meeting resulted in
budget cuts to the department. The staff hours were reduced from 32 hours per
week to 30 hours per week. All funding previously in the budget for training,
workshops, and conferences was eliminated leaving the department with very
limited monies to spend on supplies and conduct of regular business.
In additional business for the Board, the Northern
Middlesex Council of Governments worked with various town departments to
develop policies and procedures for expedited permitting authorized by the
acceptance of the provisions of Chapter 43D of the Mass General Laws. The
Planning Board adopted these policies and procedures. The Board reviewed a
proposed 40B project off Leighton
Street and submitted their
suggestions to the Board of Selectmen. The Board has had several conversations
with a Maple Street homeowner regarding development of the property.
The Planning Board wishes to offer its gratitude
to all of the Pepperell Town Boards, Committees, and Departments for their
assistance and guidance throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
Pepperell
Planning Board
Nicholas
Cate, Chair
Dennis
Kane
Mark
Marston
Richard
McHugh
Stephen
Themelis, Clerk
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The responsibilities and duties of the police
department include the protection of life and property and the investigation of
all criminal activity and motor vehicle accidents within the community.
POLICE
ACTIVITY: 2009
Calls
for service............................................................. 8,387
Burglaries........................................................................... 34
Larcenies
(includes cases of fraud/ID theft).................... 147
Disturbance
calls (general)............................................... 164
Disturbance
calls (domestic violence)................................ 69
Assaults
(Simple)................................................................ 52
Assaults
(Aggravated)........................................................ 12
Motor
vehicle accidents investigated............................... 256
Arrests/Protective
custodies............................................ 164
Motor
vehicle citations issued....................................... 1,489
Drunk
driving cases............................................................ 16
Burglar/Robbery
alarm responses.................................... 283
Animal Complaints........................................................... 127
Represented by the listed police activity is an
overview of incidents the police department responds to and investigates
throughout the year. Also included in the call analysis are a variety of other
initiatives conducted by the police department including directed traffic
enforcement (radar posts), security checks, motor vehicles events, bicycle
patrols in the downtown area and rail trail path and ATV patrols just to name a
few.
Unfortunately, as a result of the depressed
economy the police department suffered a significant reduction in our budget
that resulted in the loss of two police officers in July. Any reduction in
staff results in a loss of service and is a setback in the progress made over
previous years to maintain a level of service that meets the demands of the
community. Any further reductions will significantly impact the ability of the
police department to provide adequate service that is expected and deserved in
our community.
All officers continue to be recertified annually
in core tasks including firearms (twice a year), first aid/CPR/defibrillator,
defensive tactics and legal updates. Much of this training is accomplished
through the required annual in-service training at The Lowell Police Training
facility. Officers have also begun to utilize on-line “distance learning”
training as part of their training obligations. Those officers trained in
less-lethal weapons applications also receive recertification training and all
officers recertify annually in the use of the Tasers (electronic control
devices).
In 2009 there were no formal internal affairs
complaints filed against officers alleging misconduct. This reflects positively
on the department and my expectations for a professional standard of conduct as
officers carry out their respective duties day after day. I encourage anyone
that is dissatisfied with our service to contact my office. All officers are
expected to act professionally and provide fair and equal services to all
citizens.
The police department did continue to provide
gifts to those less fortunate during the holiday season. Many thanks to those
officers that volunteered their time to conduct this project and also to the
community members who donated money, toys and time (wrapping gifts) to this
event. Additionally, we held our annual holiday event with the seniors in
December.
As individuals living and working in our community
I again welcome your comments and encourage you to report suspicious activities
in your neighborhoods. We ask that all community members be diligent in
protecting your property by securing your homes, businesses and automobiles. We
encourage parents to be involved with your children and be aware of their
activities and associations with friends.
The department wishes to thank the many members of
the community who continue to support our police department and we will
continue to provide the best possible service to keep Pepperell a safe and
pleasant community in which to live and work. Lastly, I would like to
personally thank the community for supporting me since becoming police chief in
1990 and reflect fondly on my near 35-year career with the police department as
I plan for my retirement in March of 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Alan S. Davis
Chief of Police
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
Appointing Authority: Board
of Selectmen
Appointed Officials and
Titles:
Frank Quattrochi....................... Communications
Director
David R. Stairs.......................... Assistant
Director
Justin Zink................................ Dispatcher
Benjamin Simmons.................... Dispatcher
Tracy Rancourt.......................... Dispatcher
Ryan Fogarty............................. Dispatcher
Rosemarie Page......................... Spare
Dispatcher
Responsibilities/Duties:
- Emergency and routine
radio dispatching of Pepperell Police, Fire, Ambulance, Highway, Water,
and Sewer Departments; and Dunstable Fire Department, on a 24 hour per day
basis.
- Answering telephone
calls for all the above departments, except for Highway, Water, and Sewer
Depts., answering those lines during non-business hours.
- Operation of the
NCIC/LEAPS Computer/Teletype; allowing for input and retrieval of driver
and criminal history on a nationwide basis.
- Chronological
documentation of all incidents and calls.
- Coordination with Civil
Defense personnel during times of emergencies/disasters.
Major 2009 Activities:
Calls for emergency service:
317 Pepperell Fire Calls
91 Dunstable Fire Calls
876 Ambulance Calls
8378 Police
Calls
Goals for 2010:
- Emergency Medical
Dispatch Certification.
- Regionalized Dispatch
Feasibility Study.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Quattrochi
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Pepperell Fire Department is committed to
protecting life and property in the community. The department responded to the
following calls in 2009:
10 Structure
Fires 870 Medical Patient Contacts
8 Motor
Vehicles Fires 6 Mutual-Aid Given (Ambulance)
11 Chimney
Fires 2 Animal Rescues
6 Helicopter
Landings 4 Haz-Mat Spills
10 Brush
Fires 6 Assist other Departments
12 Furnace
Malfunction 16 Arcing Wires
15 Carbon
Monoxide Calls 18 Good Intent Calls
9 Gas
Odor/Leak 28 Unauthorized Open Burning
6 Mutual-Aid
Given (Fire) 27 Motor Vehicle Accidents w/PI
33 Alarm
Malfunctions 13 Smoke Investigations
31 Alarm Activations 52 Other
Calls for Service
PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS ISSUED:
Oil Burners 60 Tank
Trucks 2
Propane Storage 42 Black
Powder 3
UG Tank Removals 9 Occupancy 27
Agricultural Permits 23 Fuel
Storage 4
Open Burning 1127 Public
Safety 24
Smoke Detector 129 Fireworks
Display 1
Sprinkler 2 Fire
Alarm 3
In January we started the year off with a bang,
receiving a gear grant in the amount of $73,434.00. The grant, along with the
money from town meeting allowed us to purchase new gear for all the
Firefighters. We also received a State Grant for FF Equipment for $5,296.00
and a Student Awareness for Fire Education (SAFE) Grant for $3,664.62. January
also brought some sadness to the Fire Department with the resignation of Deputy
Chief James Taplin, who was later replaced with FF Jonathan Kinney.
In March we received an Energizer Battery grant,
which allows us to help replace batteries in detectors for the elderly and low
income families in Pepperell.
Our Fire Prevention Team went into the schools in
April and October to conduct fire and life safety education programs for
students in grades PreK-8. On July 28 the department participated with our
SAFE trailer, an Engine and the Ambulance on the town field at one of the
summer band concerts.
September was and up and down month, with the
passing of FF/EMT Den Connors. Den will be missed by all. September brought
another grant to the Pepperell Fire Department, this one for extrication
tools. The CEDAP grant was worth $26,500.00 which included a set of jaws,
cutters, two rams and its own portable power unit.
Fox 25 News came out for “Firehouse Fridays” and
met with the Firefighters. A week later, the Pepperell Fire Department hosted
the First Annual Pepperell Public Safety Day on the town field.
In late October we received a grant of $500.00
from MCVFA towards the purchase of EMS jackets for our EMT’s. The Ems Company has been
very busy in 2009. The Company did 18 classes on CPR for residents and
businesses in Pepperell. The Board of Fire Engineers would like to thank all
of the fire department personnel for all of their very hard work throughout the
year.
In December we received the ok from the Selectman
to go further with the Paramedic upgrade.
The Board of Fire Engineers would like to thank
the other town departments that worked with us during the year and the
neighboring towns for their mutual aid, with special thanks to the Pepperell
Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary for their help throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
Toby Tyler, Chief Peter Shattuck, Dep.
Chief Jonathan Kinney, Dep. Chief
ANIMAL
CONTROL OFFICER
Our office has been quite busy with a multitude of
animal problems this year. Calls consisted of nuisance, strays, and injured
animals and the unfortunate dogs, cats and wildlife hit by vehicles.
I would like to remind everyone to license their
dogs. You may be fined if you do not license your dog in a timely manner, and
you may have to appear in court. A license is the only way for our office to
identify your dog and to get your dog home if it is lost. If all dogs were
licensed, we would have no strays and no lost dogs.
Have a safe, healthy and prosperous 2010, and
thanks for your anticipated cooperation.
Alicia
Flagg, Animal Control Officer
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
The
following inspections for accuracy were performed during the year of 2010:
14 Oil Trucks
57 Gasoline Pump Nozzles
19 Scales of various sizes
2 Apothecary Scale
8 Supermarket computerized scales
This past year has been a busy but enjoyable
year. I attended a fifteen-hour course, which is required by the State of Massachusetts. This course provides updates or any changes that increases my
ability to provide the best possible service for the Town of Pepperell.
This year there have been some changes. Volta
is now the owner of C.W. Fuels. Also, the Circle Citgo is open once again
after four years of closure.
Anyone acquiring new or replacement scales or
pumps must have them officially checked and sealed before they can be used.
Appointments are made through the Selectman’s Office in Pepperell by calling
(978) 433-0333.
Over this past year, it has been a pleasure to
serve this Town. I am looking forward to another joyful year of serving the
Town of Pepperell in this capacity.
Respectfully submitted:
Eric Aaltonen
Sealer of Weights and
Measures
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
I
hereby submit the report for the Emergency Management Agency for the year
ending December 31, 2009.
The
RACES Ham Radio Operators have continued to be the eyes and ears of the
community, with monthly checks with the MEMA Radio Net. Each June, they hold a
24-hour Field Day Test, with communications around the world.
In
2009, we lost three volunteers – Den Connors, Deputy Director, Ann O’Donnell,
Secretary for the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Mary Femino,
Auxiliary Police Officer. All three volunteers will be greatly missed.
Our
11-town Regional Emergency Planning Committee meets monthly at the Ayer Police
Station with Director Ux, Fire and Police Chiefs and Board of Health.
Captain
David Querze reports from the Auxiliary Police Department 2,500 hours of
volunteer service to the community. Incidents or events supported included
Memorial Day Parade, 4th of July Parade and Fireworks, Halloween,
Groton Road Race, Christmas Toy Distribution and Field Day for the Fire
Department. The Auxiliary Officer of the Year was Richard E. Baum.
In
December we did a Town-wide test of the Reverse 911 System. Communications
Director Frank Quattrochi reports a total of 5,321 phone numbers were dialed,
154 calls went to a fax machine, 42 calls received a busy signal and were
redialed automatically, 360 calls went unanswered, 190 calls were hang-ups
prior to a completed message, 2,327 calls went to an answering machine and
2,348 calls were answered. The test took nine hours to complete and was
successful.
My
thanks to all the volunteers who give so much of their time to make this
program work.
I
also want to thank the Police and Fire Chiefs, Board of Selectmen, Town
Administrator, Red Cross and other Town Department Heads for their cooperation.
Respectfully
submitted,
George
Ux, Director
Celebrating Christmas at the Senior Center.
NASHOBA VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Nashoba
Valley Technical High
School is a regional technical high
school established in 1969 to serve students grades 9–12 and also provides
post-graduate programs for those between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.
Nashoba has earned an impressive reputation for producing community leaders as
well as providing community service. With an enrollment of approximately 700
students from seven communities, Nashoba Valley Technical High
School offers career preparation in
16 technical programs.
Administration
|
Dr. Judith L.
Klimkiewicz
|
Superintendent
|
|
Dr. Lynne Celli
|
Assistant
Superintendent/Principal
|
|
Ms Carol Heidenrich
|
Director of Technology
|
|
Ms Melissa LeRay
|
Director of Special
Education
|
|
Ms Denise Page Pigeon
|
Director of
Curriculum/Grants
|
|
Mr. Matthew Ricard
|
Dean of Students
|
|
Ms Jeanne Savoie
|
Accounting Manager
|
Accreditation: New
England Association of Schools and
Colleges.
Three 12-week trimesters. Eight 45-minute periods set in a block schedule,
five days per week. The school schedule alternates one week of academic classes
with a week in a career-technical area for grades 9 through 12 and post
graduate students.
The Year in Review
For the 2009-2010 school year Nashoba has, as most
other districts, had to tighten our belts while still striving to achieve our
district goals. Thanks to our ten year plan that began in 1999-2000 we were
able to achieve “all” our facility, technology, and instructional goals with total
fiscal responsibility. This year all our classrooms are equipped with
direct video, clickers, LCD projectors, web casting capability, and smart
boards in every room. This enables every teacher to showcase 21st
century teaching skills to all of our students as they prepare them for
college and career.
We have maintained our focus on being fiscally and
environmentally responsible by installing this fall a 100 km solar voltaic unit
on our roof to reduce the cost of our electricity in a “green” way. Additionally,
we installed on our new student constructed concession stand a solar voltaic
unit to provide all heat and electricity. Both these projects were completed
at “no cost” to district taxpayers and were fully funded through grants.
Vocational-Technical Programs (Secondary
& Post Graduate)
|
Auto Collision Repair
& Refinishing
|
Electrical Technology
|
|
Automotive Technology
|
Electronics/Robotics
|
|
Banking, Marketing
& Retail
|
Engineering Technology
|
|
Carpentry/Cabinet
Making
|
Health Assisting/Early
Education & Care
|
|
Cosmetology
|
Machine Tool Technology
|
|
Culinary
Arts/Hotel Restaurant Management
|
Plumbing/Heating
|
|
Dental Assisting
|
Programming and Web
Design
|
|
Design & Visual
Communications
|
TV Media
Production/Theatre Arts
|
Special
Academic Programs
Advanced Placement Honors and College Preparatory
courses are available in all core subjects. Foreign language and additional
educational courses are offered for all four years for all interested students.
Dual Enrollment
Juniors who are eligible and recommended by teachers/administration
may elect to enter the Dual Enrollment Program and take courses the junior and
senior year at a two- or four-year public college or private institution in Massachusetts or New Hampshire. Upon completion, they receive their high school
diploma from Nashoba and one or two years of college credit. Many students in
recent years have graduated with an Associates degree from college and their
high school diploma at the same time. Also, individual study programs for
talented students are directed to their area of excellence. Many of our
students are accepted at such distinguished institutions as MIT, Ithaca
College, Emerson College, Boston University, and University of Massachusetts, among others.
Student Activities
Nashoba sponsors an extensive program in
intra-scholastic sports including varsity teams in 10 high school sports with
equal opportunities for both male and female students. Other extracurricular
activities include Student Council, National Honor Society, Yearbook, Students
Against Destructive Decisions, Skills USA, Student Leadership, Peer Mediation,
and many special interest clubs. No user fees are imposed on any sport,
school sponsored club or activity.
Continuing & Community Education
More than 700 adult students attended the Continuing
Community Education Program in late afternoon and evenings at Nashoba. More
information can be found on the NVTHS website.
Community Service Projects
Nashoba is unique in its approach to community
service and its relationship to its district towns. Students are expected to go
with their instructors to areas of our district to work on community service
projects that have been approved and selected for their benefit to the
community and the learning of our students. The students perform necessary work
for the district towns. The Community Service Program educates students in a
real world setting and allows the towns the benefit of viewing Nashoba students
at work and having a major project completed without expending limited town
resources for capital improvement.
NORTH MIDDLESEX REGIONAL SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT
The 2008-09 school year was filled with many
varied accomplishments. Some of the more significant include the establishment
of more cost effective and educationally appropriate special needs classrooms
in the district. Developing such opportunities for our students enabled the
district to better address student needs. Ending the long travel for students
who were, prior to the establishment of specialized educational program,
transported to out of district programs often more than an hour drive away has
allowed students access to quality education programs within their own
community. At the high school, we expanded and strengthened pre-engineering,
robotics, digital design, and on-line educational programs. Additionally, in an
effort to better meet the needs of students, the high school was reorganized
around an upper and lower house model. This model has proven successful in
helping students adjust to the transition between middle school and high school
and high school and college and/or the world of work. Clearly, 9th
graders need different support systems than do 12th graders who must
prepare to leave the security of their local high school. Our goal is
constant…preparing students for success in a global society. While our work at
the high school was significant, elementary and middle school teachers and
administrators continued their efforts to strengthen elementary education
programs via the implementation of a comprehensive, standards based curriculum.
All of our efforts to improve the quality of
instruction and to expand educational opportunities for students were dwarfed
by the impact of the deepest economic recession in 75 years. While the school
year began quietly, by December 2008 it was obvious that the communities would
not be able to sustain the educational delivery patterns we had enjoyed in the
past. Working with town officials, parents, teachers, administrators, and
other stakeholders, the school committee approved a plan to consolidate
schools. K-2 grade students from the Peter Fitzpatrick School and 3-5 grade students from Squannacook
Elementary School were reassigned to other school buildings within
the district. The district preschool program was centralized and moved to the
vacated Squannacook Elementary School Building. While the consolidation enabled the district to
reduce force and decrease building operational costs, theses school closures
were difficult for both the school and town communities. The idea of closing
schools was clearly difficult to contemplate never mind accept. However, the
actual move of dozens of teachers and tons of classroom supplies was even more
difficult. The summer of 2009 was filled with incredible activity. Members of
the plant and facilities and technology departments, teachers, students,
parents and administrators all worked to ensure that “new” classrooms were
ready for students on the first day of the 2009-10 school year.
Sadly, cost savings from school consolidation did
not close the budget gap, but a magnanimous offer from members of employee
groups did. The district received more than $650K in salary concessions. The
district also caused quite a stir when it entered into an agreement to share
the services of its superintendent with another school district. Dollars saved
from this plan allowed the district to hire back three more teachers who had
been “pink-slipped.” The collective efforts of all within the school community
enabled the district to keep educational programs vital to the future success
of our students. The unselfish way in which all addressed the financial crisis
is testament to the integrity and resolve of both the school district and the
communities that it serves.
Finally, those of us who work and learn within the
North Middlesex Regional School
District are grateful to the
citizens of Ashby, Pepperell and Townsend for the continued support. The future
is uncertain, but our collective commitment to our children is not.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen
M. Marshall
Superintendent
of Schools
NORTH MIDDLESEX REGIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL
It is with great pride that I provide this update
about North Middlesex Regional High
School, a student centered learning
community that is committed to excellence. Our mission is to insure that each
individual is challenged and supported to develop, pursue and accomplish goals
in an environment of empathy and mutual respect. We are committed to
empowering personal growth and thinking beyond our geographic borders.
In June of 2009, North Middlesex
Regional High
School graduated a class of 272
students. We are proud of both their academic accomplishments and their
contributions to our school and community. A survey of this graduating class
shows that 87% continued on to post secondary education, 7% went directly into
the work force and 3% joined the armed services. This past fall, North Middlesex
Regional High
School welcomed 279 freshmen, to
bring our current enrollment to 1181 students in grades 9 – 12.
Our primary goal at NM is to provide curriculum
and instruction that is student centered, aligned to the Massachusetts
Curriculum Frameworks, and develops 21st century skills that our
students need to be successful in their future. We are proud of our current 11th
grade students who participated in the MCAS last year and scored higher than
the state average in all subtests. We are pleased with our advanced placement
scores, which continue to be above national averages. We would like to
recognize our twenty-six advanced placement scholars, as well as our
seventy-seven John and Abigail Adams Scholarship recipients for outstanding
MCAS achievement. We remain committed to improving instructional practices to
increase student achievement.
Beyond the classroom, NM students excel. Our wind
symphony group earned the right to perform at Symphony Hall in Boston
last spring, after earning a gold medal in the state MICCA competition. We
would also like to recognize our marching band and choral group for earning
awards and recognition at state MICCA competitions. Our athletic program
continues to compete at a high level in the Midland-Wachusett League, with
several athletes and teams qualifying for tournament play. The number of after
school clubs and organizations continues to expand each year, bringing our
current total to thirty-four. These programs provide students with different
interests and abilities the opportunity to become involved in our school
community.
NM students are socially aware and are committed
to improving the community beyond the school. We are very proud of our Relay
for Life event, which raised over $90,000.00 last year, and was the fifth
most successful student organized relay in the country! Our Adopt a Family
coin drive to support local families around the holidays was very successful,
and our New Orleans community service learning group will again
travel to help those still affected by Hurricane Katrina. NM students know the
importance of building a strong community both in and out of school. We are
extremely proud of our students for both organizing and sponsoring these
events.
We are pleased to work closely with our school
council to help build partnerships with families and community organizations.
We encourage open communication with parents and invite you to visit our
website at http://nmiddlesex.mec.edu
and click on the link to NMRHS.
Sincerely,
Michael Flanagan, Principal
NISSITISSIT MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Nissitissit Middle
School opened its doors for an
eighth year to 655 children. Our enrollment has increased due to the
reorganization of the Pepperell schools. This beautiful facility, constructed
on a 22 acre site, is designed to serve the middle school age population of
Pepperell. Students in grades 5-8 will experience a state of the art facility
which has the capacity to serve nearly 800 children. The school has a 504 seat
auditorium with a full stage that is equipped for professional productions.
Since our opening in September 2002, Nissitissit
Middle School has endured the loss of many teaching and support
staff positions. It is important for the Pepperell community to understand how
this has impacted the quality of education at the school. We have lost a
reading teacher, gifted & talented teacher, guidance counselor, (1) special
needs teacher, and (4) classroom teachers. It has become increasingly more
difficult to meet the needs of our middle school children. Each position’s
value can speak for itself. The remaining staff at Nissitissit
Middle School continues to work hard to give our children the
best education possible. We hope that future school budgets will include
greater resources which will enable us to bring back essential positions. In
order to maintain the level of excellence which parents have come to expect, we
must fully support our middle school teaming model.
The mission of Nissitissit Middle School is to recognize the unique needs of the middle school student while
providing a safe and respectful learning environment that inspires the students
to exhibit the core values of CLICK: Courage, Leadership, Integrity, Curiosity,
and Kindness. The Nissitissit Middle
School core values are direct,
powerful, and simple. These core values are intended to carry improvement
objectives into the future. The core values can be integrated into many facets
of Nissitissit Middle
School life for students, parents,
and faculty. Courage, Leadership, Integrity, Curiosity, and Kindness are values
appreciated by most individuals and are universally understood. They have keen
relevance in an educational environment. Together, the first letters of the
core values form the acronym CLICK, a contemporary, direct, and to-the-point
summary of these values. All members of the school community can carry these
values with them. The CLICK concept serves as a basis for a variety of future
initiatives.
The middle school is designed to support the arts
and has a band rehearsal room, general music classroom, choral rehearsal room,
and two art rooms with kilns. A health classroom and large gymnasium help
support our commitment to developing healthy activities for our students. A
modern well equipped fitness room is also part of our health/physical education
program. Technology and literacy resources are notably evident in our (2)
computer labs and state of the art library media center. We have added a robotics
program into our technology/science curriculum. Each classroom at Nissitissit
Middle School is equipped with three computers, cable
television, a 36 inch TV/monitor, dvd/vcr, and power point presentation
capabilities. Several smart boards are used throughout the school. We now have
(2) portable computer labs comprised of laptops. Each of our (9) science labs
are equipped with advanced materials which support the curriculum. Each science
classroom has (6) lab stations which are equipped with water, electricity, and
natural gas. The science lab experience for Nissitissit children is
outstanding.
The curriculum at Nissitissit reflects the
standards written within the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. We are
committed to offering a challenging and accelerated curriculum to our
students. Many revisions have been made in our math, science, language arts,
social studies, world language, and unified arts curriculum through the efforts
of district curriculum groups. In math, we offer an accelerated curriculum which
replicates math programming from Singapore. Students from Singapore have scored
amongst the highest in international math testing.
Nissitissit has powerful technology resources in
all classrooms. Each teacher has appropriate and safe access to the Internet.
The use of the Homework Zone allows parents the opportunity to use the Internet
as a strong communication tool with the school. They can view homework
assignments, the school calendar, their child’s schedule, and more. School
newsletters are emailed to a parent distribution list. Our library and two
computer labs have been equipped with outstanding resources. The media center
serves as a third lab for any classroom to visit. The school has recently
implemented the use of smart board technology as a new teaching tool.
The staff at NMS would like to thank the North
Middlesex Regional School Committee and the entire Pepperell community for
their continued support. We recognize the exceptional work that is done within
this school district which enables Nissitissit Middle
School to serve its children at a
very high level.
In closing, this will be my last town report as I
am retiring in June. It has been a tremendous honor to have worked in this
community for the past 16 years. Mrs. Diane Gleason will become the next
principal of NMS. The middle school model does work. Please continue to support
the needs of middle school aged children at Nissitissit!
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Tikonoff, Principal
VARNUM BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Varnum Brook Elementary
School (VBES) began the
2009/2010 school year on August 31st, and its December 2009
enrollment was 750 students, 378 girls and 372 boys. Due to the consolidation
of two Pepperell schools, Peter Fitzpatrick School (PFS) students were moved:
Preschool students to a new Squannacook Early Childhood Center (SECC) in
Townsend, and kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 students to Varnum Brook.
Grade 5 students, previously housed at VBES, joined grades 6, 7, and 8 at Nissitissit
Middle School. As a result, a new grade configuration is in
place at Varnum Brook Elementary
School, kindergarten through grade
4.
The mission of Varnum Brook Elementary School is to maintain a safe and nurturing environment where children,
parents, teachers, neighbors, and friends work together to foster academic
success and social growth. Children become confident learners who will be
prepared for the demands of the twenty-first century. The staff at VBES is dedicated
and committed to fulfilling this mission and providing a quality education for
all children. Joining us in this effort are:
PTO Our
strong parent/teacher organization works cooperatively with the school and
provides many opportunities for parent involvement. An active parent volunteer
program is a valuable mainstay of the school. We are fortunate to have this
type of partnership in Pepperell. This year’s officers are: Co-Presidents
Janelle Bell and Sue Bosworth, Vice President Roberta Frechette, Treasurer
Virginia Boundy, Secretary Sandy Abernathy, and Volunteer Co-Chairs Jennifer
Hallisey and LeeAnn Phoenix.
Crisis Response Team Members of the school staff, community, and
police and fire departments meet to develop and review school safety
guidelines, procedures, and protocol that must be in place in case of an
emergency. Fire, bus evacuation, and intruder/lockdown drills are held during
the year.
Teacher Advisory Council A group of teachers, representing their grade
level or assignment area, meet regularly with building administration to assist
in maintaining strong communication and to discuss and review issues/topics,
such as report cards, the need for additional soap/paper towel dispensers,
special events, curriculum, data collection, professional development, and
recommended changes due to school consolidation. Joining me and Assistant
Principal Eric Magnuson on this year’s council are Beth Piermarini, Audrey
Kimball, Kristen O’Connor, Jennifer Santosuosso, Sharon Sheehan, Eileen
Aubuchon, Kim McCarthy, and Mary-Alice DeCesare.
School Council Teachers, parents, and a community member join the principal in
the formation of the Varnum Brook Elementary School Council. School
improvement objectives from both PFS and VBES were edited and combined to form
this year’s plan. They fall under ten district goal categories: Curriculum and
Instruction, Professional Development, Accountability, Technology, Human
Resources, Communication/Partnerships, Resource Acquisition and Management, Plant
and Facilities, Image, District and School Climate, and Student Services.
These objectives include:
·
Developing lessons for
students in the area of social skills;
·
Promoting professional
learning communities;
·
Reviewing and analyzing
test/assessment results to improve instruction;
·
Updating, improving, and
managing building/campus security;
·
Combine PFS and VBES parent
groups and define its direction.
The Varnum Brook Elementary
School community will work to
maintain a strong advocacy for all children. We know that children have been
entrusted to us, and we make their safety, welfare, and education our primary
concern.
Respectfully submitted,
Pauline
A. Cormier, Ed.D.
Principal,
Varnum Brook Elementary
School
SQUANNACOOK EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
As principal of the newly formed Squannacook
Early Childhood Center I am honored to present my first annual report to
the citizens of Ashby, Pepperell, and Townsend.
Squannacook
Early Childhood Center serves 120 students ages 3, 4, and 5. Our class
ratios vary from 8 - 12 students. Currently, there are 7 integrated morning
classes, 5 integrated afternoon classes and 1 Substantially Separate Preschool
class which is full day. The integrated preschool educates special needs
students along side typically developing students. The class ratios are
significant in providing an excellent learning environment for all students.
The faculty and staff of Squannacook Early Childhood Center is a strong, cohesive group that works together
to provide a safe and challenging environment for all students. The teachers
and paraprofessionals have been incorporated from three different towns and
bring a unique teaching style for students benefit.
The district curriculum correlates with the
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. These frameworks are based on
recommendations from the Early Childhood Advisory Council to the Massachusetts
Board of Education. Teachers utilize a variety of instructional strategies to teach
various skills. This year we are continuing with the Scott-Foresman reading
series, in order to prepare our students for entrance into kindergarten
programs. Our newly opened gross motor room gives students an opportunity to
exercise during the winter months. Utilizing a grant from the Amanda Dwight
Entertainment Fund, students will participate in a performance of “Music
Programs for Children” by Rick Goldin.
Communications is important and to this end we
have a monthly newsletter, bulletin boards, lobby, and route 13 signs.
Connect-Ed, a district wide program, is also used for communication. Many of
our students arrive and dismiss with parents which offers a daily opportunity
for communication between parents and teachers.
Our staff consists of teachers who previously
worked in the towns of Ashby, Pepperell, and Townsend. All teachers are highly
qualified with degrees in Early Childhood Education as well as Special
Education. One of the strengths of this program is having a variety of
therapists centrally located. The program includes speech therapists,
occupational therapists, physical therapists and behavior specialists. Having
all therapists centrally located makes it easier to access their information
which fills students’ needs.
The newly formed Squannacook Early Childhood
Center has established a new Parent Teacher Organization. Our officers
consist of: President – Rachel Loprinze, Vice President – Karen Cerone,
Secretary – Karen Cusick, and Treasurer – Nicole Waite. The meetings take
place monthly at Squannacook Early Childhood Center. The first fundraiser, which took place in the
fall, was a success. The next fundraiser will take place this spring. We are
forming a committee to continue to use and maintain the beautiful Squannacook
Elementary School Gardens.
The support and assistance of Dr. Maureen
Marshall, Superintendent of Schools, and Mrs. Linda Rakiey, Chairperson for
Special Education, are greatly appreciated. The students and staff of Squannacook
Early Childhood Center recognize and appreciate the support of the
Ashby, Pepperell, and Townsend communities in providing the necessary resources
that allow us to develop an educationally sound program for integrated
preschool students.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris
Morassi
Principal
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS AND TOWN ENGINEER
Despite the difficult economic times and the
cutbacks that had to be made to face them, the Department of Public Works had a
productive year on many issues, including a couple of projects on which I have
been working on for the entire decade. I’d like to thank the Board of Public
Works for their tireless work in overseeing all operations and making sure the
decisions that were made represents the wishes of the Town’s residents. Also,
thanks to the dedicated employees of the DPW who continue to all they can to
make the Town’s roads, parks, cemeteries, Transfer Station, and Roads the best
they be.
Covered Bridge: Although it was not completed by the end of the
year as planned, the Town’s iconic Covered Bridge which carries Groton Street over the Nashua River, was nearing completion as 2009 drew to a close.
As I’ve personally been working on the project since May 1998, it was incredibly
satisfying to see the timber components of the structure being set into place
in December. With its completion early in 2010, the Pepperell Covered Bridge
will be the only covered bridge open to vehicular traffic in the state east of
the Connecticut River (and only one of two in the entire state)!
Because of the importance of the Covered Bridge to
the Town, historically as well as transportation-wise, I received permission
from the State’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for the creation of a River
Access and Scenic View area directly adjacent to the Covered Bridge. With
the help of some individuals in Town and civic groups, this River Access and
Scenic View area will be a great place to view the bridge and the river.
The site will also have historic items and information about the site and about
the previous covered bridges that crossed the river here since 1848.
Nashua Road Well:
In November 1998 an engineering consultant did a Town-wide study on the best
location for a new municipal well for the Water Commission. A March 1999
follow-up report narrowed these sites down to the best six and in January 2000,
a site located about 1,500’ west of Nashua
Road at the state line was
determined to be the best for a well. Final approval from DEP on this well site
was obtained in June 2003. Unfortunately, negotiations with the landowner
failed and the project was thought to be dead. When the land was sold to a
developer in what would become Emerson Village, the project was brought back to
life, and just in time as the DEP permit was about to expire.
With the cooperation of the developer and DEP, the
Nashua Road well is about to become a reality, over a decade
after it was initially identified as the best water source for the Town. In
2009, the land needed for the well (both in New Hampshire and
Pepperell) was deeded to the Town by the developer. With the infrastructure for
the distribution system for the well installed last year, 2009 was the year for
the design. The Water Division of the DPW obtained Town Meeting funding for the
design and with the intense scrutiny of the Designer Selection Committee, chose
a design engineer in July of this year. By the end of the year, the draft
design was complete and environmental issues were being finalized. It is
expected that the well will be advertised for construction in time to seek
funding authorization at the May 2010 Annual Town Meeting and that work will
begin in the summer of 2010. The Nashua Road Well, which was given the highest
priority in the Water Division’s 2008 Water Supply and Distribution Study,
should come on-line in early 2011. The Town will have a third aquifer as its
source of water, redundancy in the system, and an adequate supply through the
year 2025.
December 2008 Ice Storm Emergency: I’m sure we all remember the night of December
11, 2008 and the Ice Storm that continued through the next day, devastating the
entire region. Pepperell was exceptionally hard hit as trees and limbs littered
the Town, many roads were completely impassable, power was out for days in
parts of Town, and the Varnum Brook Middle
School was used as an emergency
shelter. After the DPW and emergency personnel immediately responded to the
emergency, 2009 was time for the cleanup. The Parks and Cemetery Division was
able to recover by the end of March but the Highway Division could only work on
clearing the rights-of-way after the snow melted. They worked on debris removal
Town-wide from the end of March through the end of May, frequently using two
crews at a time! By the time the work was completed, nearly 3,000 cubic yards
of debris had been disposed of.
The Town, however, had considerable success in
obtaining reimbursement from the Federal (FEMA) and State (MEMA) governments.
This office spent an inordinate amount of time submitting the necessary
paperwork but with the help of the Town Accountant and Town Treasurer, along
with that of various department heads, the Town was able to recover $177,662.18
in reimbursable costs. Thanks to all of those who helped out in this very
successful effort.
Sewer Division: The Sewer Division continued its expansion of
the sewer collection system in Town, which was started after the Treatment
Plant was upgraded in 2003 and the Sewer District was created in 2005. In July
the 2008/2009 project was completed, but not without problems. For the first
time since the DPW’s involvement in sewer work, we did not have the luck we had
with contractors that we had in the past. The first contractor’s contract was
terminated in 2008 because of poor performance and the second contractor’s work
was of such poor quality (compaction problems and not completing the contract
work) that the DPW had to finish the work. Things improved in 2009 when an
excellent contractor was the low bidder. The work on Brookline,
Mill, and Hollis Streets was completed in July very successfully and the
betterments assessed in October for those served by the project.
Planning for the 2010 extension project began in
early 2009 when the Board of Public Works approved extending sewer service to
the area off Brookline Street at the northwest limits of the Sewer District.
Requests for Proposals were sent out and again the Designer Selection Committee
did an excellent job in reviewing the numerous proposals received before
choosing a new designer, who has worked out very well. The project’s final
design was being completed as 2009 drew to a close. Because this area will
require a new pump station and because of variable grades in this area, it will
be the most complex project the DPW has undertaken but it will be worthwhile as
the extension will serve the last large area within the sewer district still
without sewer service.
Sewer also procured a new sewer line camera in
2009, replacing a very old one that was not reliable and very out-of-date. This
device is extremely important when there are problems in sewer lines, being
able to pinpoint the exact location of problems so any necessary repairs can be
made much more quickly. At the end of the year, Sewer was also moving forward
on a structure that would provide cover for the ultra-violet disinfection
system at the treatment plant, which will provide better protection for the
final treatment of the effluent before it flows into the Nashua
River.
Sewer was also involved in abatement processes for
both billings and betterments; applied for the State’s rate relief grants;
advising the Board on determining usage rates for 2010; and inspections on both
the sewer extension project (at great savings to ratepayers) and private
projects as well.
Water Division: Although moving the Nashua Road Well project
forward was the most significant undertaking for Water in 2009, it was not all
that was done. The next phase of installing new meter reading devices that
would facilitate remote meter readings was begun. When this project is
complete, the Water Division will be able to begin quarterly billing for water
bills (and also for sewer bills as these meter readings are used to determine
sewer bills as well). The DPW has this as a high priority, not only to help the
cash flow of these Enterprise Funds (which would help stabilize rates) but also
to allow homeowners to better budget for this expense than the current
semi-annual billings allow.
The Water Division also applied for a grant for
continuing it’s water conservation program in municipal buildings; joined a
mutual aid group called “MassWarn” which will be very helpful in an emergency
situation; and began the work necessary to relocate the access drive to the
Jersey II well site, necessary because the original access when the well opened
in the 1990s was not located on Town land, coordinating with the adjacent
landowner, the Conservation Commission, and the electric utility; and signed an
Inter-municipal agreement with the Town of Groton which would not only address
serving some Groton properties in the proposed Reedy Meadow subdivision (for
the protection of the two Town wells in this immediate vicinity) but also to
formalize a limited number of Groton properties that have been served by the
Pepperell system for decades.
Highway Division: Although slowed by reductions in their budget,
the Highway Division did its best to keep up the maintenance of the Town’s
roadways in 2009. Highway was able to do substantial road paving, using Chapter
90 funds from the State (the future of which is uncertain) and coordinating
with the Sewer Division on completed sewer projects. Parts of Nashua Road,
Brookline Street, Oak
Hill Street, Jersey Street, Harbor Street, and Jewett
Street were resurfaced in 2009.
Other Sections of Hollis Street and Nashua
Road had spot repairs done so as to
allow these sections to last a few more years when they can be completely
resurfaced.
The Highway Division also addressed drainage
problems on Elm Street, Oak
Hill Street, Main Street,
and Shirley Street in 2009, as well as investigate drainage issues
on Hollis Street for repair work in 2010. The repairs at Shirley Street required the rebuilding of a culvert under the old railroad
embankment that parallels it to the east, work which was coordinated with
private landowners.
The most challenging issue for the Highway
Division in 2009 as the year drew to a close was winter operations with a
reduced staff size and ever increasing costs of sand, salt, and fuel. Highway
will, as they have done in the past make the Town’s streets safe for travel in
the winter as quickly as possible but it may take a little more time than it
has in prior winters.
Also in 2009, Highway received updated permits
from the State for their vegetation control within rights-of-way program, for
the reuse of catch basin cleanings in an environmentally sensitive manner, and
for the annual bituminous concrete recycling program, which benefits the Town
tremendously by combining the proper disposal of broken asphalt with a process
that provides Highway with an excellent road-building material.
Parks and Cemetery: The Town’s parks, cemeteries, and common areas
once again were kept in excellent condition in 2009, which was not an easy task
with the budget reductions imposed on this Division. Athletic fields and
facilities were always well maintained and clean, and the cemeteries looked
great, especially on Memorial Day when they are most visited. Parks and
Cemetery also worked with the local athletic groups who contributed to some of
the materials needs of the Division, such as seed and fertilizer, and this was
greatly appreciated by the DPW.
Transfer Station: The Transfer Station, the third of the three DPW
Enterprise Fund operations (meaning they are funded by their own revenues and
not by tax-based funds), also felt the effect of the economic conditions but
not in the same manner as the others. This facility was adversely impacted by
the complete collapse of the market for recycled materials. This is an
international market that fell to zero in late 2008 and early 2009, severely
reducing recycling revenues. It bounced back during 2009 but the drop in
revenues already had its effect. The Board of Public Works decided that
although an increase in fees was justified, it was not the time to do so, and
that any revenue loss would be covered by the operation’s free cash. This is
not something that should be done as free cash has always paid for capital
improvements at the facility, but postponing fee increases for even one year
under these circumstances would lessen the economic burden on the average
homeowner in Town who use the Transfer Station.
I would also add that the operation extended its
contract for solid waste disposal for three years at a considerably reduced
tipping fee, more than 13% lower in the current year than was being paid in
2007 and will stay less than the 2007 fee through 2013. We also extended our
contract with our recycling company which allows the continued free use of a
compactor at the facility. We are looking at ways to change the operation
further in 2010 that will increase recycling revenues, as well as possible
participation in a regional recycling group. Finally, I would like to thanks
Donelan’s Market for continuing to work with the Transfer Station with the
selling of bag tags for trash disposal for the convenience of our customers,
and to thank the Pepperell Family Pharmacy for doing the same starting in 2009.
Town Engineer: As you are no doubt aware, the Pepperell
Director of Public Works doubles as the Town Engineer, which I believe results
in savings to the Town on many issues. This was never more true than in 2009
when there was much effort required on making decisions on subdivisions that
would be in the best interests of the Town. Considerable effort was needed to
ensure that Village Road and Pond Circle (off Park Street and known as North
Village Estates) met the requirements of the Town before they were accepted as
Town public ways at the Special Town Meeting in October. Countless site
inspections along with reviews of as-built and acceptance plans and bond values
were required. Another project, although not as far along as the others, Emerson
Village, the “40B” project off Nashua Road
at the state line also required many inspections and construction coordination
in 2009, a project under the jurisdiction of the Board of Appeals.
We were not as lucky with two other subdivisions, Julia Lane
and Beaver Creek Circle located between Nashua Road and Elliott Street, where the developer effectively abandoned the project by being
non-responsive to acceptance issues in 2009. By year’s end, the remaining bond
funds established for the completion of the project will be used to pay for
winter operations for 2010, then to cover project completion costs. I have no
doubt that the work will be completed, along with the completion of the
necessary paperwork, so the roads will be accepted as Town ways in 2010.
The Board of Selectmen appointed the Town Engineer
as the point person to coordinate investigations into possible uses for the old
Mill Site, located just north of the Main Street bridge on the west side of the
Nashua River. This position included coordination of the efforts of three
separate consultant’s studies for the site, dealing with NMCOG and Mass
Development, and providing all information required by the “43D” grant to the
state agencies that provided the Town with the grant worth more than $50,000.
The Selectmen also asked the Town Engineer to review a proposed new “40B”
subdivision off Leighton Street and to do initial investigations on the painting
of Town Hall. The Board of Health has been using this office to reduce the
testing required at the closed landfill off Boynton Street at DEP’s
approval, saving the Town about $20,000 over the next three years, to obtain
the services of a new testing consultant, and to coordinate the field work
required of this new consultant.
The Town Engineer also worked with Mass Highway on
the proposed replacement of the Mill Street Bridge over the Nissitissit River,
a project expected to get underway in 2010, primarily obtaining the necessary
easements necessary for the work and the coordination of the project’s public
hearing; coordination was done with the State and a private group on the
replacement of two culverts at Oak Hill and Chestnut Streets, where the
structures would be paid for by the State and installed by the Highway
Division; continued to participate on the Signs and Safety Committee along
with the Police Chief and Highway Superintendent to discuss roadway safety
issues and requests for signage made by the residents; site plan reviews for
the Planning Board on such projects as common driveways, the expansion of the
Family Pharmacy, improvements to the Shattuck Oil facility off Groton Street,
and a multi-family development on Parker Hill Way as well as bond reviews for
many ongoing projects; I also worked with the Planning Board at the end of the
year on updating the Town’s Water Resources Protection Zoning Overlay
Districts, also to correct an error in the existing WRPOD language; to work
with the Library on the use of a grant in excess of $10,000 for alternative
energy projects, which became the solar power exterior lights behind the
library; to continue working on the Town’s GIS (geographic information
system) program, where budget cuts made it temporarily a tool of the DPW
while still providing limited service to other Town Departments; and fully
implemented compliance by the Town with the State’s new regulations on open
trenches
As DPW Director, I worked with the Board to
coordinate their monthly meetings and to review the DPW bills on a bi-weekly
basis for the Board to approve. I also set up a new uniform service for all
divisions of the DPW (a much more time consuming effort than one might think)
as well as new cell phone service for DPW division heads that resulted in lower
costs; made many trips to the Registry of Deeds to record Town documents
requiring so; attended many meetings with the Selectmen, the Finance Committee,
and the public (including the 5-session Annual Town Meeting in May) on budget
issues; and set up trench safety training for DPW employees.
As I am now in my thirteenth year as Town Engineer
and entering my ninth as Director of the DPW, I have dealt with many fine
people who are truly dedicated to the Town of Pepperell. In 2009 the
Town government experienced significant change in replacing our Town
Administrator and Town Accountant, and very sadly losing our Systems
Administrator Den Connors. In 2010, we’ll be replacing our Police Chief and our
Town Clerk. As much as I’ll miss working with these talented people, I know
that change is a reality and a good thing. I look forward to working with the
new Town officials on whatever they need from me. I feel confident that the
Town will move forward successfully, despite the trying economic times we now
face, and I very much look forward to the challenges that face the Department
of Public Works.
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT, TREE
WARDEN, AND
MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
The following is a report from my daily activities
of the Highway Department, Transfer Station, Tree Warden and Moth Department.
This year we have still spent many hours cleaning
up some left over damage of the December
12, 2008 ice storm and we have been
looking for the Asian Longhorn Beetle. So far we feel that the beetle has not
landed in Pepperell. We have had some look a likes however.
We started out the New Year with the crews
cleaning up limbs and taking down damaged trees on all our streets. On January
5th we had a freezing rain and on the 7th 6" of
snow. More squalls on the 8th, another 8.5" of snow on the 11th.
with snow showers causing slippery road on 12th. We hauled snow
from our regular locations to allow for better sight at intersections etc. We
worked on the sidewalk with the snow blower and at times when needed we sand
them. More snow on the 18th 18" and 3" on the 19th.
Pothole patching is an on going job in the winter due to snow melting and frost
heaves. New England weather is very hard on the streets. 5"
more snow on Jan. 28th a total of 40.5" of snow for January.
February 4th – 3" of snow and on
the 8th we hit 50 degrees with lots of melting causing many pot
holes and having to put two trucks out to keep up with the holes.
Frost heave signs were put up on some streets that
get bad frost heaves in February. 3" snow Feb 19th 4" on
the 23rd. March 2nd – 13. 5" and on the 9th
5 more inches.
We assisted the Senior Center
with moving a small building from Nashoba Tech to the center.
We also helped at the Lawrence Library with
installing a handicapped ramp and repaired all the drainage from the building
replacing a drain pipe.
The voting booths were set up for voting and taken
down. We assisted the Water, Sewer and Parks Department through out the year
on miscellaneous jobs.
With the end of March in sight we will start to
clean all the sidewalks and begin to sweep the streets from the winter sanding
and salting.
Catch basins cleaning will get started in April.
The Highway Dept. installed new drainage on Brookline Street in a few locations while the Sewer project was taking place by the
Highway Dept. and one new catch basin was installed on Brookline St with a new pipe.
We improved the sight at the corner of Shattuck
and Harbor St. before we paved Harbor Street and also
repaired all the drainage on the street from Townsend town line to Shattuck Street.
Streets paved this year were Hollis St..- spot
patching Harbor and a section of Jewett Street- skimmed coat on Brookline
from the sewer job. Nashua Rd. from Hollis
Street to Hadley Rd.,
Oakhill Street from Lawrence to Park st. area. Jersey St from Groton
town line to Rt. 113 Lowell Rd.
The Highway Dept. again picked up all the orange
trash bags that the residents put along the street as part of the Pepperell
Clean-Up. This is a great service to the Highway Dept and the Town of Pepperell.
The mechanic repaired all fire department
equipment through the year this is a substantial savings to the town.
We hauled 1019.81 tons of trash to the burn center
in North Andover.
Another catch basin installed on Townsend Street. All cross walks were painted in May.
The dirt roads were graded when needed and all the
street signs were checked and repaired or replaced. After paving the street
the shoulders were all backed up with recycled asphalt. Roadside mowing was
done thru out the town.
A new culvert installed on Jewett Street before we put new asphalt and also added a catch basin for water
control on a problem area.
Again this year we had to deal with our pesky
friends Mr. Beaver. We had many culverts blocked and helped the Nashoba Valley
Conservation Trust with a large culvert on Shirley Street at the old
railroad bed.
We did weed control spraying on our sidewalks in
July.
Another catch basin installed on Mill Street
The Highway personal repaired cement and installed
a new hot top apron at the lower entrance to the town hall. We did some
repairs for the Parks Dept. at the basketball hoop area on the town field.
On October 18th we had snow flurries.
This year we had a private contractor in to do
some spot patching on Hollis Street in the shoulders with a power paving machine.
This worked out quite well and will hold this street together for a few years
until we can pave it shoulder to shoulder.
Repaired another basin on Townsend Street that caved in at #20 area.
On October 20th we had a temperature of
71˚.
Street painting of yellow and white fog lines were
done in October.
With November in sight we are putting sand and
salt into the shed and preparing the winter equipment.
This completes some of the activities of the
Highway, Transfer and the Tree Warden’s Departments.
I would like to thank all the departments through
out the town that we worked with for any help they have assisted us with this
year.
Respectfully Submitted,
Peter
J. Shattuck, sr.
Highway
Superintendent,
Transfer
Station Superintendent
CEMETERY AND PARKS
DEPARTMENT
During the year 2009 we continued to operate the
cemetery on a twelve-month basis. There were a total of 25 burials at Woodlawn
Cemetery and Walton Cemetery. The total revenue generated from these burials
was $8,375.00. Of the 25 burials, 16 were cremations and 9 were full burials.
This year a total of 15 lots were sold; 13 were
full burial lots, and 2 were cremation lots. The revenue generated from lot
sales was $5,225.00. The Department continued clearing a new section for
future expansion.
The Parks Department continues to maintain 50-plus
acres of recreational land. The Parks Department thanks the organizations that
contribute to the seed monies especially during these trying fiscal times.
I would like to thank the entire staff at the Town
Hall and the other Town Departments for their support and cooperation
throughout 2009.
Respectfully submitted for the Board of Public
Works,
Terence K. Spaulding
Cemetery & Parks
Department Manager
WATER DIVISION
In addition to the Report by Director of Public
Works, this is a supplemental report by the Pepperell Water Division.
For over 101 years the Pepperell Water Division,
formerly known as the Pepperell Water Department, has met the needs of the Town
as well as the requirements imposed by the State and Federal regulation. The
Pepperell Water Division continues to serve the community with dedication and
integrity.
With over 3,100 services (serving 10,000
customers); the Pepperell Water Division pumped 246 million gallons of water in
2009 and over that 12 month period the Division has met all drinking water
quality criteria without any violations.
The Water Division continued its aggressive
maintenance program. The Water Division has flushed the entire system to remove
iron, manganese, and other sediments in the water mains. During the flushing
process we inspect each hydrant and work the buried valves. Any broken hydrant
is quickly repaired or replaced if necessary. Any valve that is not functioning
properly is placed on a repair list where we can systematically repair or
replace the valves. Some valve replacements may be a part of a bigger main
replacement program.
In 2009, the Pepperell Water Division began a
radio read installation program to replace the old touch pad reading devices
located on the outside of the house or building being served. This replacement
will help facilitate meter reading and when completed allow for a quarterly
billing for all customers, most of whom now receive semi-annual bills. What
took several weeks to complete for each billing cycle under the old system will
only take several days when the installation of the new devices is complete. At
the end of 2009, we had installed 500 new radio read devices.
By switching to a quarterly billing we hope that
the bills will be more manageable for the rate payers. While the overall annual
payment would be the same, the payment schedule would be spread out to
quarterly (4) as opposed to semi annual (2).
During 2009 the Water Division responded to an
average of 3 service calls per day in addition to Dig Safe mark out requests,
water main flushing, and their normal operational duties. Some of the 2009
Service calls were as follows
15 New
water services or connections
152 Hydrants
repaired (150) or replaced (2)
9 Breaks
/ Leaks
5 Service
/ Main repairs by PWD (4 repaired by others)
>400 Hydrants Flushed and
inspected
After the Special Town Meeting in the fall, the
Pepperell Water Division began the engineering for the new well which will be
located off Nashua Road near the New
Hampshire boarder. This project
will provide a third source of water for the town. The construction phase of
this project will begin in 2010 if approved at the Annual Town Meeting in 2010.
It is only with a dedicated staff, sound
operational procedures and good planning that this could have been
accomplished. I commend all those that work in the Water Division and thank
them for the dedicated service.
Respectfully Submitted
Mark A. Richardson
Superintendent – Pepperell
Water Division
SEWER
& WASTEWATER DIVISION
In addition to the Report by Director of Public
Works, this is a supplemental report by the Pepperell Sewer and Wastewater
Division.
The Pepperell Sewer and Wastewater Division has
been operating as a stand alone Department or a Division of the Pepperell DPW
for 31 years. Over that time there have been many changes to the wastewater
treatment facility and the collection system has expanded greatly. Currently
the system consists of over 48 miles of sewer in Pepperell, 25 miles of sewer
in Groton, 8 pump stations and a 1.1 MGD extended aeration
wastewater facility in Pepperell.
In 2009 the Division continued to expand the
system by installing approximately 6,443 feet of gravity sewer main on Brookline Street, the remaining portion of Mill
Street and two sections of Hollis Street. This project was a continuation of the 2008 which was suspended
after having less than desirable contractors. The 2009 contractor, Albanese
D&S, Inc completed the project on time, within budget, and without any
problems. Inspections were done by Pepperell Sewer & Wastewater Division
personnel.
The Sewer & Wastewater Division also inspected
all sewer lines installed as service laterals or private collection systems
that will discharge to the Pepperell Sewer System. The largest private project
in 2009 was the installation of the first phase of sewer in Clark’s
Retirement Homes, Inc. off Mason
Street, which included approximately
1,000 feet of gravity sewer, 27 service laterals and 26 actual connections.
The remaining phase will be completed in 2010.
The Wastewater Treatment Facility treated 182.6
Million Gallons of wastewater and over 1 million gallons of septage in 2009.
The facility continues to have a removal efficiency of 96.6 percent for both
solids and BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), two main parameters used to show
how well the facility is performing. We continued the phosphorous removal
program from April through October as part of our Federal permit with good
success using polymers that help pull out the nutrient.
The Division continued its pro-active maintenance
programs, which include flushing, inspection and general maintenance of the
collection system and pumping stations in Pepperell as well as in Groton.
Under normal operation we have three wastewater Operators, two collection
system personnel, One Chief Operator and Secretarial support, each willing to
change their daily activities to pitch in wherever is needed. This facility
continues to protect two of the town’s most precious assets, The Nashua and Nissitissit
Rivers.
I thank all those that work for the Sewer &
Wastewater Division for the service and dedication they have shown.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark A.
Richardson
Superintendent
Pepperell Sewer Division
BOARD
OF HEALTH
The Pepperell Board of Health (BOH)
has undergone two major changes in this last year. 1) We went from an
appointed Board (by the Board of Selectman to fill open positions) to a fully
elected Board. 2) We went from a self administration to joining Nashoba
Associated Board of Health (NABH), as per the Town’s vote of May 4, 2009.
A brief overview of some of the budget changes the
BOH has faced. 1) In 2008 we had a budget of ($125,000) and we turned
back ($30,000) in collected fees to the general fund and we answered all calls
for service with the local BOH. 2) In 2009, we continued to respond to local
calls for service for the first six months and turned in ($20,000) to the
general fund. Our budget for 2010 is ($93,000) and we had ($63,000)
appropriated for joining NABH. This left a very narrow window to fund an
animal inspector, Robin Herbert and a Board Secretary, Sandra Grogan, in addition to supplies to run the office efficiently. NABH’s
arrival since July 2009, has been a smooth transition however; they now take
all fees as their own. The only fee that the BOH accepts is the Rubbish
Haulers; everything else is processed by NABH.
A fairly new NABH staff member, Kalene Garbarz, R.S. has been assigned as the Health Agent for the BOH and
she works under the Director, James Garreffi, CHO, R.S. at NABH. They are both
professional and are doing a competent job, aligning the smooth transition of
the BOH into NABH.
NABH by the numbers:
Environmental Information
Responses & Pepperell Office (days) 72
Food Service Licenses &
Inspections 16
Housing & Nuisance
Investigations 41
Septic System Test
Applications 11
Lot Tests 33
Plan
Applications 14
Plan Reviews 21
Inspections
25
Consultations 75
Well Permits & Water Quality/Well
Consultations 3/24
NABH Nursing by the
numbers:
Nursing Visits 2363
Home Health Aide Visits 1808
Rehabilitative Therapy Visit 1518
Medical Social Service
Visits 94
With assistance of the Board Secretary, we were
able to set up a Rabies Clinic and Hazardous Waste Day. Per the Town Meeting
vote, the secretary’s hours were reduced from 15 to 9 hours per week. A
position once held for a steady, necessary thirty-hour work week for more than
a decade. This has greatly impacted the BOH office, the need for BOH
services with the Board Secretary fielding calls and walk-ins has been put by
the wayside. We also set up and ran by ourselves in early 2009, a well
attended rabies clinic; held at the Jersey St. Fire Station. We also set up
and ran a Hazardous Waste Collection day, also at Jersey St.
and the attendance was substantial. We look forward to this years’ up and
coming Rabies clinic and Hazardous Waste Day, with support from NABH. We would
like to thank the Fire Department and Highway Department and all the volunteers
for their help at both clinics.
NABH
- Here is a brief snapshot of their services thus far. NABH took action on
over 500 calls for service from 7/1/09 to 12/24/09 which ranged from
environmental, housing, food, nuisance and general BOH
duties The Health Agent, Ms. Garbarz handled well over 300 hours of
Sanitation services to the community. Also the assigned staff nurse, Sharon Fata,
RN has been working with the Senior Center, the elderly housing and attends Triad meetings
to ensure a smooth transition with Public Health Nursing. The BOH and
NABH set up and ran two flu clinics for H1N1 and seasonal flu with great
success. There were over 500 shots administered at these clinics and they were
staffed by 11 NABH nurses. “I believe the transition to NABH membership has
been smooth and we greatly appreciate all the assistance and support from the
Chairman and the Board, the Board Secretary and the staff at the Senior
Center. I believe we are providing the Board and the Town of Pepperell
with excellent, dedicated staff and encourage any comments on the services you
may have. If any time you feel the service is not acceptable please don’t
hesitate to contact me at the office.” (J. Garreffi)
Even with all the cuts faced, not only by the BOH but
rather all Town Departments, we hope to maintain quality of services to our towns’
people. We as your local BOH and NABH look forward to continue our services
and maintain commitment to consistency and quality.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the BOH:
Bob Lambert,
Chairman
John Marriner, Member
Al Buckley,
Member
Sandra
Grogan, Board Secretary
Robin
Herbert, Animal Inspector
& NABH staff:
Kalene
Garbarz, R.S. Health Agent
Sharon
Fata, RN. Staff Nurse
VETERANS’ SERVICE OFFICER
Veterans’
Services Officers are veterans who are officials appointed by the mayor in
cities and the boards of selectmen in towns. They work under the direction of
the Massachusetts Commissioner of Veterans’ Services. One Veterans’ Service
Officer may serve as a District Officer for two or more contiguous
communities. The Veterans’ Service Officer’s job is to counsel, advise, and
assist local veterans and their dependents in whatever way he can. Duties
encompass but are not limited to dispensing state-sponsored veterans’ benefits
and assisting veterans and their dependents or survivors in obtaining federal
benefits or entitlements for which they may be eligible; disbursing monetary
and medical benefits and act as the veterans’ burial agent for his municipality
or district and arrange for proper interment of deceased veterans. The
Veterans’ Service Officer provides assistance in the areas of housing,
employment, medical and educational needs, and alcohol/drug rehabilitation. The
Veterans’ Services Officer also coordinates with local hospitals, nursing homes
and eldercare facilities to insure that veterans or widows are receiving proper
treatment and all entitlements. The Veterans’ Service Officer is expected to be
an active participant with local, state, and federal human services agencies to
ensure that maximum effort is placed on veteran-related problems and needs.
The Veterans’
Service Officer holds office hours on Wednesday from 1 PM until 4 PM. The Veterans’ Service Officer can be contacted at 978-433-0342. Also, appointments
can be made for the convenience of the applicant applying for veteran’s
benefits.
Each case is
serviced with utmost discretion. Individual cases are confidential and not open
to the public. Approximately 45 Veterans are assisted each year in Pepperell. Approximately
$21,696.26 was given to local veterans for assistance.
Goals for
2010
Contact Iraq
& Afghanistan veterans and provide the necessary information on benefits.
Continue to
use all available means to disseminate veteran’s information to the public.
Support the
Army Community Covenant.
Respectfully
submitted,
Joseph J. Mazzola
Veterans Service Officer
Lt. David Scott and Sgt. Jim
Peters are thanked by Charlotte Bennett for the annuaul Christmas party
sponsored by the Pepperell Police Department.
VETERANS’ GRAVE OFFICER
There was an addition of (7) Veterans interred as
follows at the Pepperell cemeteries during the year of 2009: Woodlawn = 5,
Walton = 0, Pepperell Association = 0, and St Joseph’s = 2.
TOTAL INTERMENTS BY WARS
|
War
|
Walton
|
Woodlawn
|
Pepperell
Association
|
St. Joseph’s
|
Total
|
|
Revolutionary
|
27
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
27
|
|
War of 1812
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
Civil War
|
13
|
9
|
10
|
5
|
37
|
|
Spanish-Am.
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
10
|
|
World War I
|
1
|
44
|
33
|
39
|
117
|
|
World War II
|
9
|
145
|
51
|
85
|
290
|
|
Korean War
|
2
|
24
|
6
|
9
|
41
|
|
Vietnam
|
1
|
10
|
2
|
6
|
19
|
|
Persian Gulf
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
|
Other
|
0
|
5
|
3
|
0
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
53
|
240
|
106
|
152
|
551
|
Respectfully Submitted,
Terence K. Spaulding
Veterans’Grave Officer
COUNCIL ON AGING
Mission Statement: The Pepperell Council on Aging is dedicated to
providing services and programs for the senior citizens in the town of Pepperell that will promote independence, dignity and well being.
We would like to thank the residents
of Pepperell for their support during this financially difficult year. The Senior
Center was at risk of closing completely if the override vote did not pass.
Thankfully, the Senior Center’s doors remain open and the seniors who have
given so much to this Town are able to continue to utilize all the services we
have to offer.
The Council on Aging Board meets the
first Wednesday of each month at 2:00 in the Pepperell Senior Center, located on 37
Nashua Road. This meeting is open
to the public. Board members serving during 2009 were: Chairperson Merle Green,
Vice Chairperson Cathy Forrest, Secretary Dianne Kazanjian, Jerrilyn Bozicas,
Sandra Dube, Barry Fuller and Nancy Harris.
The Senior Center
is open Monday through Friday from 9-3 and provides a gathering place where
seniors enjoy social, recreational, health and educational activities. Regular
activities include Aerobics, Bingo, Bowling, Cards, Computer Classes, Knitting
/ Crocheting, Line Dancing, Men’s Group, Movies, Painting, Singing and Yoga.
The Council on Aging had hoped to extend its hours of operation to accommodate
those seniors who continue to work during the day, but due to budgetary
constraints we are not able to attain this goal.
The Council on Aging also provides a
variety of services to the residents of Pepperell including; fuel assistance,
support groups, weight management, health benefit counseling, friendly
visitors, AARP tax preparation, File of Life, congregate and home delivered
meals. Over 6,200 meals where prepared and served to home bound residents this
year.
Health and Wellness Clinics include
blood pressure checks, hearing screenings and Influenza Clinics. We offer
ongoing education provided by a variety of professionals on medical issues.
As the only social service agency
operated by the town, we work closely with the Veteran’s Agent, Fire and Police
Departments, as well as outside agencies including Nashoba Nursing,
Montachusett Home Care, Montachusett Opportunity Council, the Lowell Transit
Authority and the Central Mass Area Agency on Aging
In 2009, 1,805 of Pepperell’s
residents were age 60 or over. This is a 5% increase in Pepperell’s senior
population from just two year ago. Programs are designed for residents over 60
but there is no age qualification to utilize them. A monthly newsletter, which
provides up to date information is available at various locations around Town
and on line www.town.pepperell.ma.us/coa
The Council on Aging oversees the
Property Tax Work off Program. This program enables homeowners 60 years old and
over to work in a Town Department in exchange for a maximum $600 real estate
tax credit. Six seniors participated in this program and assisted several
departments in Town including the Town Clerk, Treasurer’s Department, Library
and the Water Department.
The Senior Center
has over 130 volunteers who together have worked over 7,000 hours. Without our
incredible volunteers we would not be able to provide the services we do. Our
Lady of Grace Church, Pepperell Christian Fellowship, our own Seniors and
various community groups take turns preparing and serving a home cooked meal
every Wednesday to a full house at the Senior Center. Our Friends’ Group has also been vital in
supplying equipment and ongoing support.
Several non-profit groups and other
town departments continue to utilize the building after hours. The Senior
Center has been designated as a temporary Emergency Shelter.
We are grateful for the community’s
ongoing support of the Council on Aging and appreciate your donations and
volunteer work.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon
Mercurio
COA
Director
CULTURAL COUNCIL
In Massachusetts, public funding for the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences
is provided through a central state agency, the Massachusetts Cultural Council
(MCC), and through a network of local cultural councils that serve every city
and town in the Commonwealth. The Pepperell Cultural Council (PCC) is one of
over 335 local and regional councils representing all 351 cities and towns in
the state.
The mission of the MCC is
to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts,
humanities and interpretive sciences in order to improve the quality of life
for all Massachusetts residents and to contribute to the economic
vitality of our communities.
The MCC receives an
annual appropriation from the Massachusetts Legislature and funds from the
National Endowment for the Arts, the Wallace Foundation, and other sources.
One of the ways in which it dispenses funds is through distributions to local
cultural councils, which then regrant the funds to individuals, schools and
organizations in their own communities. For the 2010 fiscal year, the
Pepperell Cultural Council was allocated $4000.00 from the MCC. Programs and
events funded in whole or in part this cycle included:
- Richard Hamelin – Pied
Potter Hamelin’s Magical Potters’ Wheel
- Fitchburg Art
Museum – 75th
Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft
- Nissitissit Middle
School Shakespeare Now – Performance
of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
- Gregory Maichack – How
to Pastel Paint Expressively – Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”
- Pepperell Council on
Aging – Numerous Programs for Seniors
- Project Graduation
Parent Group – Jonathan Edwards Trio concert
- Edward Cope – Reading
is Magic
- Nashua River Watershed – Wildlife and Their Human Friends
- Lawrence Library – Sustainability Day
- DER
Work of 1000 – Marian Stoddard: The work of 1000 documentary Project
Announcements of grant
application deadlines are made in the form of press releases to area
newspapers. In the fall, the Council meets to review and vote on the
applications. After the funds are granted, the list of grant recipients, along
with the program or event to take place, is posted at the Lawrence Library and
Town Hall and is run as a press release in local newspapers. A Calendar of
Events is being prepared to be distributed to the community.
To date the Council has
held 6 meetings for Fiscal Year 2010. The Pepperell Cultural Council maintains
a “streamlined” status. All members are required to complete an online
orientation program.
Linda Shaw, Chair, Grants
Administrator Mariea Eckstein, Secretary
Irene Leddy, Co-Treasurer Sharon
Tetreault, Co-Treasurer
Lynn Black, Publicist Judith
Duggan, Member
Debra Reis, Member
LOWELL REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
ADVISORY BOARD
The Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) is
one of fifteen regional transit authorities established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1974 dedicated to the mission of increasing
the use of mass transit on a regional basis. Headquartered at the Charles
A. Gallagher Intermodal Transportation Center in Lowell, the LRTA provided more than 1.4 million
passenger trips on their fixed route bus service in nine cities and towns in
fiscal year 2009. Additionally, the mobility of elderly and disabled citizens
is enhanced through the Council’s on Aging and the LRTA Road Runner program
providing nearly 66,000 passenger trips in fiscal year 2009. The LRTA serves
an area of over 300,000 population with an operating budget of more than $8
million annually.
The LRTA provides Road Runner van service to
Pepperell town residents aged 60 years and older and those who are disabled.
The LRTA provides weekday curb-to-curb transportation service in Pepperell and
surrounding towns on a 48 hour advance registration basis. All vehicles are
fully accessible and wheelchair lift-equipped.
Many trip purposes can be accommodated: shopping,
medical appointments, visits to the Senior Center for activities, social and recreational. The
fare schedule is $1.00 one-way within town, and $1.50 one-way out of town each
way. Road Runner service may be arranged by calling 1-800-589-5782 or
978-459-0152.
The ridership for Pepperell in Fiscal Year 2009
was 1,847 passenger trips.
The LRTA Road Runner operates a 16 passenger 2005
Ford Minibus within the Town of Pepperell. New vehicles are acquired through the
Commonwealth’s Mobility Assistance Program, which provides 80% of the cost of
the new vehicle, while the Federal Transit Administration provides the
remaining 20% matching share.
Respectfully submitted,
Barry
Fuller
LRTA
Advisory Board
LAWRENCE LIBRARY
Two thousand nine (2009) was a year of contrasts.
The first half of the year was one of uncertainty at Lawrence Library as
patrons and the Friends of the library focused their efforts to save the
library from closing. An information campaign began in full swing in April in an
effort to successfully pass the 2010 library budget by override ballot; and on
June 29th Pepperell voters turned out in record numbers to pass by a
convincing 72%, the override ballot to fund the library, senior center and
community center. The remainder of 2009 was filled with much joy, relief and
experienced an additional surge in new library cards.
This year the library checked out 132,676 items
resulting in a 5% circulation increase. Interlibrary loan items borrowed and
requested decreased by 1% (Total items borrowed and loaned were 16,037. The
decrease is the result of the Interlibrary loan suspension in June while the
library awaited the override vote outcome.) The library website usage was (up
14%) as reflected by the increased usage of the on-line databases, web page
hits, room booking software, event calendar program registration, museum pass
bookings and the summer reading module. The foot traffic for the year was over
77,000 an average of 320 library users per day.
In spite of the budget uncertainty, it was another
busy year for adult, teen and children’s programming with the library offering
444 special events/programs. The Summer Reading Program theme for 2009 was Starship
Adventure @Your Library. Our overall summer reading numbers were
slightly less because the yearly in-school library promotion was suspended in
May and June, while we waited for the outcome of the override vote. Building
upon the successful 2008 summer reading program, we continued utilizing the online
software which allowed readers to share their thoughts about the books they
read with other readers in their age group.
A few of the special event/program highlights for
the year:
- For
children – Bubble Blast, Stories on the Lawn, Baby Adventures, Prince and
Pirate Party, Wii Family Day, monthly movies, Starship Mime and Davis
Bates & Roger Ticknell Starship Constellation Stories both
underwritten by the Pepperell Cultural Council.
- For
teens - monthly Teen Knitting, Guitar Hero, Video Gaming Night, Movie
Matinees, a Horse Information program, Cartooning with Andy Fish
(underwritten by the Pepperell Cultural Council), and more.
- For adults – Patriot Fife & Drum Duo
(underwritten by the Pepperell Cultural Council), programs focused on
stretching the family budget such as: monthly Tech Talks workshops using
free OpenSource Software, multi-part Job Search & Career Seminar,
ReDesign and Stage to Sell; Yoga with Elise, monthly book discussion
groups, Learn to Play Bridge classes, Cooking with Chocolate, Easter
Pysanky, Poetry Night, author nights and more.
The library provided meeting space for 279
non-profit programs/events. Some of the community groups were ARC, Folk Dancing
with the Nashoba Valley International Dancers, Democrat town committee,
Destination Imagination, La Leche, NRWA, Spanish Conversation Group, Brownie
and Boys /Girls Scout meetings, PACH, Conservation and the Cable Committee.
Artist exhibits in the Art Gallery
included: local artists Maurico Puente, James Triehy and Nan Quintin, the
Nashua Artists Breakfast Club, the Pepperell Siding Model Railroad Club, the
Squannicook Colonial Quilt Guild and the Nashoba Valley Artists.
The Friends of the Library once again provided
their unparalleled support. When informed that
the 2010 library budget was zeroed and to be placed on an override ballot, they
tirelessly rallied with signage, a town-wide informational mailing and numerous
visibility rallies. Their efforts helped save the library! The Friends’ annual
fundraisers this year included the toy yard sale, the weekend book sale in
March, two Home Show Market Place and the very popular OctoberFest, which
provided a wonderful sampling of wines, beers, assorted foods, piano music and
art raffle by Nita Casey. Once again these events plus membership made possible
the $10,000 donation for the purchase of children’s books and programs.
Additionally, the Friends purchased more picture hooks for the hang system in
the Art Gallery, 30 folding chairs, and a coat/chair storage rack
for the Art Gallery. The Friends continued to fund all museum passes
(a total of 12 museums); sponsored the refreshments for the artist gallery
receptions, hosted Earth Day events, contributed funds to start a DVD
gaming collection, coordinated numerous holiday craft programs and the annual
Holiday Tree Lighting. Their dedication, contributions and support are always
needed and greatly appreciated!
We continued to enhance Internet access by adding
a wireless printer and a signal booster to the wireless network expanding the
free wireless Internet access signal throughout the building. This continues to
be used daily by patrons who bring in their own laptop computers. In February,
the library was officially named a designated FEMA Disaster
Recovery Center for Pepperell.
In our continuing effort to increase our energy
efficiency, the library added 2 rain barrels for use in watering the gardens
and applied for and awarded the Clean Energy Choice Grant which will provide
solar powered lighting for the rear of the parking lot and increase our
collection of how-to alternative energy books. We additionally added 3
Kill-a-Watt detectors to our circulating collection. These units help residents
monitor their home energy usage and determine the efficiency of appliances.
In the coming year, the library will work to meet
the continuing budget challenges forecast in these economically difficult
times. Our goal is to maintain certification and the continuation of technology
offerings and expanded programming for all. On behalf of staff, Library Board
of Trustees and Friends of the library, a heartfelt thank you
Pepperell for your support. If you haven’t stopped in recently to see the
changes, please do. If you don’t have a library card, stop by for one – it’s FREE
and a great way to help stretch your budget! We hope to see you soon.
2009 Statistics
|
Patron Count
|
7,016*
|
4%
increase
|
Library Programs
|
444
|
15% increase
|
|
Item Count
|
57,034
|
3%
increase
|
Attendance
|
10,697
|
10% increase
|
|
Items Checked Out
|
132,676
|
5% increase
|
Non-Library Room Use
|
279
|
0% increase
|
|
Web Visitors
|
71,942
|
9% increase
|
Volunteer Hours
|
918
|
54%
increase
|
|
Web Hits
|
1,033,414
|
14% increase
|
PC usage
|
6,219
|
9% increase
|
* A system-wide purge by all libraries of inactive patrons in
June of 2009 dropped our patron count to 6,737 and by the end of December 2009
the number of cardholders had rebounded to 7,016.
What’s your library worth to you?
Massachusetts Library Association has an online Library Service Calculator (http://69.36.174.204/value-new/calculator.html) which lets you determine the value of services/savings
your library provides to you. The total dollar value of services rendered
for 1 month at Lawrence Library is $251,311! A very good
return on your tax dollars.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debra
Spratt, Director
For
the Library Board of Trustees
RECREATION
COMMISSION
It
was a very challenging fiscal year for the Town of Pepperell
in 2009. The town however, generously enabled the Recreation Commission to
keep our Community Center opened and also voted to keep the Summer Playground
Camp in tact.
The community Center and the Recreation Commission
continue to offer many programs for all ages. There are also several trips
available each year to places like New
York City, baseball games, etc.
Make sure to check out the town’s website to keep updated on the diverse and
exciting programs available.
The Winter Ski Program continues to be successful
with 174 participants enjoying a series of Friday night skiing at Wachusett
Mountain. The Commission wishes to thank the many
volunteers and to Jim Pantano who continues to run this program very
efficiently.
Summer Playground was in its 2nd year
with Brendan McNabb as the director. Due to fundraising it was cut back by one
week but with the great ideas and positive energy driven by Brendan and the
counselors, it was another great season. Over 100 kids attended on any given
day.
Crowd favorites such as the Easter Egg Hunt and
the annual Ice Cream Social continue to draw large attendance.
The commissioners would like to give our sincere
thanks and well wishes to Sue DeFillippo who retired as the Sis McGrath
Community Center Director in November. Sue gave the town many years of
dedicated service and she will be missed by all.
Thank you again to the residents of Pepperell for
your unwavering support of the Recreation Department. Without your help, the
programs and activities that enrich our community would not exist.
Respectfully Submitted,
On September 3, 2009, the Town of Pepperell lost a dear friend and co-worker
with the passing of systems administrator, Deputy Emergency Management director
and Hook & Ladder Company firefighter/EMT Den Connors. Den’s two year
battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was fought with grace, courage and
determination and he was an inspiration to all who knew him.
