Noise complaint heading to Ashfield Agricultural Commission
ASHFIELD — After the Selectboard heard from Ashfield resident John Angleman about a noise complaint at its July 13 meeting, and the Board of Health discussed the issue on Tuesday, the matter will head to the Agricultural Commission.
The noise complaint from Angleman regards roosters. In documentation provided to the Selectboard, he writes that beginning in February, roosters at 261 Main St. have been crowing daily at 4 a.m., “often continuing for extended periods.”
“As the situation stands at present, we need to defer until after we hear from the Agriculture Committee,” Board of Health Chair Evelyn Resh said. “They need to view whether the operation in question is considered a farm.”
Ashfield is a Right to Farm community, after the approval of a bylaw at the 2006 Annual Town Meeting. In his documentation, Angleman argues that this situation would not apply, as it is not a commercial agricultural operation.
The Board of Health cannot make a determination until the Agricultural Commission presents its findings. Its next meeting is set for Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m.
All articles pass at Buckland Special Town Meeting
BUCKLAND — The 24 registered voters who made their way to Buckland Town Hall for Tuesday’s Special Town Meeting unanimously passed all four articles presented.
The meeting took just over half an hour, with the majority of discussion centered around Article 4. This article asked if the voters would authorize the Selectboard and the Board of Assessors to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with two hydropower companies, Great River Hydro and CRP MA Gardner Falls LLC.
With this article’s approval, it doesn’t mean that the town necessarily will enter into a PILOT agreement; it merely gives the town the option.
Articles 1 and 2 were the operating assessments to the Mohawk Trail Regional School District and Franklin County Technical School, which the town originally voted down at Annual Town Meeting. However, because the majority of member towns in both districts voted to support the assessments, the districts’ total budgets passed, meaning Buckland was obligated to pass the two articles.
Article 3 was another piece of housekeeping, asking if the town would raise and appropriate $30,000 for the Shelburne Falls Wastewater Treatment Facility’s operating budget. This was passed at Annual Town Meeting in May, however, while the $30,000 existed as a line item in the budget, it was ultimately not added to the total sum.
Checkerspot Farm offering free meadow tours
COLRAIN — Checkerspot Farm will offer free tours of its native plant meadow on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26.
The farm, located at 30 Jacksonville Road, will offer tours at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. both days. The farm asks that those who are interested sign up at tinyurl.com/47dnf6z5.
Colrain accepting public comment on Griswold Memorial Library landscaping plan
COLRAIN — With landscape and drainage work needed at Griswold Memorial Library, the town is accepting feedback on a proposed design plan.
The proposed plan, which can be viewed at tinyurl.com/tz2abpfs, is designed to address existing runoff issues, improve the library’s accessibility, add structures to support library programs and public gathering space, and increase parking.
If residents are interested in providing feedback, they can do so at tinyurl.com/2vrat457. If residents would rather leave written feedback, they can do so either at the Colrain Town Offices or at Griswold Memorial Library.
