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| By Courtney Llewellyn Reminder Assistant Editor EAST LONGMEADOW The Board of Selectmen had a full plate with a lengthy agenda for their March 18 meeting. Progress occurred on a variety of subjects during discussion. Updates on a temporarily closed eatery and an historic property in jeopardy were among the many items discussed. Parade Assembly Location Carl Ohlin of the 4th of July Parade Committee spoke with the Board of Selectmen about moving the assembly location for the annual summer parade from Birchland Park to Shaker Road. Ohlin said Birchland Park was getting "more and more congested" every year and that a new assembly area would help to alleviate that congestion. "If we were to alter the assembly area, move it to Shaker Road, it would eliminate some problems," Ohlin said. The committee has already spoken with the fire and police chiefs about the new location. Selectman Joe Townshend said the committee should also seek the permission of the businesses along Shaker Road that the parade would be lining up in front of before moving forward. Jack Villamaino, chair of the Board of Selectmen, told Ohlin he made an excellent case and that the committee "had the board's blessing to pursue" this assembly area change. "The parade is the greatest time to be alive in East Longmeadow," Selectman Jim Driscoll added. Pasquale's Restaurant Update The selectmen wanted to speak with Richard Torcia of Pasquale's Restaurant on North Main Street about the state of the business. The restaurant's marquee has stated that the owners have been on vacation for over a month, and Villamaino told Torcia the board wanted to know what the status of the establishment was because the board serves as the group in charge of Pasquale's liquor license. "We had four partners running the business and one left because the other three bought him out," Torcia explained. The partner that left was a minority holder of the business, with only a 20 percent share. The reason the restaurant has been closed is because of all the legal work that needs to be done to complete the shifting of ownership. "We plan to re-open within the next 30 days," Torcia said. The Norcross House Headway was made between the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and the Friends of Norcross House at the March 18 meeting, but the historic home and property are not yet secured. "The CPC authorized a grant of $235,000 that we need to pay off the mortgage debt," Mary Swords, president of Friends of Norcross House, said. The money would be used to pay down the mortgage and finish renovating the house and barn before both the land and the house are deeded over to the town. "This is the single most important property in town with historical significance," Swords noted. "Our goal is to preserve this property and make the house a focal point for the center of town." CPC Chair Timothy Seeley said if approved, the grant would place the property under historic preservation restriction, which would run with the land and the deed "through eternity." The restriction would ensure the house and property remain in their re-created state. Seeley's only technical concern was that the CPC hadn't yet received a declaration to say the property is historic. Once that document is submitted, the plans can move forward. "The house will stay in private hands," Swords explained. "The land [approximately two acres] will all be portioned to East Longmeadow." Together, the house and the land were appraised at $550,000 - $570,000 the week before last. Swords said the Friends of Norcross House have raised $100,000 in the past five years for the house which was used for mortgage payments and maintenance. Money was gathered through both fundraisers and having various groups rent the house for events at a very reasonable price, Swords added. "We want people in town to use this house as their own house," she stated. "We want to stabilize the use of the house and then develop programs for it." "This was a huge priority for me as the person that brought up the Community Preservation Act for the town," Driscoll told those assembled. "I think [the house] is a great asset and a phenomenal project." Townshend agreed, adding, "Let the public know you're running out of money and that once the money is gone, you're done." Town Counsel Jim Donahue said adding the grant for approval as an article at the Annual Town Meeting is "doable," as long as all the restrictions and plans for the house are approved. The Board of Selectmen plan on adding an article about funding for the Norcross House to the town meeting's warrant at their next meeting if all the paperwork is in order. |