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Date: 9/15/2021
WILBRAHAM – The owner of the US Tae Kwon Do Center, Kyung Won Kim, was called before the Wilbraham Board of Selectmen after at least one event was hosted at the studio without proper permitting. The gathering at the 28 Stony Hill Rd. facility, which involved alcohol, led to complaints from neighbors and a police officer not being allowed entrance when responding to the call. Another such gathering had been advertised prior to the meeting.
Police Capt. Ed Lennon presented a list of provisions requested by the Police Department, which included proper permits be applied for ahead of events, including those for alcohol and requests for crowd control. Without the proper permits, Lennon said there was a “high likelihood there will be public safety issues,” and more neighbor complaints.
Board of Selectmen Chair Robert Boilard assured Kim that the board typically approves parties and events.
Town Administrator Nick Breault added, “It’s vitally important that a business let us know what’s going on,” to avoid public safety problems. The owner agreed to the provisions.
Police Chief Robert Zollo and Lennon told the board that the department would be providing a police detail at the upcoming Sept. 23 Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) meeting. Superintendent Albert Ganem requested the detail, at the district’s expense, after a handful of community members at the last meeting pushed back against a state-wide school building mask mandate, creating a short standoff between them and the school official. To avoid escalation, the people were allowed to remain at the meeting.
Zollo explained that the district provides a remote participation component via Zoom for residents who cannot or choose not to wear a mask.
“If you want to make a stand, that’s fine, but there are still kids in there,” Zollo said of school buildings. While the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not have the authority to pass laws, he said, it does have the ability to decide what is allowed on school property. “We would hope that they would comply,” with those rules, said Zollo. He added that the police will make an arrest, if necessary.
Wilbraham Fire Chief Michael Andrews told the board there has been an “uptick” in medical calls for COVID-19-like symptoms. Emergency Dispatch Director Anthony Gentile reported his department had noticed a similar trend and has modified the questions dispatchers ask to filter those calls. No emergency response personnel had come down with the respiratory illness as of that night. Andrews said that a shipment of personal protective equipment for the town had arrived, and first responders were prepared.
Breault asked the board to consider a mask mandate. The body had decided in August to leave masking as a recommendation in town buildings rather than a mandate, but Breault told them that several surrounding towns had implemented mandates since then.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Carolyn Brennan looked over cases numbers and remarked to Acting Health Agent Lori McCool that weekly cases had begun to decline over the previous few weeks. She asked her colleagues, “What’s going to be the data to decide,” when to implement a mask mandate.
“I’m not an antivaccination person, I understand [COVID-19], but I’m not a mask person,” Boilard said. He suggested the town leave it up to individual buildings, such as the police station, library and town hall, whether to mandate a mask.
Breault, who oversees the town hall, responded, “I’m wearing a mask. This isn’t performative, it’s a personal choice.” He said he would recommend masking in the town hall, with signage at the doors, but not mandate it.
The board signed the memorandum of understanding between Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Hampden and Monson to share health services. Only Longmeadow had not yet signed the document, which has been hammered out by the towns over there past few months.
Board of Selectmen Clerk Terri Goodrich volunteered for the HWRSD Strategic Plan Committee and Tracy Farnsworth was selected from the community to serve on the committee, which will draft a blueprint for the direction of the district over the next five to seven years.
Matt Villamaino, a member of the Senior Center Building Committee, expressed concern that language in the Special Town Meeting warrant will confuse voters. While the facility has been referred to as a senior center in the past, Article 5 of the warrant requests $10.9 million for “an adult community center.” Boilard assured Villamaino that the project and language will be explained at the Special Town Meeting.