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Date: 12/12/2019
WILBRAHAM – National Grid and Verizon presented a joint request at a public hearing at the Wilbraham Select Board’s Dec. 9 meeting. Representative Diane Cloud presented the request for the installation of a jointly-owned pole located approximately 670 feet west of Daniele Drive and a pole to be located at 676 Tinkham Rd.
Cloud said the poles would be needed to tie a proposed solar farm into the grid. With no comment from the public, the plan was approved by the board.
National Grid presented a second request to lay underground conduit to install a pull box at 78 Oakland St. The project will require some excavation. Again there was no public comment and the project was approved.
Tom Sullivan, tax collector for the Town of Wilbraham, asked the select board to allow the town to enter into a payment arrangement with CIMA Italian restaurant and Chop House, located at 2200 Boston Rd., for delinquent taxes.
Sullivan said the business owes the town $13,940 in taxes, with interest still accruing.
Under current law, if taxes have not been paid after one year, the select board can withhold the renewal of a business license. The restaurant has requested that it be allowed to pay the full amount at the end of the year, which the select board approved.
Another public hearing focused on a request by Mark Kibbe of Kibbe, LLC to allow the installation of seven 1,000-gallon, above-ground propane tanks. The tanks are to store fuel for a propane-fueled kiln for drying wood.
Kibbe is consolidating two current businesses, one in Wales and one in Hampden, into a centralized wholesaler lumber business at 2666 Boston Rd. He says he currently uses kiln drying at the Hampden location with no problems.
Kibbe said he had been in touch with the fire department throughout the project. The board approved his request.
A presentation by Jeff Christensen, president of EntryPoint Networks, to the select board regarding broadband options for the town was rescheduled from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6.
The Board is scheduled to conduct interviews for the Senior Center Building Committee and a captain position in the fire deparment on Dec. 11.
Sergeant Michael Paradise submitted his retirement notice, which will be effective April 9, 2021. Matthew Bouffard, a part-time dispatcher submitted his retirement notice, as well. Both notices were accepted by the board, and they approved the hire of a replacement dispatcher.
Town Administrator Nick Breault informed the board that there would be an upcoming meeting from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation regarding the Turnpike exit renumbering project in Worcester on Dec. 16.