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PAGE 12 A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, May 10, 2012
WARREN TM I FROM PAGE 1
old building complex, citing the potential
for “balance between housing and commercial
activity.” He stated to voters, “In
the village of West Warren, there is water
and sewer access, good highway access
and the buildings are already there.
It is ideal.” With a cap of 50 percent of
development being for housing purposes,
the remaining 50 percent would be for
business activity, which Scanlon supports
as being a benefi t to the town’s tax
situation.
A concern raised by many - what the
impact of a potential 190 housing units
would be on schools - was brushed aside
by the assurance that only 20 percent of
such units would be able to be three-bedroom
units under the proposed Article.
Scanlon reminded voters that when they
were all building, they brought children
in to town with them as well.
Rich Saporowski of Bragg Road was
one resident who expressed very serious
concern about the number of children
that such housing could bring in, and his
concern was answered with the belief
that this type of housing would be attractive
to seniors, childless couples and single
folks, most likely. Scanlon stated that
he felt that the town has been thinking of
possible housing development there as a
situation of low-income housing, and that
is not the intent of the developers. Marcot
spoke up and said that the long-term
intent would be to sell off the units individually
as condominiums, but for the
present they would be looking at apartments
with the ability to be revamped
“when the time was right. Marcot cited
that it is too diffi cult a fi nancial time for
folks to obtain mortgages for condominiums,
and it would not be in the best interest
of anyone to develop those buildings
as such.
While many folks uttered agreements
with Saporowski, and other residents
who spoke against such a zoning change,
Sue Libby of Warren suggested that an
overlay would give more control to the
people of the town. “Right now, “ she
said, “he can do whatever he wants over
there, he can put in 290 units, he could
tear down the mill buildings, we have no
control. This zoning change would limit
housing to 190 units, it would let some
control remain with us. He can still develop
right now, without any limits.” Ultimately,
the debate was tabled by a vote
to do such initiated by the moderator,
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and the fi nal vote for the Article passed
93-yes to 29-no. A motion to reconsider
was defeated.
OTHER TOWN MEETING NEWS
During the Special, 11 warrants were
brought forth for public acting. All 11
received favorable votes by the people
of the town, most of them unanimously.
During the short meeting, there was very
little discussion on the Articles presented.
Clarifi cation was requested on Article 9,
which appropriated a transfer of $1,500
from free cash to the Billing Clerk Account,
and Chief Dolan explained that
the additional funds, over the $4,100
budget request approval in 2011, were
to fi ll the gap between the now-resigned
billing clerk who had previously handled
the billing for ambulance service bills
and the current system of billing which is
outsourced to a company billing service.
The old billing clerk was paid a fl at rate
of $80/week, where as the company currently
being used receives 5 percent of all
billing receipts collected per week, thus
making budgeting for this department
expense a bit less exact.
Some folks also asked for clarifi cation
on what exactly the Leachate Account
cited in Article 11 was for, and clarifi cation
was given that this was part of the
landfi ll budget, covering the expenses of
pumping and treatment of the leachate.
The Finance Committee was on hand to
lend their recommendation to all articles
brought forth during the meeting.
After a short recess, the Annual Town
Meeting was offi cially opened a few minutes
past 7 p.m. The majority of the 26
Articles were simple, self-explanatory
and quickly accepted by the town voters
present. A few, however, brought forth
questions and concerns from the audience.
Article 3 concerned appropriation
and transfer of funds for various general
government expenses for FY2012, and
the moderator opened the room for a lineby-line
inquiry after each general section
was approved. Of particular note, the
appropriation of the $156,000 allocated
to the libraries in the budget fell under
scrutiny as the distribution of that money
was set for vote with a $88K/$68K split,
in favor of the Warren library over the
West Warren library.
Elizabeth Kelly, a member of the West
Warren Library Committee and the Library
Needs Committee, made a motion
to amend appropriation
to the same budgeting as
FY2011, with Warren receiving
$78,371 in funding
and West Warren receiving
$78,371. While the
ATTEMPTED MURDER I FROM PAGE 1
general vote seemed audibly close, the
moderator called for a count and the motion
was approved 130-for over 9-against.
Another Article that brought forth a bit
of question was Article 10, requesting an
additional funding in the sum of $4,300
from free cash to the Assessor’s offi ce for
the purpose of placing the maps and data
information of said offi ce on the town’s
website.
Seth Blackwell, Board of Assessor’s
member, responded to a resident’s concern
over this being a wise expense.
Blackwell explained that the project of
putting the information on the server
would cost $2,500, and that there would
be a yearly software support cost of
$1,800. Given the ease of access and the
Spiewakowski said that Ostiguy arrived at Bennett’s
residence with his girlfriend, telling her to wait in the
car. “According to the report, Ostiguy came outside
with three individuals when they began attacking him
with baseball bats,” he said. “He was screaming for help
and told his girlfriend to call 911. The three men chased
him onto the street and continued attacking him. His
girlfriend drove towards the individuals, two of which
FESTIVAL I FROM PAGE 1
admits that, in fact, his is the only authentic Leertouwer
strain, but “We don’t like to boast”.
The festival began as a friendly, small-town happening,
sponsored by the Quaboag Historical Society and
the West Brookfi eld Historical Commission, 10 years
ago. A local woman volunteered to cook the asparagus
chowder for which she is now justly famous. Pies were
baked, other savories served. Growers brought plants,
fl owers, honeys and so on. Artists, artisans, and crafts
people brought unique and lovely items to purchase or
admire; animals, raised for fun, food, or yarn, abounded.
Kids brought frogs to jump; a Maypole dance charmed
and enhanced. Music, of course, accompanied the myriad
activities, the bustling, busy, happy day of celebrating
the earth’s goodness and its promise. And when that
day ended, everyone knew the event was a keeper.
In the ensuing decade, the festival’s activities, offerings
and participants have multiplied. Asparagus
cookbooks, featuring offerings from local cooks, were
printed and eagerly snapped up. Thousands of appreciative
visitors now attend each year, enjoying the festive
day as they peruse the oft-times unique offerings of
TURLEY PUBLICATIONS PHOTOS BY JENNIFER ROBERT
On hand to help check in residents attending the night’s meetings were students of Quaboag Regional High School,
past and present. Seniors Megan Williams, Taylor Wilk and Karyn Waldron, along with 2009 alumni Olivia Beadry
manned the check-in table at the doors to the auditorium.
A generous act on behalf of the WCES PTO, “family fun night” was offered in the gym, allowing children to play while
their parents attended the meeting. Teachers and parents volunteered their time for this event, and many children
attended. The bouncy house brought into the gym for this occasion was a huge success.
fact that the data would be streamlined
from this point on, the additional funding
would actually be a cost-effective move,
saving the town, and thus the taxpayer’s,
money in the long run. The Article was
approved. Articles 19 and 20 were heard
out of order, by request, and both were
voted yes to a good deal of applause and
cheers from the auditorium. Andrew
Schwenker presented a motion to reconsider,
as “lots of parents are here, and the
Superintendent and School Committee
need to go to West Brookfi eld to present
there, so now would be an appropriate
time to reconsider, while they are all still
here.” That motion to reconsider was defeated
by voters.
had black masks on, and helped Ostiguy into the car
and took him to the hospital.”
Spiewakowski said Ostiguy had severe lacerations
on his arms, knees and the back of his head.
He said that it appears the altercation began over a
gold coin that Ostiguy had in his possession and the men
believed it to be worth a signifi cant amount of money.
The three men were ordered to be held without bail
in Worcester District Court.
everything earthy, artisanal, and excellent. The festival
is still free to the public. Live music is provided by local
musician Dick Chase and friends. The Maypole dance
will be performed at 1 p.m; the frog jumping contest follows
at 1:30 p.m. Free activities and games for children
take place all day. Strolling magician Ed the Wizard will
perform throughout the day. Asparagus Alley offers the
now-famous asparagus chowder and numerous other
lunchtime selections; you won’t want to miss the pies.
There are tables and benches, or just grab a hay bale and
sit awhile, enjoying the music, the splendid common, the
commotion, the crafts, and the photo ops. Bring the kids
and grandchildren, the more the merrier.
Although it has been stated that, on the third Saturday
in May, all roads lead to the West Brookfi eld Flower
and Heritage Festival, West Brookfi eld’s beautiful
common is, in fact, located at the junction of Routes 9
and 67. Look for the bandstand just off the head of the
green, and the fountain near the center. Plan to spend
the day. There is much to see and do in the area. There
is no rain date.
For further information, go to the Asparagus Festival
Blog http://asparagusfestival.blogspot.com/