2019 Annual Town Report
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Town of Ashburnham Annual Reports of the Town Officers For Calendar Year 2019 www.ashburnham-ma.gov Edited by: Mary Calandrella Cover Photo Credits Cover: photo of a waiting room installation of a collage produced by exPressive Print and Promotion for Ashburnham Dental Arts on Main Street in Ashburnham. The installation measures 5 ' by 4 ' and is comprised Gicleé prints of photos taken by local photographers on archival canvas. Each are framed with a metal floater frame. Cover photography by: Left to right top: Unknown, Glenn Hathaway, Lorraine DeSouza Left center: Donna Doherty, Glenn Hathaway, Donna Doherty Left bottom: L. DeSouza, L. DeSouza, L. DeSouza, Unknown, L. DeSouza Layout and Printing done by exPressive Print and Promotion , 33 Main Street Ashburnham MA As always, I want to thank all of the departments, committees, boards and commissions for submitting your reports and all of the town resident who allowed us to publish their wonderful photos that reflect a collective experience of life in our community. MARY CALANDRELLA Table of Contents SECTION 1 TOWN INFORMATION SECTION 3 PUBLIC SAFETY Ashburnham at a Glance ..............................2 Ashburnham Police Dept. ..........................41 Town Hall Dept Contacts ............................3 Emergency Dispatch ..................................47 Legislative Elected Officials ..........................4 Fire/EMS Department ...............................48 Organizational Chart ...................................5 Animal Control .........................................50 Municipal Officials ......................................6 SECTION 4 EDUCATION Town Counsel ..............................................8 MCAS Levels .............................................53 Volunteer Recognition ..................................9 Strategic Learning Plan ..............................54 Retirement News .........................................9 Enrollment Information .............................55 Vital Statistics ..............................................9 AWRSD Superintendent’s Message .............56 Board of Selectmen Letter ..........................10 Oakmont Regional High School ................57 Town Administrator ...................................11 J.R. Briggs Elementary School ....................60 Special Town Meeting –Clerk .....................12 Overlook Middle School ............................62 Annual Town Meeting–Clerk ....................14 School Health Services ...............................63 Voters Guide ..............................................21 Digital Learning Services ...........................65 Clerk Candidate List .................................22 AWRSD Employee Salaries ........................66 Town Election Results ...............................22 Cushing Academy ......................................71 Economic Development Commission .........23 Montachusett Regional Advisory Board ..........................................23 Vocational Technical School .......................74 Water and Sewer Commission .................... 24 SECTION 5 INspECTIONAL SERVICES Board of Selectmen Board Liaisons .............24 Zoning Board of Appeals ...........................89 Department of Public Works ......................25 Electrical, Gas and Plumbing .....................90 Municipal Grounds ....................................25 Planning Board ..........................................91 Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant ...........26 Conservation Commission .........................92 Transfer Station .........................................29 Building Commissioner..............................94 SECTION 2 FINANCIAL Board of Health .........................................95 Energy Committee .....................................31 Nashoba Board of Health ...........................95 Town Vehicle Mileage ................................32 Sealer of Weights and Measures ..................98 Employee Earnings .................................... 33 SECTION 6 COmmUNITY LIFE Salaries by Department ..............................34 Parks & Recreation Committee ..................99 Tax Collector .............................................35 Council on Aging ....................................104 Treasurer ....................................................36 Cultural Council ......................................106 Capital Planning Committee ......................37 Veterans Services ......................................108 Town Accountant ......................................38 Open Space and Recreation ......................109 Board of Assessors ......................................40 Stevens Memorial Library ........................110 Trustees Treasurer’s Report.......................112 Habitat for Humanity ..............................113 Citizen’s Our Town Gallery .....................114 Town of Ashburnham—Annual Town Report 2019 TOWN OF ASHBURNHAM AT A GLANCE 80 miles of public roads and 20 miles of Ashburnham was first settled in 1736. private roads weave their way between The name is of British origin, possibly pristine forests, fields, farms and lakes. drawn from the Earl of Ashburnham, There are 3,957 parcels in Ashburnham in Pembrey, or the Sussex community of with 1,164 water customers and 675 Ashburnham, UK. sewer customers. Thousands return each spring to enjoy their summer homes here. Originally established as a collection of land grants given to officers and soldiers We are very proud of Stevens Memorial of the 1690 expedition to Canada, Library, located on 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham was called the “Plantation within Winchester Park clustered within of Dorchester-Canada” until its eventual the town center. Our awarding winning incorporation in 1765. Not-For-Profit Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant is guiding the town towards Today, governed by a Town Charter, a the future with their green energy initi- three member Board of Selectmen and a ates and excellent customer service. Town Administrator our Annual Town Meeting is on the first Tuesday in May Our regional school district AWRSD and the Annual Town Election is on the shared with the Town of Westminster– last Tuesday of April. Ashburnham is a provides high quality. Cushing Academy, quintessential New England community. a renowned private boarding school, is located in our historic downtown area. As of our last census our population was reported as roughly 6300 with 4,377 Ashburnham has a lot to offer as you will registered voters. The FY19 Residential/ see in the reports to follow. Commercial Tax Rate was $22.55 and $20.10 for FY20. Our signature 1832 ft Mt. Watatic is one of the last bald top mountains in North Central Mass without a cell tower and it attract thousands of hikers throughout the year in all weather conditions. Our Places of Worship Our Trails/Hills/Mounts Our Water Resources Apostolic Lutheran Church – Route 12 Mount Watatic – Midstate Trail Cheshire Pond Ashburnham Community Little Watatic Mountain Upper Naukeag-Reservoir Church – 9 Chapel Russell Hill Town Forest Lower Naukeag People’s Church – 56 South Main Street Bush Hill Town Forest – 3.5 Loop Trail Little Watatic Pond St. Denis Catholic Church – 85 Main St. Packard Hill Lake Watatic Sanctuary — Main Street Meeting House Hill Stodgemeadow Pond Ashburnham Rail Trail Lincoln Pond Our Recreation Areas Our Scenic Roads Factory Pond Bickford Ball Field Sunset Lake Danny Marden Little League Field Bush Hill Road Young Road Winnekeag Lake Landry Field Cashman Hill Road Willard Road Marble Pond Sweeney Memorial Playground Corey Hill Road Wilker Road Billy Ward Pond Whitney Ball Field Cushing Street Russell Hill Road Wallace Pond Winchester Park East Rindge Road River Styx Road Lake Wampanoag Our Cemeteries Hastings Road Packard Hill Road The headwater of the Millers, Nashua Fairbanks Cemetery Lashua Road and Souhegan River Watersheds Meeting House Hill Cemetery Designated in May 11, 1974 Bear Meadow Brook New Cemetery Bluefield Brook St. Denis Cemetery 2 Town of Ashburnham—Annual Town Report 2019 TOWN HALL OFFICES 32 MAIN STREET AshBURNHAM, MA 01430 PH: 978-827-4100 FX: 978-827-4105 Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. • Friday CLOSED Department: Town Administrator/ Board of Selectmen Department: Conservation Commission Contact: Mary Calandrella Contact: Rich Turcotte eMail: [email protected] eMail: [email protected] Extension 0 Extension: 4, Option 2 Department: Treasurer/Collector Department: Board of Health Contact: Sara Paz Contact: Rick Metcalf eMail: [email protected] eMail: Extension: 1, Option 2 Extension: 7 Department: Assistant Treasurer/Collector Department: Land Use Contact: Mary Ellen Kelly Contact: Heather Ruziak eMail: [email protected] eMail: [email protected] Extension: 1, Option 2 Extension: 6 Department: Town Clerk Department: Land Use Contact: Michele Johnson Contact: Donna Burton eMail: [email protected] eMail: [email protected] Extension: 3 Extension: Department: Assessors Department: Planning Board Contact: Contact: Please leave a voice message eMail: [email protected] eMail: [email protected] Extension: 2 Extension: 4, Option 1 Department: Town Accountant Department: Contact: Julie Costello Town Hall Custodian Contact: Extension: 1 option 4 Jon Sell eMail: [email protected] Extension: 8 EMERGENCY 911 Municipal Grounds Department School Superintendent Office 8 Williams Road 11 Oakmont Drive 24 Hour Dispatch 978-827-5714 General Office: 978 - 827- 4122