Town Manager Updates Fin-Com, Discusses Projects and Figures
New Winchendon Town Manager Justin Sultzbach attended his first official meeting with the Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 8, only three weeks after his job began with the May 17 Annual Town Meeting. He presented a range of topics he wants to address immediately.
Sultzbach stated that he has been meeting regularly with Town Accountant Joanne Goguen, and wanted to inform the Committee there is currently in town reserves nearly $130,000 in Transportation, about $180,000 in Unemployment, and about $35,000 in Health Care, for total reserves on hand of just under $350,000.
"In terms of setting expectations, I want to use this meeting as an opportunity, if I may, to set expectations with both the Finance Committee and things I am also looking at to wrap up the year, and other expenses of things that may have not been previously identified," Sultzbach explained.
Sultzbach addressed newly discovered Town Hall structural issues, capital items, Blair Square, and more. "We have issues on the exterior building envelope that I am looking to address. There are locations on the building where brick is so loose you can actually walk up and take them out, and while I know we don't want to spend money when we don't have to, my fear is if we continue to put this off, it's going to be twice to three times more expensive going into the future," Sultzbach stressed about Town Hall's structural issues.
The Town Manager discussed how short term and long term condition assessments along with repairs on the building need to be done before the building reaches the costly structural needs of the Senior Center. "The preliminary estimated cost of brickwork that can be reached just from the ground level is currently about $15,000. I noticed an area on the back of the building where a vine was growing into it, and I pulled out 20 feet of vine from inside the wall of the Town Hall.
"If this is in the walls, then water is getting in the building, eroding the structure. The cupola on top of the building has parts ready to fall off it, and we need to address these issues both now before the end of this budget year, and before next winter," Sultzbach said.
On a more positive note, the Town Manager informed the Committee that the town has again benefited from the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation with a 50 percent match on costs to upgrade the existing town radio communication system for Police, Fire, and DPW. "We are also looking at the redevelopment of Blair Square between Cumberland Farms and Dunkin' Donuts, which has been on the Master Plan for about a decade or more now and is a bit of a hazard, and paving projects. We need to address these areas to encourage the right type of commercial growth in town and broaden our commercial tax base to take some of the burden off residents."
Sultzbach continued, "I would like to use some of these reserve funds remaining to go towards a one hundred percent committed shovel ready design to work on Blair Square in conjunction with the state funded Central Street redevelopment project we are going to be doing in the spring of 2022. We can't get a number for the community in construction costs if we don't have these designs in hand."
Discussing payment options, Sultzbach explained, "I know we are looking at about $350K in reserve funds, and I also understand we don't want to spend all of that down as we want to balance the budget a little bit with some free cash, and we need to save some free cash for next year because last year should be a prime example. You have no clue what you are going to run into. So I am not looking to spend that cushion down, but I am looking to put it to work as much as I realistically can."
Speaking of State and Federal COVID funding, Sultzbach advised they were keeping a close eye on figures, as Round 1 has to be spent down by the end of the current calendar year, with about $275,000 left in spending set to expire.
"We will be working hard first and foremost to make sure police, fire, and public safety have all their PPE, and find ways to benefit the town in COVID-19 relations as much as possible. Additionally I submitted to the state the application for the second round of the American Recovery Act, which is designed for infrastructure for shovel ready designs. We are very much on top of it and being very aggressive seeking out those funds."
In closing, Sultzbach said, "I am not looking to set off any alarms, but I am looking to set expectations. I wanted to let this Committee know these are things that are not 'Nice to haves' but are things you 'Need to do' and can't really be put off. The buck stops here and I will keep you posted on some of the figures as we get them over the next few weeks."
When thanked for the project updates and discovery of things needing to be quickly attended to, Sultzbach said, "Thank you, and I am just getting started, so buckle up."
DCR Not Charging for Admittance to Local State Beaches
After a rainy Memorial Day weekend with highs barely reaching 50 degrees, locals looking to enjoy great weather flocked to Lake Dennison State Park on Sunday, June 6 as temperatures reached 90 degrees, providing for Sunday fun in the summer-like sun.
With some 150 cars on average filling a large portion of the parking lot throughout the day, and well over 200 vehicles coming and going by sunset, there was a welcome surprise for all enjoying both the beach and picnic area. There is currently no entrance check point to pay a user fee for park access, and admittance is currently free.
Normally, beginning Memorial Day weekend and running through Columbus Day weekend, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) requires either a state purchased parking pass, or a fee of $8.00 per vehicle per day at all state parks, according to the DCR website. User fees may vary by park location. Due to COVID-19, all that has changed.
A call was placed to the locally managed Otter River State Forest on Sunday, June 6, inquiring if state parking passes for sale online are currently necessary to enter state park public beaches.
An attendant on duty provided the following answer. "While we acknowledge state park passes are available for sale online at the DCR website, payment is not being taken at this time in any form as many visitors pay in cash, and due to COVID-19 and the changing of money in hands and its shared contact, the state is allowing free of charge access to state beaches until further notice, subject to change."
With over 200 vehicles coming and going on Sunday, June 6, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts potentially lost up to $1,600 in revenue in just one day at just one the state's many publicly managed beaches. The local bordering Otter River State Forest and its much smaller Beaman Pond Recreation Area are also, by this temporary policy, free of charge, including picnic areas, a professional length basketball court, volleyball court, and other facilities.
When asked if the state park campgrounds which are part of and connected to the adjacent state park beaches were currently under the same free of charge policy, the attendant answered, "No, those individual sites are not free of charge and their standard associated fees for use are still applicable."
An additional call was placed on Tuesday, June 8 to the ORSF office asking if and when life guards would be on duty, as none were in attendance during the park's busy weekend. In reply a staff member said, "We are being told by the state lifeguards will be arriving at the beaches sometime soon in the middle of this June. That is what we are being told as of this time, as most are often college students who are still coming home, but we hope to see them soon."
A quick visit to the DCR website for both a listing of fees and where you would purchase a state parking pass says nothing about state beaches and facilities being free. The linked Reserve America website again says nothing about Mass State DCR managed beaches currently not requiring a state parking pass or fees, and also says purchased annual parking passes are non-refundable.
Sunday-Funday! Hundreds of people enjoyed their time under the long awaited hot sun while taking a dip in the cool waters of Lake Dennison.
Photo by Keith Kent
Beach Hair Don't Care - Kayaking, tubing, splashing, and mothers keeping a watchful eye on their children was all on display to the enjoyment of many as signs of life slowly returning to normal made its appearance.
Photo by Keith Kent
Upper body workouts. During the day on Sunday June 6, many kayaks and stand up paddle boards provided both enjoyment and fitness to water enthusiasts of all ages. Seen left in photo, a SUP rider takes a break coasting in the day long gentle breezes.
Photo by Keith Kent
