Borrego Solar a No-Show for Continuance of Happy Hollow Road Public Hearing

by Inanna Arthen
No representatives from Borrego Solar attended the scheduled continuance of the public hearing before the Planning Board on December 17 to address concerns about trees being cut down above the Happy Hollow Road solar installation.

Planning Board Chair Guy Corbosiero said, "You know, the last time they were here, I asked them to show us the angle of the sun as compared to how it hits the panels and when the trees are actually in the way, instead of just saying, hey, we need twenty-feet trees. I don't see any of that information."

Homeowners Richard and Doreen Ames appeared before the Planning Board for the third time to discuss their objections to the planned clearing of trees. They reported that they met with Borrego Solar representatives as agreed during the public hearing discussion on November 19, but were not entirely satisfied with what they'd heard.

Because no engineer or representative from Borrego Solar was present, the Planning Board could do little besides listen to the concerns of the homeowners. Planning Board member Burt Gould expressed some frustration, saying, "How can we have a public hearing when the engineering firm didn't show up? It's unfair to the abuttors. I suggest that the office send a strongly worded letter saying, look, you're not going to get anything unless you show up here and satisfy the people.

"They submitted a plan in the first place. And their problem basically is, at this time of year when the sun just isn't getting up, and they're not going to be generating any juice. That's what this thing is all about, it has nothing to do with the abuttors, they could care less about the abuttors and you know it.

"I've been down there for a couple of years, the lot itself frankly looks like a dump, if you take a look at it from Happy Hollow Road, and I think we ought to make them clean it up, and I think we ought to make them satisfy the abuttors who've got to put up with this."

Doreen Ames reiterated her comments at previous hearings, saying that she only agreed to the proposal two years ago because Borrego Solar promised they would not touch the trees on the hilltop. Removing the trees, she said, would allow sand from the open sand pit to blow onto abuttors' property, as well as harming the environment and the rural character of the property. "Personally, I don't care about them making millions of dollars," she said. "As a homeowner, how is this going to make my life better? It isn't." She stated that the solar array is "in a hole" in the gravel pit site and the problem of shading should have been obvious before now.

Richard Ames agreed with the Planning Board that Borrego Solar's plans for removing trees and replanting are "deliberately vague." He argued that the company is "going to do what they want to do." He stated that at the meeting between Borrego Solar and homeowners, "they were very vague, too," saying they would have a plan with diagrams showing the replanting. "I think solar's great if you can get cheaper electricity," he said. "I do have a problem with people thinking that we're fools."

Planning Agent Alison Manugian explained that it was less harmful to the environment for the trees to be cut in winter when the ground was frozen hard, but replanting would have to be done in the spring. She displayed a list of plant and tree varieties that would be planted on the screen. She reported that Borrego Solar has offered a $20,000 surety performance bond to cover the cost of the replanting. They will cover the landscaping architect separately.

The Planning Board and homeowners agreed that little more could be done without Borrego Solar present to answer questions and clarify concerns. The Board voted to continue the hearing to January 21, 2020 at 6:35 p.m..

(For previous Winchendon Courier coverage on this situation, see "Happy Hollow Road homeowners not happy with Borrego Solar" in the October 17-24 edition, and "Happy Hollow Road Homeowners still concerned about proposed tree cutting" in the November 21-28 edition.)

Power Outages Surprise Winchendon Residents

by Inanna Arthen
Numerous Winchendon residents experienced loss of electrical power over the weekend, apparently due to issues with transformers. The outages were unexpected given the mild weather.

On Saturday morning at about 9:10 a.m., resident Jill Sackett spotted and reported a transformer in flames on a pole on Mill Circle. Residents on Lakeview Drive and around Lake Monomonac lost electrical service for approximately four hours, with power restored at 1:10 p.m.

On Sunday, residents in the neighborhoods around the fire station reported losing power, again because of issues with a transformer.

Narcan Training at the Winchendon CAC

Beginning in January, the first Tuesday of the month the Winchendon CAC will be offering Narcan Training in affiliation with the Worcester Aids Project. You will learn to administer Narcan and receive a Narcan dispenser. Class space is limited--pre-registration is required. Please come into the office or call 978-297-1667 to register. The first class will be held on Tuesday, January 7. The Winchendon CAC is located at 273 Central St., Winchendon.

Winchendon Fire Department to Bolster Fire Prevention Efforts with FM Global Grant

The Winchendon Fire Department has received a $2,200 fire prevention grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers. The award will be used to assist with prefire planning to efficiently collect and track data related to local community buildings. The information will help the fire service respond in an emergency situation.

Through its Fire Prevention Grant Program, FM Global awards grants to fire departments—as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide—that best demonstrate a need for funding, where dollars can have the most demonstrable impact on preventing fire, or mitigating the damage it can quickly cause.

Because fire continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide, during the past 40 years FM Global has contributed millions of dollars in fire prevention grants to fire service organizations around the globe. Locally, the company has awarded grants to a number of Massachusetts-based organizations A formal check presentation will be conducted in the near future between Chief Thomas Smith and FM Global Representatives at the Winchendon Fire Station.

Clear Those Fire Hydrants!

If there's a fire hydrant near your house...it's the fire hydrant the Fire Department will need if your house is on fire. With that in mind, help keep hydrants clear of snow and accessible this winter, for everyone's safety!

Hydrants should be completely clear of snow and ice, with an open area of three feet on all sides and clear open access from the street. It's a little extra work, but if the hydrant is needed, every second counts!

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