DOG OFFICER / ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Animal calls varied greatly this year, consisting of not only dogs and cats but numerous livestock and wild animal problems. This past summer I took a trapping course offered by Mass Wildlife and became a certified trapper. I also took and passed the Problem Animal Control Test given by Mass Wildlife. I am now certified to handle certain wild animals and trap problem animals.
Dog adoptions were successful this year as well as a couple of cats.
Please remember to license your dog by January 1st of each year. A valid rabies certificate is needed. Cats must also have a rabies vaccination as per Massachusetts state law.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Letourneau
LAWS GOVERNING DOGS
The owner or keeper of a dog which is six months old or over shall annually, on or before the thirty-first day of December, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, and licensed for one year from the first of January following. If kept in any town, in the office of the Clerk thereof. The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause it to wear around its neck a collar distinctly marked with the town’s name and its registered number.
The owner or keeper of a dog may at any time have it licensed until the first day of January following; and a person who becomes the owner or keeper of a dog after January first which is not duly licensed, and the owner or keeper of a dog which becomes six months old after December thirty-first in any year shall, when it is six months old, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, licensed, and collared as required in the preceding section.
Whoever is the owner or keeper of a dog six months of age or older shall cause such dog to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian using a vaccine approved by the Board of Health.
Unvaccinated dogs acquired or brought into the Commonwealth shall be vaccinated within thirty days after acquisition or entry into the Commonwealth or upon reaching the age of six months, whichever comes later.
Vaccinated dogs shall be revaccinated periodically in accordance with rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the Department of Health.
Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
PLANNING BOARD
During 2007 the Planning Board signed four plans showing a total of three new lots. This is down from 18 plans and 27 lots in 2006.
The Board brought the Open Space Residential Development bylaw before the Annual Town Meeting. The bylaw was approved by Town Meeting.
A priority this year for the board has been to study ways to expand commercial opportunities in town. During 2007 we have been working on an Agricultural Recreation zoning bylaw. This would expand allowable commercial activities in parts of the Residential Agricultural District.
The Planning Board joined the Freedom's Way Heritage Association in order to promote tourism in the town. Board members were also active in the Heritage Landscape Survey. We hope this survey will provide the basis for grant applications for restoration of the Old Burial Ground.
In December we met with Representative Robert Rice to discuss zoning reform, agricultural land preservation, and commercial development. Representative Rice will look into opportunities for us to receive technical assistance with preservation and commercial development.
Respectfully submitted:
James Hargraves, Chairman
Alan W. Pease, Clerk
Jean Lindquist
Wayne A. Stacy
Andrew Leonard
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION
The Agricultural Commission, established in 2005, meets in the Land Use room of the Town Hall on the second Tuesday of every month, starting at 7:00p.m.
This year the committee conducted a town-wide survey of agricultural interests. The results were overwhelmingly positive that residents are very much concerned and supportive of maintaining the agricultural aspect of the town. Twelve hundred surveys were sent out with tax bills and one hundred twenty were returned. Questions such as “Do you feel local farming is important to Ashby?” and “Do you feel local farming is important to you?” were responded to almost 100 percent with the answer “very important.” Also, most citizens were concerned with where their food comes from and that the children of Ashby are educated as to the agricultural quality of their town. In keeping with these findings, the commission thanks the townspeople for taking part in the survey and urges everyone to support the efforts of the local farmers and those who work to keep Ashby’s open space conserved for agriculture.
The survey revealed that many in town regard themselves as hobby-farmers, that is, they work off the farm, as well as raise animals and cultivate gardens. In keeping with this, and the other desire for healthy, locally grown produce, the commission continues to support a local farmers market every Wednesday before, during, and after the local band concert season. We invite everyone to support this effort with the knowledge that the more support we have, the greater support for agriculture in town.
Finally, in keeping with our town by-laws, everyone is reminded that we live in a right-to-farm town and that when real estate is purchased, buyers must sign a right-to-farm disclosure form, acknowledging that activities connected with farming may take place in their neighborhood
Respectfully submitted,
John Mickola, chair Paula Bogue
Paula Packard Heather Leonard
Susan Chapman William Duffy
Charles Pernaa Nadine Callahan
LAND USE AGENT
During 2007, the Land Use Agent role covered a variety of tasks including assisting boards, bylaw writing, and grant coordination, reporting to the State, review of tax title properties, mapping, and planning. In July 2007, I was given the following tasks by the Land Use Department in order of priority. The goal is to achieve these tasks by the end of the contract period, June 2008.
1. Advise and assist the land use boards as appropriate or when requested by the boards
2. Create an outline for a master plan process to include updating the Open Space Plan
3. Master planning
4. Attended and contribute to a roads committee
5. Develop the digital database of mapping and resources for the land use boards and the citizens
I have advised and assisted the boards on a variety of tasks including research for citizens on particular land use issues, finalizing work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation on an inventory and mapping of the cemeteries of Ashby including a preservation plan for the First Parish Cemetery, editing and coordination on proposed bylaws including the Open Space Residential Development bylaw which passed at the Annual Town Meeting, and attending historic preservation conferences for protecting the future of Ashby.
I completed adaptive reuse reports on properties currently in tax title and formal comments on the updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The reuse reports include site visits and descriptions of reuse opportunities for the Town to choose. The formal comments on the FEMA FIRM maps identified and described seven areas of concerns to be mitigated with FEMA. I also completed the Commonwealth Capital report to the state. The Commonwealth Capital report is a method for the state to grade towns on their organization and smart growth methods. The grade is critical to obtaining grants and funding from the state. Ashby’s score increased 12 points (from 50 to 62).
Progress has been made on the Low Impact Development bylaw, Open Space Plan, unified permitting process, and the digital database. A preliminary Low Impact Development bylaw has been prepared and is under review. Edits to the Open Space Plan are under way and public hearings will be held this spring. A digital map of Ashby combining assessors’ maps and state maps has been created and is ready for use in master planning.
Work will continue in 2008 on master planning, agricultural and commercial recreational zoning, finalizing the Open Space Plan, finalizing a proposed Low Impact Development bylaw, roads committee, and mitigating the areas of concern on the FEMA FIRM maps.
Respectfully submitted:
Andrew T. Leonard, ASLA
Land Use Agent
ASHBY CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The duties and responsibilities of the Ashby Conservation Commission were defined originally in, HB Chapter 18.9, The Conservation Commission Act. Under this act, the commission became the official agency charged with the protection of the town’s natural resources. Included in this authority were the planning, procuring and managing of open space, coupled with the encouraging and monitoring of agricultural and conservation preservation restrictions.
In later legislation, the Conservation Commission was given the responsibility of administering the Wetland Protection Act (MGL Chapter. 131-40). The regulations for the Act can be found under: Wetlands Protection Act regulations (310 CMR 10.00).The Wetlands Protection Act may be found on line at: www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-131-toc.htm.
The importance of wetlands and the surrounding buffer zones have long been recognized and include: protecting private and public water supplies, groundwater protection, pollution protection, flood and storm damage prevention, and preservation and protection of fisheries and wildlife habitat.
The Commission has endeavored to assist landowners and prospective buyers in identifying protected wetlands on their property to facilitate legal activities and responsible growth and development. Assistance was also provided to builders in planning and completing projects while protecting Ashby’s natural resources. To these ends, the commission held 22 regularly scheduled meetings and one special meeting during the past year. All are open to the public and the minutes of these are posted on the Commission’s website.
Additionally, 70 site visits were conducted, representing a total of over 200/person/visits. The commission acted on six official Requests for Determination, conducted 35 hearing and continuations of hearings, wrote 12 Orders of Conditions or Extensions, and filed four Enforcement Orders with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. We also reviewed four Forest Cutting Plans with the State Forester, issued one Emergency Certificate, and provided four Certificates of Compliance. Innumerable inquiries were also handled by Commissioners.
The commission is proud to maintain a cooperative working relationship with the following boards, agencies, and officers: The Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator, the Ashby Police and Fire Departments, The Town and State Highway Departments, The Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Board of Assessors, and the Building Inspector.
We are participating members of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, and the Nashua River Watershed Association.
Other agencies that we collaborate with or participate in include: Ashby State Park, Fitchburg Water Department, Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, Squannassit Area of Critical Environmental Concern, the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, and the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Massachusetts. Department of Environmental Management, and the Ashburnham Conservation Trust. Commission members are also active in the Ashby Land Trust, the Open Space Committee, the Blood Hill Management Committee and the Watatic Management Committee.
For over 20 years, the commission has maintained membership in the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) and all members have either completed the eight-unit Fundamentals for Conservation Commissions certification program or are working towards it. Some members have qualified for the Advanced Certification status awarded by the association. Furthermore, members have participated in workshops and conferences including: Chapter 61 Regulation Changes, Vernal Pool Workshop for Commissioners, The Covert Program, GIS Workshop, Affordable Housing, and the Fall MACC Conference. All commissioners attended the Annual Spring Conference of MACC.
Members of the Commission have been active throughout the year with to committee to develop the Watatic Mountain Management Plan. Another work in progress is the preparation of the Ashby Open Space Plan.
Highlights of the year include that acquisition of a 12+ acre parcel of land donated to the Conservation Commission by the Lyman family, a family with deep roots and a history in the Ashby Community. On November 11, 2007, the Commission, accompanied by members of the Lyman Family and other guests, conducted a morning hike around the property.
The Commission was awarded a grant through the MACMAPP Grant Program that not only supplied computer software for the MassGIS and ARCview programs, but provided a two-day training session for three people (the chair, a commissioner, and a representative from the assessor’s office).
The commission also participated in a joint-effort with the Board of Assessors in mailing to all Ashby enrollees revised guidelines of Massachusetts’ Chapter 61 programs.
Ashby’s Commission members serve three-year terms and are as follows:
Robert Leary - Vice Chair, term expires in 2009
Roberta Flashman - Secretary, term expires in 2010
Tim Bauman - Chairman, term expires in 2009
Cathy Kristofferson - Treasurer, term expires in 2010
Respectfully submitted,
George A. “Tim” Bauman
CEMETERY COMMISSION
The Cemetery Commission is responsible for the care and management of all public burial grounds in the town. The commission meets periodically throughout the year to discuss and plan cemetery operations. When the need arises for a meeting, time and date are posted at town hall.
As their one-year appointments ended, Commissioners John Mark Tiilikkala and Alan Murray ran for one and three year terms. Both were elected Mr. Tiilikkala for one year, Mr. Murray for three.
The 1902 rules and regulations governing the Ashby cemeteries were updated and approved at the Annual Town Meeting this past year. The updated version is available at Town Hall.
This year the commission reviewed available software for record-keeping and purchased the CIMS light cemetery record package which will allow us to keep all our records in one convenient place. This “light” version does not include mapping but can be upgraded to that after all the records have been entered.
Shary Berg and Gretchen Schuler of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreations: Heritage Landscape Inventory Program returned to Ashby this past spring and, with the help of Andrew Leonard our Land Use Coordinator, catalogued and evaluated all the headstones, trees, structures and the general landscape of the cemeteries. In April they generated the Ashby Cemetery Handbook which lays out a preservation plan for the First Parish cemetery, provides a detailed inventory of all three cemeteries, and has a very useful section on resource materials. First Parish cemetery was also surveyed and a map showing locations of each stone was made. This handbook will be a great asset to this and future commissions as we carry out maintenance and preservation of the cemeteries. We cannot thank them enough for all their efforts.