| Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com
Category:
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM – Residents weighed in at the Aug. 8 Board of Selectmen meeting on the parking situation for the Farmers Market hosted at the Wilbraham United Church.
Dan Sullivan, who lives on Main Street across from the church, said Main Street is “very dangerous” and was against cars parking in the small town-owned lot in front of the church during the market, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons.
Sullivan continued to list the reasons he disapproves of the market and its parking. “When I mow my lawn, they look at me like I’m the fool,” he said. He also made the claim that people can park “wherever they want” and “watch children.”
Resident Dan Fernandes said the front lot is used at all times of the day throughout the week and noted that there are crosswalks for safety. He supported the market and said it maintains a “small-town feel.”
Resident Lisa Chaplin told the board that she has limited mobility and could not attend the market during the first couple of weeks when parking in front of the church was not allowed, because the walk from the back lot was too difficult for her.
“It’s really nice to see everyone in the community milling around,” Chaplin said.
Another resident who lives on Main Street across from the church said, “You purchase a home on Main Street, you know there’s going to be traffic. You purchase a home across from a church, there’s going to be gatherings.”
Two other residents also spoke in favor of the market and the front parking.
The Traffic Safety Team reviewed the parking situation in front of the church. They found no concerns warranting a change to the parking during the market’s hours.
Similarly, Wilbraham Police Chief Edward Lennon said a police detail had been hired for the first market this season, but it was determined that the presence was not needed.
The board extended their approval of parking in front of the church through the end of the market’s season on Sept. 28.
High school lights
Town Administrator Nick Breault had drafted a letter regarding lighting at Minnechaug Regional High School to the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD), as requested by the board. Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Theresa Goodrich said she has received several questions and complaints from residents that the building’s lights are on throughout the night, despite the building being empty.
“The community is wondering, ‘When is it going to end? Who’s paying for it?’ she said.
Breault reported that HWRSD Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations and Human Resources Aaron Osborne explained that the “smart lighting” system had failed. The lights are designed to automatically come on when ambient light levels drop, but the mechanism that turns the lights off after a certain time is broken. The district ordered the part in the spring and, due to supply chain issues, the company that owns the proprietary system has missed three promised shipping dates.
Furthermore, the district is wary of shutting off the breakers at night because there is “a very real risk” that the system may not restart. Aside from that, it would require maintenance to switch more than 1,000 breakers on and off every day.
Board of Selectmen Chair Carolyn Brennan said she was satisfied with Osborne’s explanation and did not think a letter would change the outcome as it was out of the district’s hands. Goodrich, on the other hand, said she wanted the School Committee to be aware of the issue and “formally express” the board’s concern.
Breault noted that Osborne had explained the issue to the School Committee at its Aug. 4 meeting. Board of Selectmen Clerk Susan Bunnell said she was indifferent to whether the letter was sent but suggested a scheduled update on the issue would be the best course of action. In the end, the three voted to send the letter.
New police officer
The board hired a new officer for the Wilbraham Police Department. Taylor Pfaff shared that he had attended Western New England University and served on the college’s police department, is currently studying law enforcement at Springfield College and has gone through the Springfield Police Academy. Pfaff also has experience with the Provincetown Police Department.
Pfaff cited a childhood dream as his reason for wanting to be a police officer and said a role model in the form of a school resource officer. He said he was looking forward to forming long-term bonds with the community.
Intersection evaluation
Breault told the board that the town’s Traffic Safety Team had reviewed safety precautions at the intersection of Monson and Glendale roads – the site of a fatal car accident in July. Over the past five years, Breault said, there have been 21 accidents at the location.
He said the team decided the town should “probably install a larger sign,” and raised the possibility of placing a flashing light ahead of the intersection, so drivers are alerted to the possibility of oncoming vehicles.