Selectboard meeting of February 02, 2010.

Dorothy Parron and Walter Woods passed away.

The three selectmen gave their condolences to the two families. As most readers know by now, Holland lost two prominent residents in one day, Dorothy Parron and Walter Woods. They both were well known and served the community for many years in different positions. Both died Sunday January 31, 2010. Dorothy had the nickname Dottie and was famous for being the first female police officer in town. She was appointed to the HPD in 1973 and served the HPD for six years along with other members of her family. The Parron’s, including the diseased Dottie, also served the volunteer fire department in Holland during a time when Walter Woods was Chief of the Holland Fire Department. Walter Woods who also served in WWII served the town as, selectmen, assessor, member of the planning board, cemetery commissioner and as highway surveyor.

Walter Woods was running a sheet metal shop right next to his house on 53 Stafford Road. To do it legally, the involved legislative bodies of the town did some “spot zoning” to zone Wood’s property as business. In 1989, Walter Woods divided his property into two parcels using the Approval Not Required (ANR) procedure and sold the larger tract of land to Brian Johnson on July 19, 2001, see deed book 11769, page 476. Brian Johnson thereafter built his house in the back at 61 Stafford Road. The fact that the parcel is zoned business came in handy as Brian Johnson’s dwelling also functions as the headquarters of his Construction business, J and G Construction.
To read Walter Woods’ obituary click here!

Regionalization Meeting for the Holland and Wales Elementary School on February 10, 2010, at 19:00 hours.

On February 10, two meetings took place at the same time, the meeting of the Finance Committee in Holland and the Regionalization Meeting for the Holland and Wales Elementary School.
The members of the Board of Selectmen hat to split up as members had to attend both meetings.

Wettlaufer:
“So we have to split again, somebody will need to go to Wales and someone needs to go to finance. And finance is meeting every Wednesday this month.”

Johnson:
“Well I’ll..”

Wettlaufer:
“I’m going to the Regional meeting... if that’s ok..”

It is interesting to watch where Wettlaufer’s priorities are and how important it was for HIM to go to Wales.

Sturbridge Road improvement

According to Wettlaufer, the town is planning and working on this project since 2002. The DOT (Department of Transportation) received 23 applications; the town of Holland’s application is now number 10 even so eight out of the nine applications ahead of our application were filed after our application was filed. The only town ahead of us is the town of Ashburn who got grant money so far. Wettlaufer voiced his assumption that our town did not get any money yet because we are the smallest town that filed an application.

Howard Fife made an appearance seeking the endorsement of a letter by the selectboard.

Mr Hull, owner of Hull Forest Products is conveying a parcel of land that has 1000’ water frontage? on Maybrook road? or brook? Or Hamilton Reservoir? on Maybrook Road? to Opacum Land Trust and Opacum Land Trust is seeking grant money from the Last Green Valley Inc. so they can pay for the land from Mr. Hull? That is what I did get. The Last Green Valley Inc. is a federally funded organization. Earl Johnson made a motion to sign the letter of recommendation, Wettlaufer seconded the motion and all three were in favor to sign the letter. The letter will support the funding request addressed to the Last Green Valley Inc. organization.
Anthony Grossi, friend of Wettlaufer, has a "Forest Product" company too. Grossi and Hull are both members of the Connecticut Professional Timber Producers Association. William Hull bought land from Escape Estate with deed book 6590, page 74. Andre J. Cormier is the CEO of Escape Estate Inc., Main St., Fiskdale, MA 01518. Cormier is also enmeshed with the third name of the three developers who enjoy smooth sailing here in Holland with everything they do, Michael J. Bergeron. Read also Andre Cormier on the “Who is Who Blog”.
It is truly a small world.. I do wonder who is making out on THIS deal..

Letter requesting technical assistance from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to obtain funding for road projects.

Johnson made the motion, Wettlaufer seconded and all in favor to sign the letter.

Two warrants were signed.

February 12, 2010, at 19:00 hours will be a Lake Oversight Committee meeting and residents of Chandler Road and Chaffee Road are encouraged to attend the meeting. The committee will discuss a grant application for a future project financed through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
The two roads are dirt roads and are getting washed-out during thunderstorms in the summer. Last fall, there was such an incident the Holland Blog reported about in the piece, Erosion biggest threat to our Lake!

Petersen requested from the Executive Secretary to have another meeting scheduled with the new Zoning Enforcing Officer, Mr. Nelson Burlingame

February 13, 2010, Peter Frei