Letters: Things for Lowry Opponents to Think About

Letter to the Editor
08:09PM / Wednesday, March 20, 2013Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

For all of the people who are opposed to the Lowry and Burbank properties being used for housing, here are a few things to think about.

You state that we need to keep open spaces free from development and be able to have farmland and I understand that but. I also realize there is a dire need for housing that can not be overlooked.

Many of the homes near the land we are talking about once sat on farmland. If you live on the west side of Stratton Road south of the Lowry property, or on the new section of Longview Terrace, or any development on the east side of Stratton Road, south of Cobbleview Road, think of where your home was built, and built within recent history. A good chance it was farmland? Absolutely. Are you in any of the new homes built in the last few years on or just off Oblong Road? Was that farmland? Absolutely.

You all enjoy living there with all that the land offers you and your family. How would you feel if there had been a motion to disallow the building of your home? Also why now (after so many years of most people not even checking to see where it stood in regards to conservation) is it so important to pass a vote to put Lowry and Burbank into conservation?

Sadly we all know the answer to that, don't we.

Stop at the Photech Mill and old town garage sites when you are out and about some time. Step out of your vehicle, take a look around. Would you like this to be the site of your next home, or housing for your elderly family members? These lands are contaminated and I am sure not many of you would feel safe planting a vegetable garden even after it has been cleaned up.

At Photech, the Hoosic River would be threatening your home in a flood situation. The Spruces residents can tell you about flooding and many of us do not want to go through it again. I applaud Mr. Fohlin and everyone who realizes that Lowry is the best place to begin a new community. The Lowry property for Irene Cottages is absolutely the way to proceed with humanity, fairness and dignity.

Charleen Blood
Williamstown
March 20, 2013

Tags: affordable housing, conserved land, housing,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Williamstown Select Board Plans Off-Camera Evaluation of Town Manager

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board plans to take extraordinary measures to avoid having its discussion of the town manager's performance recorded by the town's Public, Educational and Government cameras.

At its Sept. 28 meeting, the board decided to hold a special meeting in a room not covered by WilliNet cameras to complete its annual evaluation process of Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

Chair Peter Beck said that while the evaluation is "absolutely" to be conducted in an open meeting, the board could follow a process similar to the off site, unrecorded meetings that past Select Boards have characterized as "retreats," a term not contemplated by or included in the commonwealth's Open Meeting Law.

The current board met on June 29 for what it characterized as a "planning session" where no formal votes were taken. That meeting was held outside of Town Hall, at the new fire station on Main Street, in a room equipped with audio and video recording equipment that the Select Board chose not to use.

At the Sept. 28 meeting, one board member indicated that an unrecorded meeting was preferable to discuss the annual evaluation of the one town employee supervised by the board.

"I'd like to do it without all the Willinet stuff," Stephanie Boyd said in a discussion toward the end of a two-hour meeting. "I think it's more conducive to conversation."

With the board expected to meet just once in October — its "regular" meeting date coincides with Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 12 — Beck suggested that the panel could find a date for a special meeting, suggesting the third Monday of the month, Oct. 19.

View Full Story