Cheshire Selectmen Wondering About Dollar General

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The Selectmen are wondering about Dollar General's intentions.

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town officials are trying to suss out the intentions of Dollar General.

The discount chain store indicated its interest earlier this year in purchasing the derelict historic property at the corner of West Mountain Road and Route 8 to put up another store.

Town Administrator Mark Webber told the Selectmen on Tuesday night that he was contacted by the store officials recently about access from Route 8 to the property. He said they have yet to respond to his reply.

The chain's representatives got permitting forms last month but did not apply for a building permit at that time.

Selectman Robert Ciskowski suggested that Dollar general is "testing" Cheshire.  

"Considering all these buildings they have done, you would think they wouldn't have questions about the process of how it's done," Ciskowski. "They would know better if they just wanted to get it done. Seems like they are playing a game and testing us."

Resident John Tremblay said residents who oppose the construction of the store filed a public records request three weeks ago and received documents from the state Department of Transportation.

Tremblay said he thinks Dollar General is trying to receive the town's blessing so the state will expedite the permitting for a curb cut on Route 8, a state highway.

"They [MassDOT] are putting Dollar General through paces around that curb cut, but it is in the process," he said. "If they could say the town thinks it's OK when the state is questioning if it's safe … it might help them with the state."

Tremblay asked if it was possible to get a peer review of the traffic impact test, drainage report, and other documents to protect the town.

"The town has to protect itself," he said. "When a project like this is done we should them to fund a peer review of all of those studies so we know an independent body has said 'yes this is accurate information.' "

The Selectmen were not sure if they had the right to ask for a review.

In other business, Water Commissioner Francis "Bigs" Waterman said four samples of bacteria coliform were found in the town's water in October. He said the system has been chlorinated and there is no threat.

Waterman said there are specific areas that are checked regularly. He said the bad samples this time were found in a janitorial closet in Cheshire Liquors. He suspects the samples were bad because the faucet was not in use for a long time.

"When you have that you have to treat that because, being a municipal system, we are responsible to the last tap," Waterman said. "So we have to treat all the water like it is all the same."

Tremblay said he was concerned about the quality of the water and wished everyone was notified sooner.

"It was kind of bizarre thing that we weren’t notified ahead of time," Tremblay said. "I am serious — I know we get great reports about it, but should we be drinking it?”

Public Works Director Peter LeFebvre said one of the plow truck's is broken down.

Waterman said letters will be sent to all customers explaining the issue.

Public Works Director Peter LeFebvre said one of the plow trucks has a broken bell housing and transmission. He said the repairs will cost $8,000.

"The truck kept on shutting off on us. We would go down the road, and it would stop. We would wait a second and turn it back on, and it would start," LeFebvre said. "Sometimes it would go for a week without a problem and others it stopped every 10 minutes."

He said the issue is typically common and suspects someone hit something with the plow at some point.

Webber said he applied for $12,000 from the William and Margery Barrett Fund grant to assist Cheshire School with purchasing a playground equipment.

"I sent it in. It was accepted, and we will see how it goes," Webber said. "On the upside, they gear their funding towards the youth."

The $100,000 in funds available for Adams, Cheshire and Savoy focuses on enhancing early childhood development

Webber said the new playground equipment costs $15,000. The $12,000 plus the $3,000 the school has raised for the playground will allow them to purchase a new piece of equipment.  


Tags: demolition,   dollar store,   MassDOT,   

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There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
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