Cheshire Looks To Join BRPC Pipeline Work Group
 The board delayed a vote on joining a BRPC pipeline group to ensure its third member had a chance to weigh in. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Selectmen agreed that they are leaning toward joining the Berkshire Regional Planning Committee pipeline work group.
Town Administrator Mark Webber told the board on Tuesday night that he felt the town may be better off joining the BRPC, which provides counsel and legal representation to the 12 municipalities affected by the proposed Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline.
He said he noticed a change in tone during last Wednesday’s BRPC informational meeting. He said the agency seems to anticipate that the pipeline will receive all the proper permitting form the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and it has been endorsed by the Department of Energy Resources.
"In all likelihood it is going to be permitted. There is no state say in it and there is not local say in it outside of the conservation committee," Webber said. "I am now a semi-convert because I was a little skeptical going in, but I think they can do something for us."
By opting in, Cheshire will not miss out on host community benefits, he said, and Kinder Morgan has to negotiate with every community it passes.
"Every place this pipeline goes there is a benefit to the host community and that is negotiable," he said. "You tell them what you want and negotiate from there. Sandisfield is looking for a town hall so it can go all over the place."
Webber said the BRPC has hired an engineer for counsel along with "pipeline guru" attorney Jeffrey Bernstein to represent the municipalities with these negotiations and other legal pursuits.
At this point in time, six entities have joined the group bringing the cost to $10,417 per municipality for the fiscal year. If three more groups join, the cost drops to $6,944. Webber said the town can back out of the group at the end of the fiscal year if they wanted.
Webber said this money could be transferred from the reserve fund without going to town meeting, but he recommended that the town make a point to replenish the account.
Chairwoman Carol Francesconi and Selectman Robert Ciskowski agreed that Cheshire should join the group, however, they wanted to wait until they had a full board and tabled the vote until next week.
"I think we need to join," Francesconi said. "I think we need to do it."
Webber also said even though the proposed pipeline is mapped to follow the utility lines there may be additional clearing that takes place. He said the right of way can go nearly 100 feet beyond the power lines into the woods.
He said the pipeline will not go under the lines but weave through them or be off to the side.
"You think of rigid steal and can it go around and be bent and yes it can be bent to a degree," he said. "They have bending machines on site and can bend a 40 foot pipe as far as 90 degrees."
He if the pipeline does go under Cheshire Reservoir as proposed, a large boring machine will be used to go under the lake. He said this is common practice for pipelines.
Webber said BRPC awarded Cheshire with continued work on the town's updated zoning bylaws but for a master plan because it is unsure if there were enough funds in the District Local Technical Assistance grant.
Highway Superintendent Peter LeFebvre said even though some plows are out of service and they are missing a few workers, snow removal has continued.
"We are doing what we have to do maybe a little slower than we used to be, but I think we are still getting around," LeFebvre said.
The town received two bids for service and equipment for unanticipated emergency repairs to the town's municipal water system.
Ciskowski asked if it would be better to use the Highway Department to do emergency repairs to the water system.
"This would be a chance maybe for the Highway Department to make some money instead of the money going to an outside-the-town firm," he said. "It would stay in the town for bookkeeping records."
Webber said it is doable and common practice in many communities.
Tags: BRPC, gas pipeline,
