Updated April 03, 2015 09:22AM

Kinder Morgan Agrees to Attend Cheshire Pipeline Session

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The Selectmen are moving ahead with a information session on the Kinder Morgan pipeline with or without the company's participation.

Update on Friday, April 3: Selectman Robert Ciskowski says Kinder Morgan, which is building the proposed 1.9 miles of pipeline through Cheshire, will be at a town-sponsored information session on the project.

Ciskowski writes: "Allen Fore, Director of  Public Affairs at Kinder Morgan, notified me that they will indeed have a representative, Steve Keady, present a Power Point presentation at our forum."

CHEHSIRE, Mass. — Although Kinder Morgan has agreed to speak at a pipeline informational meeting, its officials are unable to be present at the scheduled meeting.

The company is proposing to run a controversial natural gas pipeline through parts of the Berkshires.

Selectman Robert Ciskowski told the rest of the board Tuesday night that he finally was contacted by Kinder Morgan after weeks of trying to schedule the meeting for Cheshire citizens.

Ciskowski had scheduled the session for Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in the Cheshire Elementary School auditorium after hearing nothing from Kinder Morgan. He said Kinder Morgan now wants the meeting to be held a week later.

"I emailed the date we actually picked. I asked them if it is not good give me a better date and we will shape our meeting around them," Ciskowski said. "I think they just waited me out and they don't want to be on with another presenter … in my opinion, they want to be the last speaker before the referendum question."

Ciskowski said it would not be fair to change the date on the many other presenters lined up for the meeting, which includes state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, who will discuss the process in which Kinder Morgan would have to remove conserved land status from the pipeline route.

Ciskowski said he will present Kinder Morgan's perspective and opposition groups will present their side. He added that he has assembled local townspeople to explain how the pipes will actually affect residents.  

"I think the people I put together, mostly local people, our people are going to get a balanced approach from as many different prongs I could come up with," he said.

He said a town surveyor will discuss eminent domain, local union representatives will discuss how the pipeline will affect jobs, Town Administrator Mark Webber will explain host community agreements, and a representative from the lake association will make a statement; the proposed pipeline route will go under Cheshire Reservoir.  

"I have given them suggestions of where I think their area of expertise is but no one is getting a script on this and we are not going to dictate what they say," Ciskowski said.

The board agreed to go ahead with the chosen date with or without Kinder Morgan.

"They either come the 23rd or they don't come at all," Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said. "They had more than ample time."

The Selectmen wanted the informational meeting to occur sooner than later to accommodate a nonbinding referendum question on the May 4 ballot to gather public opinion. However, because the town did not approve and post the ballot question 34 days before the election, the question cannot be on the ballot according to state law.

Francesconi said they missed the posting by three days.

"We have 32 days, and we missed it by three," she said. "What difference does it really make when it comes down to a nonbinding referendum? It doesn't do anything so who cares?"

The board discussed possibly holding an exit poll of some kind to gather public opinion on the pipeline or having residents drop off a form with their opinion at a later date.

Alternatively, Webber said the question could appear on the Proposition 2 1/2 override ballot, which would occur after the May 4 election and town meeting if Cheshire enters an override situation. It is anticipated that the school budget approved Tuesday will breach the town's levy limit.

Advisory Board member William Craig said the town has $20,000 that could be transferred from a special capital account to fund the purchase of laptops for Cheshire Elementary School. Right now the School uses old computers from Hoosac Valley.

Francesconi showed concern that the laptops may be taken from Cheshire School if it is closed in any restructuring attempts.

"We are not going to contribute 150 Chromebooks to Adams schools when Cheshire is using Hoosac Valley's dead-end computers, let's be real about this," she said.

The transfer would have to be approved by town meeting.

Sand Mill Road Bridge has been officially closed because of poor condition.

Cheshire received an $8,000 grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to match funds needed to build a new playground at Cheshire Elementary School. 


Tags: fiscal 2016,   gas pipeline,   school budget,   

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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
 
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
 
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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