Letter To The Editor:
Imagine the thousands of tourists that hop on a motor coach every fall to enjoy the glorious colors of our region. First on their agenda is the Sheridan House and covered bridge No. 1 in the quaint village of Ashuelot with its beautiful white lattice sides and red roof. With cameras around their necks, they get ready to disembark the bus to see the grey heron standing in the middle of the river, or the cedar waxwings lined up on the telephone line. Imagine all of them getting off the bus to the stench of putrefying restaurant waste. How long do you think it will be before the tour industry takes Bridge No. 1 off its route and by passes it completely?
The village of Ashuelot is proud of its historical bridge and volunteer on a regular basis to snap photos of people wishing to be seen standing next to it. We see dozens of tourist stopping daily to enjoy its beauty. Unfortunately for us we have a company out of Brattleboro, Vermont who wants to settle the trash from three states right next to this location with a “Resource Recovery Park”. They claim that it’s the perfect location to install a sand & gravel pit, bring in over 25 truck loads of waste every day and then store and compost it, right in the middle of a wildlife corridor from Pisgah State to the Ashuelot River. On a regular basis, this neighborhood witness deer, bears, coyotes, red tailed fox, beaver, and more crossing this land to access the river. We see no way that this is beneficial to anyone, but them.
Our town came out to vote in March on their submitted warrant article and resoundingly said “NO!” Our voices are being ignored as they arrogantly continue to pursue our state’s Department of Environmental Services permits. Their proposal will have a negative impact on our village, our town, our region and our state. Again, we ask Triple T Trucking of Vermont (aka N&M Winchester Properties), PLEASE JUST GO AWAY!
Kim Gordon
Ashuelot, New Hampshire
Facts;
Since withdrawing his thinly guised “Commercial / Industrial Park” from the Planning Board docket in June, he has gone about procuring his state permits for the work. As of this writing, he has obtained an Alteration of Terrain permit (applied for December 22, 2008 and granted on June 10, valid for two years); and a Shoreland Protection permit (applied for May 22 as a “Materials Recovery Facility” and granted last week): and is currently working on a Dredge & Fill Permit for a “Materials Recovery Park”.
Quoting from his Dredge & Fill application to DES:
“This site was chosen for use as a solid waste transfer station and a composting facility to serve towns within an approximate 50-mile radius. The proposed operation will fulfill a critical regional need to divert compostable materials from the waste stream and to facilitate nutrient and mineral natural cycling
The above referenced critical regional need is a direct result of the restrictive regulatory climate in our neighboring states. Changing our protective zoning ordinances to allow any waste hauling or processing business will result in a flood of trash business in Winchester.
Imagine a regional landfill in town. Not a far fetched idea given that it is all but impossible to permit a new landfill site in either Massachusetts or Vermont. The solid waste industry in both of those states has been reduced to “piggybacking” expansions onto existing landfills or hauling trash elsewhere as existing landfill space runs out.
By way of comparing regulatory climates, Mr. Mallory & Mr. Gaskill’s Dredge & Fill permit application to the Wetland Bureau of the New Hampshire DES states that they propose disturbing 26,571 square feet of wetlands (a little over ½ acre). Their proposed mitigation for this is $5,314. In Massachusetts they would be required to replicate (or create) and maintain an equal amount of new wetland on site. This would cost much more both in real dollars and in loss of usable land. One might observe that we are selling our natural resources on the cheap, but that is another issue. Since we are afforded little protection from the state, we must rely on our own local ordinances to protect us.
We urge you when you are asked (and you will be) to once again vote NO! to any article that proposes changing our protective zoning ordinances and allowing waste hauling and processing business in our town.
Support a TRASH FREE WINCHESTER.
27 comments:
Seems that the good people of Winchester have no voice in this town. Perhaps it's because of the apathy of the voters that people like this feel they can come into our town and do whatever they want despite our town ordinances and regulations. It's time to stand up and fight for what's right and to send them and those elected officials that support projects like this, a loud and clear message come March .. No means no !
Readers, a couple of years ago we went through something similar in Hinsdale with the proposed C&D incinerator and 750 ton/day C&D processing facility. A nasty, highly polluting proposal that fortunately went nowhere, thanks to the diligence of concerned people (and thanks to the state seeing its way clear to ban incineration of toxic material in our state).
One of the many points raised in the GenPower discussion was that having such a facility in town would attract businesses and operations related to the industry—-junk and scrap yards and sorting facilities among them. Junk and scrap yards do not necessarily position a community for future desirable growth. They are not a magnet for companies with well paying jobs and career advancement. They are not attractive to smart, ambitious young people who are essential to the growth of our communities.
Ask yourselves why this project is being proposed for your town—-and our community at large--and not, say Harrisville, Nelson, Peterborough, Chesterfield, or another similar town.
Why do you think this is so?
Kim,well stated! When I was a tax payer in Winchester I protested with the people of Hindsdale to stop the incinerator. Maybe it is time to inform the good citizens of Winchester by protest gatherings. It is quite possible people don't know what is going on. If they did, this plan would die right away. There are more Winchester residents that enjoy their town for peace and quiet than there are people looking for monetary gain through development. The stretch of RT 10 that runs along the river should be a scenic route. There's historical buildings there as well. If the town officers aren't listening to the people go to the state. Try http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/ get the bridge and the whole length of the Ashuelot River from Winchester to Hindsdale protected. I live in Troy now, but I'll join the picket lines, it is an important piece of NH!
garbage@sover.net Flood that email address with protest emails. Here's other ways you can give them an earful...
Phone- 802-254-5388
Toll Free- 866-481-4351
Email Us:
garbage@sover.net
Mail Us:
Triple T Trucking
437 Vernon Road
Brattleboro VT, 05301
Do you mean an opportunity to lecture us on why we should desire your dump? Are you mental?
You haven't listened to the good citizens of this town - maybe the government can explain it to you!
Sorry about that. I posted the contact info for the company that plans to harass Winchester. Flooding them with unwanted emails to read through and mail to read and phones to answer is a form of protest. I don't mean for you to do it so they can target you, but if they get enough calls, letters, emails maybe they'll understand they are not welcome. It interrupts business.
If you call you shouldn't say anything rude. Just say something. Heck, talk about the weather. Or the view this morning from the covered bridge. Then mention you don't want their development in Winchester and hang up. Call using a calling card (pay for it with cash)and they won't be able to trace you. If there are any pay phones call from a pay phone. There will be no poo list.
While calling and/or emailing Triple T with your concerns is within your rights, just calling or emailing to harass them could be detrimental to both you and the efforts to stop them from building. We would suggest a call or letter to our District's State Representatives and a letter writing campaign to the editors of the Keene Sentinel, Brattleboro Reformer & the Greenfield Recorder to get the word out to everyone. We will need every vote we can muster to stop this project and stop any future attempts to circumvent the will of the citizens of Winchester.
Just to refresh everyone's memory..
ARTICLE 35. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #9 as submitted by the Board of Selectmen. To amend Article XXII,(Table of Usage) J3: Change J3 and add J4 & J5; To allow composting facilities by special exception in the agricultural & commercial districts, subject to multiple conditions and still prohibit facilities designed to incinerate or dispose of solid waste, unless owned by the town and continue to allow storage of waste generated on site pending removal, recycling or collected by volunteers.
*Recommended by the Planning Board
YES 300 NO 524
ARTICLE 40. Are you in favor of the adoption of amendment #14 as submitted by petition? To amend with new language, item #3 under J, Industrial uses, to allow by special exception facilities designed to process, recycle, treat and transport solid waste, refuse and putrescible materials as defined by RSA’s only in the agricultural or highway commercial districts with restrictions.
Not recommended by the Planning Board
YES 135 NO 679
I am in favor of Triple T coming to town[don't want my house burned down], but i agree the voters said no. It looks like Margaret and at least one of our selectmen don't care how the vote went. With all that's going on in Winchester i wouldn't think it would be a good idea to continue with this arrogance of our elected officials. Sooner or later the outside Media is going to have a hay day with Winchester and its going to be embarrassing for our citizens.
I don't know why you feel someone is going to burn down your house if you don't go along with those that want this dump to come to our town. I'd like to know why you feel this is a good thing for this town and please be serious, I am interested in your opinion.
Reply to Annoy Sept 1: "There are more Winchester residents that enjoy the peace and quite"! What!!!! Everyone of you have sat back and allowed the Town of Winchester to become a magnet for trash development that no other (sane) town government would except. You said, "What it's not in my neighborhood"!
You can not go anywhere in Winchester and enjoy peace and quite on a weekend without listening or seeing trash development, gravel pits, race tracks, the junks yards growing on route or now the smell of trash. Good luck in putting it all back into Pandora's Box and finding peace and quite in Winchester.
Oh Beautiful for smoggy skies, insecticided grain,
For strip-mined mountain's majesty above the asphalt plain.
America, America, man sheds his waste on thee,
And hides the pines with billboard signs, from sea to oily sea.
~George Carlin
Take a moment to reflect on the words of comic George Carlin who never spoke in "jest."
We have so much to covet and appreciate in our town. Winchester is a beauty, a gem to keep for our generation and all to come.
A bit of "education"
the meaning of a Dump: to drop or let fall in a heap or mass (i.e current dump in Winchester) Transfer: to convey or remove from one place to another.
Recycle:to treat or process(used or waste materials)so as to make suitable for reuse.
The facility Triple T is proposing is NOT a dump its a recycle/transfer station. Many of you still dont get it.
In case anyone was wondering who submitted those articles that we citizens overwhelmingly voted down last March, we were told that Article #35, which the Planning Board recommended, was submitted by BOS member Roberta Fraser and that Article #40 was submitted by the owners of Triple-T-Trucking themselves. We've also found out that the BOS has submitted a letter to the NHDES in regards to permits Triple T has been seeking, stating that our town ordinances do not allow for a facility such as they are proposing. This letter was signed by all but 2 of the board's members, one who was possibly in the hospital at the time it was submitted and Gus Ruth, who abstained from putting his signature on the letter. One can only wonder why not?
To the anonymous poster quoting education .. It is you that does not get it .. NO MEANS NO. WE the MAJORITY do get it and we don't want to be getting it here, period. If this is such a great idea, why didn't they put it in their own backyards in Vermont or Massachusetts, why come to our town and expect us to roll over and allow this here? Someone spoke of how noisy our small transfer station is to it's neighbors, think how noisy 25-30 large trucks rumbling through town loaded with smelly refuse and this processing plant would be to it's neighbors, not to mention the health risks from particulates drifting all over town on westerly winds. You may appreciate the fragrance of putrescence waste wafting through your backyard; but I'll bet your neighbors won't.
We are educated enough to know that when a truck loaded with garbage, pushes a lever to convey the truck bed into a verticle position - thus emptying its contents out is (you got it) DUMPING trash. This trash is then sorted and stored on the property. Whether in stockpiles or in large cylindrical green composting bags. That would constitute a DUMP in anyone's book, educated or not.
We are also educated enough to know that the wagon does not go before the horse. And to try and convince us otherwise is an utter disregard to common sense.
Here is another dictionary term to mull over:
the plundering (of city, etc), as in warfare - vt. raped, raping 1) to commit rape on; violate 2) to plunder or destroy
This is how we feel - for the utter disregard for our strict zoning ordinances and the property in which you wish to perpetrate.
Just like the other stories like What's Going on with the Police Dept. Why do the people in cahrge and some of their supportes think we are not educated? Just because so much has been kept from us, hidden from us, and distorted doesn't mean we are uneducated, it just means it's a long way to the truth (just like the garbage will pile up if we that happen) but we will get there and whe nwe do we'll be asking the questions.You can rest asured of that. Thanks to all who are brave enough to say things that aren't always popular with the higher ups in this town.
We do get it. It's time to sharpen the "NO" pencils once again. Keep the information coming. I am appalled that they all think that we are "stupid".
Interesting Info for the masses:
ROBERTA FRASER DOESN”T LIKE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES
If you go to the Winchester Informer Homepage and at the very bottom of the page link to NH Deeds then to Cheshire County. Once in the Cheshire County Registry of Deeds website do a property search (Search County Records) accept agreement and a new screen pops up. Type in a last name, a town if you wish and then you have records. Click on the record you want to view and a screen will pop up.
For instance I did this for Fraser in Winchester and checked on Roberta:
Roberta Fraser a Selectmen residing at 324 Manning Hill Rd
There were 5 entries for tax levies for Roberta and they are as follows:
2003 taxes due $6,871.28 tax levy filed on 4/1/04
2005 taxes due $6,934.61 tax levy filed on 5/15/06
2006 taxes due $7,459.37 tax levy filed on 4/13/07
2007 taxes due $7,323.45 tax levy filed on 4/11/08
2008 taxes due $7,648.58 tax levy filed on 4/16/09
Folks - year after year she doesn't pay her taxes -
How can someone so irresponsible year after year be allowed to handle important matters and make financial decisions for people in this town when it’s obvious that there is no sense to the cost of the taxpayers as she thumbs her nose at their expense. ROBERTA FRASER how do you justify to the town’s people that year after year you do not pay your taxes? When people like you don’t pay their taxes it costs struggling people more because they have to pick up the slack because when the town has to borrow money we have to pay for that loan. I’ve heard the selectmen and others complain that the lies are coming from a few unhappy people and that we should trust what the higher ups have to say because they have our best at heart and will be forthcoming with truth and honesty and integrity. Does anyone really believe any of them anymore? We’ll keep digging and it’s obvious that as we do these elected and appointed officials will be shown to have less integrity than we even thought possible.
What is the fine for having a dumpster not out of sight or screened from public view? Does anyone no what they are doing with that?
Please read the letter to the editor in the sentinel on Friday from Kim. It was very well done.
Thank you Kim for your help it is greatly appreciated. We need more leaders like you to stand up publicly for what is right and what is wrong in this town.
We need leaders with backbone.
Maybe a selectman?
Rumor Has It a Few Don’t Like this Website and are Unhappy with it’s content. This website has been in existence for years and is unpopular with those that disagree when an opinion is posted which does not agree with their opinion. To that we say THANK GOD WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Let no one misunderstand that the NH State Constitution and US Constitution afford us the right to FREE SPEECH and any prohibition of that right is a violation of our 1st Amendment RIGHTS and our RIGHTS under Art. 22 of the State Constitution. Any violation of rights needs to be reported to the ACLU and elected state officials. [
State Constitution - Bill of Rights
Established October 31, 1783 Effective June 2, 1784 As Subsequently Amended and in Force January 2007
Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved.
June 2, 1784
Amended 1968 to include free speech.
U.S. Constitition. (September 17, 1787) art. I-VII Published: Sep. 17, 1787
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
If your rights are being violated here are some suggestions
Step 1
Understand the limits of the first amendment. The first amendment protects the rights of free speech. Individuals have the right to express unpopular opinions and speak out without facing censorship in most cases.
Step 2
Engage in protected activity. For your speech to be protected you have to be engaged in an activity that is protected under free speech rights. Actions include speaking out against corporations, government and protesting their activities.
Step 3
Notice a violation of your free speech rights. This may come in the case of a lawsuit against you, censorship of what you can say or being fired from your job.
Step 4
Contact legal representation. Protect your right to free speech by gaining assistance from a lawyer. Discuss the violations with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Step 5
Seek public support. Write to editors of local newspapers to discuss your situation. Attempt to speak to news stations to reach a wider audience, set up a website and discuss your free speech violations in public forums.
Step 6
Influence policy makers. Contact local elected officials and members of congress to report violations of your first amendment rights. Change the future of how free speech is protected by voting for the candidates who support your belief.
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