Town of

RICHMOND Massachusetts

MASS gICHMON MON

INC 1765

SEAL *

Annual Report 1995

Budget Advisory Committee

School Committee Finance Committee: Board of Selectmen:

Marguerite J. Rawson, Chair Robert Gniadek

Gerald M. Coppola

Ruth Bass, Chair

Carter White John Mason

Alan B. Hanson William Martin

Bruce Garlow, Admin. Asst. Helen L. Kingsley

Conservation Commission Christopher May, 1997

Theodore Potter, 1998

Diane Christensen, 1998

Holly Stover, 1997 Dick L. Boyce, 1996

Patrick Seckler, 1996

Ronald Veillette, 1998

Bruce Garlow, Administrative Assistant

Historical Commission Allison Edwards, 1997

Leslie Clark, 1997

Melanie Masdea, 1996

William Edwards, 1996

Virginia Larkin, 1998 Margaretta Keith, 1998

Recreation Committee

David Palardy Roger Manzolini, Chaiman John Salatino

Road Advisory Committee

Chairman, Board of Selectmen Marguerite J. Rawson

Chairman, Conservation Commission - Holly Stover

Chairman, Planning Board John Hanson

Chaiman, Finance Committee Ruth Bass

DPW Superintendent - Gerald Coppola

Tree Warden Gerald Coppola

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority

Alan B. Hanson, Delegate

Registrars of Voters

Lillian Paul, 1998 Jean Bednarski, 1998 Kathleen McMahon, 1997

Edna M. Crewdson, Clerk

Culturel Councll Susan St. John, 1997 Paula Dambrauskas, 1998 Kathy Mason, 1998

Curtis Hicks, 1998 Carole Raskin, 1996 Cynthia Morrison, 1997

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TREASURER'S REPORT

July 1, 1994- June 30, 1995

Opening Ending Balance Balance Deposts Wthdrawals Interest 6/30/95

Trust Funds

$9,065.83 $O.00 $9,050.00 $330.87 $346.70 Pension Account

$25,863.75 00 $0.00 $788.40 $26,652.15 Conservation Fund

$16,450.00 $0.00 $437.52 $437.52 $16,450.00 Perpetual Care Fund

Perpetual Care Income Fund $1,351.94 $437.52 $500.00 $31.49 $1,320.95

Samuel Gates Charty Fund $2,048.46 .15 $80.1 15 $56.80 $2,105.26

Pubikc Welfare Fund $641.80 $0.00 $0.00 $21.28 $663.08

Massachusets Municipal Depository Trust Accounts

Wheeler Memorial Fund $1,549.12 $O.00 $0.00 $81.91 $1631.03

Spence Scholarship Fund $5,016.81 $170.00 $200.00 $274.00 $5,260.81

Sarah McDonald Memorial Scholarship Fund $5,360.55 $50.00 $300.d0 $280.7 6 $5,391.31

Recreation Account $3,668.06 $0.00 s0.00 $193.95 $3,862.01

Stablzation Account $101,421.91 $72,370.22 $0.00 $8,492.90 $182,285.03

Town of Richmond $249,971.80 $200,000.00 $200,000.00 $16,533.02 $266,504.82

Bank of Boston

Money Market Accaunt $111,354.28 $3,230,526.26 $2,970,280.26 $8,393.97 $379,994.38

Checking Accaunt ($7,562.20) $2,770,451,70 $2,762,238.63 $1,030.12 $1,680.99

Reconciliation of Cash

Opening Balance July 1, 1994 Cash Receipts Warrants Paid

$353,763.88 $3,056,599.94 $2,762,183.63

Ending Balance June 30, 1995 $684,180.19

Bank of Boston Money Market Bank of Boston Checking Mass. Munic. Deposit. Trust

$379,994.38 $1,680.99

$266,504.82

$648,180.19 43

Or new computers have proved to be very cost effective, allowing for com- d billing and efficient data collection. Thanks to office manager, Lisa Martin, we have recentiy begun doing our own payroll.

The agency staff has spent considerable time this past year preparing for ioint Commission Accreditation, scheduled to take place in March of 1996. Community Heath continues to offer a wide range of services including: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical so cial services, IV therapy, home health aide services, homemaker services, health promotion visits, back-up EMT services, health clinics and health counseling. The agency has made a total of 4355 visits this past year. We will be holding our biennial Health Fair at the West Stockbridge School in September. We hope to see you there to take advantage of all the free testing available.

As we look back on 1995 we are proud of the work accomplished, and as we move into 1996 we are committed to meeting the challenges of the future. Our communities are very fortunate to be served by such a dedicated, competent and caring staft they represent the backbone of our agency and we celebrate and thank them all sincerely. We thank yu for your continued encouragement and generous support.

B. Carter White,

President Maryanne L. Dus,

Administrator

REPORT OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Conservation Commission has had a busy year since last reporting to Richmond voters.

ast year's big project, the proposed golf course for Swamp Rd., has baen hold since voters at the Annual Town Meeting refused to change the Oing to allow liquor service at golf courses. At this writing. the golt course

Oponents have filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals a special permit peti 1or a golf course without liquor service and, if approved by the zBA, the

h ssion will have to review the environmental impacts of the project later this year.

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Another big issue the Commission continues dealing with is the proposed annual drawdown of Richmond Pond. Ihe pond nas been drawn down annu ally for the past 30 years, ostensibly to help prevent flooding in West Pittsfield, but this year the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program halted the drawdown because of unanswered questions about the impact of the drawdown on rare and endangered species that are known to

exist in Nordeen Marsh, a part of the pond's watershed located south and south- west of the pond. Consequently, the Commission has joined with the Pitsfield Conservation Commission and Pittsfield and Richmond Emergency Manage ment Director Thomas Grizey, the drawdown proponent, in preliminary discus-sions with state officials to learn more about the effects of the drawdown on

wildlife and wildlife habitat.

In addition, the Richmond Commission has been in contact with the Army Corps of Engineers to see if that agency would perform an evaluation of the waterways leading in and out of the pond to determine if the drawdown has any actual effect on Pittsfield flooding, and also has written to the state Department of Environmental Management to see if that agency could provide financial assistance for rebuilding the pond's dam (water control device), an important step in better controlling the water level if drawdowns are determined to be

necessary. The Commission is committed to working with Pittsfield, state and federal officials to ensure the continued good health of the pond, one of Richmond's finest natural resources.

Another large project that involved much of the Commission's time in the past four years was the Tennessee Gas Pipeline project. During this past year, the Commission issued a Certificate of Compliance for the pipeline, signifying that the proponent had met all of the conditions contained in the Order of Condi- tions issued for the pipeline construction. This ends a long stretch of time where the Commission was dealing with either the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Altresco or both.

The Altresco Pipeline ended up being built entirely in Pittsfield, of course, bur the company did provide financial assistance to the town during the permitting process and it also established a $25,000 Conservation Fund to be admins tered by the Selectmen in consultation with a committee that includes rp Sentatives of the company, the Conservation Commission, the Richmond La Trust and other local officials. At its first meeting, the committee gav na approval t0 a Conservation Commission suagestion that a portion ot tne no 0 t build walking trails at the Stevens Glen. a large property locateu Hichmond and West Stockbridge that was donated by the Pryor work for

conservation purposes. The Conservation Commission looks TO ng on this project with the committee and the Berkshire Nautractr COuncil, the Pittsfield based agency that arranged the conserva

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Anather important issue the Commission is dealing with is writing the requla tions and developing the map to administer the Berkshire Scenic Mountain Act. The act was accepted by the town several years ago, but was never enforced hecause the Commission had not developed a map of the protected regions or the regulations for the administration of the act. With the Resource Inventory Committee questionnaire results of three years ago showing that most town residents want increased protection of the town's high ridges and scenic views, the Commission is beginning the process of identifying those protected areas and will end up establishing a local process similar to that required by the Mas- sachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, where proponents would still be able to do some kinds of work on the mountain tops, but only after the Commission issues a permit.

In a related matter, the Commission is considering seeking designation of two areas of town as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The ACEC designation is made by the secretary of the state Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, upon petition by town officers or a group of residents, and such designation is based on a number of criteria, including the presenc of water supplies, endangered species, historic sites and other features. The Commission is considering asking for the designation for two areas of town the Richmond Pond area and the wetlands associated with the Fairfield Brook watershed. No designation can be made without extensive local research on the areas and several public meetings, including a public hearing hosted by the secretary or her designee. limited- consisting of additional environmental review for projects that have state funding or that require state permits- but the Commission feels these areas are valuable and deserve any additional protections authorized by law.

The protections afforded by the designation are

A bright spot for the Commission this past year has been the town's participa- tion in the Department of Environmental Protection's Wetland Circuit Rider Pro0 gram. Under this program, the DEP assigned a wetland specialist, Laurie Sand- ers, to work with the conservation commissions of the towns within the Upper ousatonic River Watershed, which includes Richmond. Ms. Sanders has been providing technical assistance to these commissions on such subjects as wet land plant identification, vernal pool certification and enforcement. The pro ram has been very helpful and Ms. Sanders has been an excellent resource for the Commission.

in more routine matters, the Commission reviewed several small subdivi- ns of land for potential wetland constraints and informed the landowners if

uch constraints would affect their building plans. The Commission also pro- ded similar reviews for special permit applications considered by other town boards. Four violations of the Massachuseltts Wetlands Protection Act and ichimond Wetland Bylaw were reported to the Commission and all have been

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resolved or are in process. In enforcing the act and bylaw, the Commission held twelve public meetings to consider Requests for Determinations of Appli- cability (a process that determines if permits will be required for a project) and ten public hearings on Notices of Intent, the applications for permits that are required if a projøct will affect a wetland. Finally, several members and the Administrative Assistant atended the Massachusetts Association of Conserva- tion Commissions Annual Meeting in March and others attended various work-

shops and conferences offered by the DEP and the Massachusetts Audubon

Society.

The Commission wishes to remind residents that they must contact the Com- mission if they are planning a project in or near a wetland resource. We wish to thank all residents and town officers for their cooperation and support and spe- cial thanks to Administrative Assistant Bruce Garlow for his professional assis- tance to the Commission.

Holly Stover Chairwoman

RICHMOND COUNCIL ON AGING

Our third year was a very exciting year. Our long awaited van arrived in Au-

gust and it is now being used on a regular basis for doctor's appointments, transportation to and from day care facilities, shopping and fun trips. The van is equipped to carry two people in wheelchairs or nine regular passengers and was 80% funded by a State Grant with the remaining 20% being paid from the proceeds of two fund raisers. The Town of Richmond shares the van with the Town of West Stockbridge.

The JOY group continues to hold pot luck luncheons at the Town Hall on the second Friday of each month. Educational and entertaining programs are hela after each luncheon. Trooper Jim Somerville of the Lee State Police Barracks spoke to us on Crime Prevention. The Robbins-Zust Marionettes visited us in May with a performance of "Carnival of Animals" which was funded by a u tural Council Grant. Also funded by a Cultural Council Grant was the VEy popular Christmas program presented by the Aldersgate Bell Ringers

in 1995 we also had a wonderful picnic on the lawn at the newly renovëateu one room school house after which we were treated to a guidea of the

School, and thirty-two Richmond seniors ioined with the seniors of other Bei shire County towns at Tanglewood for Elder Services' yearly picni

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REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF WIREs

During ections were made. The following is a breakdown of the inspections:

During the year of 1995, 110 ring pemits were issued, and a total of 159

Temporary Service Entrance 2

Rough Wiring Inspections 35

Finish Wiring Inspections 31

Permanent Service Inspections 17

Service Charges 12

Miscellaneous 62

TOTAL 159

Total fees collected $2130.00

Robert M. Jamross Inspector of Wires

REPORT OF THE LAND TRUST

Two of Richmond's scenic treasures were secured in 1995 for future genera- ons to enjoy, thanks to the vision of several property owners, the efforts of the

FHichmond Land Trust and the expert assistance of the Berkshire Natural Re SOurces Council.

righ on Dean Hill, 242 acres of land with magnificent distant views are now oected by a consevation restriction given by owners John and Chara Haas ne Hichmond Land Trust and the Berkshire County Land Trust and Conser aon Fund. The Haas family, who will continue to own the property, desig- d three building lots (one with a present structure and two for future use), ney planned maximin open effect for scenic value - an arrangementwhich

G Land Trust helped the family to work out.

Historic Stevens Glen also moved into protective custody as a gift from Millard Naor and Frederic L. Pryor to the Richmond Land Trust and the Berkshire

Hesources Council. The parcel includes the beautiful glen itself, where

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Lenox Mountain Brook runs through a narrow gorge with a series of cascada 78 acres of land in Richmond and 50 acres south of the town line in Wac Stockbridge. We are now considenng the pOssibility of constructing a trail to the glen so it can be viewed more easily by all.

The Land Trust has played a continuing role in development of the basic drat for a Richmond town plan, together with a color-coded map showing cateao- ries of open land in the town. The Trust helped to finance the extensive re- search and writing done for these by Bruce Garlow, administrative assistant. The map may be seen in Town Hall, and copies of the draft plan are available there. (The planning board is now working on specific proposals of the plan.)

As in past years, Land Trust members worked with the Richmond Civic Asso- ciation and Richmond Historical Society to produce the profitable August auc-

tion which has becomea community social event, while raising nearly $15,000, which is used to support each organization's community activities. In October the three groups put on another fine town picnic, held again on the grounds of the restored Northeast Schoolhouse. At the picnic the annual Charles and Mary Kusik Citizenship Award was presented to the 50-year-old Volunteer Fire Department for providing excellent fire and ambulance service.

Members of the board continue to confer with individual landowners who have questions about future uses of their property and with other town boards when interests overlap. They are active in other county land-use organiza-tions, sharing ideas and experience for mutual benefit.

The Land Trust's main purpose is to help protect and perpetuate Richmond's pleasant rural attributes and help landowners understand the many options available for land preservation- while adapting to growth in population and changes in occupations and lie-styles of our residents. All who are intereste0 in supporting these objectives are encouraged to join, to help with the mission, to question members and to come forth with their thoughts about the future or

Richmond lands and the town as a whole.

B. Carter White, President

Tom McCann, Vice President Ed Sawyer, Treasurer

Ann Larkin, Secretary

Kelton Burbank, Legal Consutant

Mason, Nanci MoConnell, Jerry Morray, Marguerite Rawson, Davia Sexton. Other board members: Carl Beling, Philip Foster, Miriam Kimba

Rufo, William Sexton.

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INVENTORY OF MAJOR ITEMS OWNED BY THE TOWN OF RICHMOND

Cemetery Equipment 4 Cemetery Plots 1 Power Mower

Emergency Management Equipment 2 Sirens Fold-A-Tank 1 1/4 Ton, 4-Wheel Drive Truck 1 Riding Lawn Mower

1 Stamper for Lot Markers Metal Detector

1 Toro String Trimmer

Fire Department 1 Completely Equipped 1,000 GPM

E-1 pumper Truck 1 Completely Equipped 1,250 GPM

E-1 Pumper 2 Portable Generators, 110 Volt, A.C. 33 Sets of Turn-Out Gear 1 Resusci-Anne

10 Ton Port-O-Power 3,500 Feet of 2 1/2 Inch Hose 2,200 Feet of 4 Inch Hose 1992 Ford Road Rescue Ambulance Gorman-Rupp 300 GPM Portable Pump 20 Portable Radios 2 Chain Saws with Carbide Blades

15 Scott Air Packs 1 Western Star Tanker 1,200 Feet of 1 3/4 Inch Hose 30 Pagers with Chargers

1 Sawzall 2 Battery Booster/Chargers

Conservation Commission Police Equipment 111.25 Acres of Land 2 Mobile Units

4 Walkie Talkies

Highway Department 1995 International Sander Truck 1992 1-Ton Ford Dump Truck

1984 International Dump Truck 1980 Model A-64 Ford Payloader York Pull-Type Grader 2 Road Sanders

1992 International Dump Truck 1988 Model 850 Dresser Road Grader 1969 Model 3000 Ford Tractor with

Roadside Mower & Rotary Mower York Rake Road Broom 1 Vee Plow, 5 Highway Plows

Stone Spreader 2 Chain Saws

1 Wing Plow Tractor Mounted Post Hole Digger 1 Base Radio, 5 Mobile Radios Snow Fence Approx. 15,000 feet 1 Parker Leaf Vac

3 Portable Radios Trar ndos Tractor Mounted Fence-Post Driver 1 Kelly-Creswell Line Striper

Hydraulic Gravel Spreader 1 Model 100 Brush Bandit Chipper

Municipal Equipment, Buildings and Land Town Hall and 1/2 Acre Land 1 Folding Machine 5 Adding 5 Office Desks

Town Garage, and 1/3 Acre Land Reservoir Road Property. 6 1/3 Acres 5 Secretarial Chairs Machi 4 Upholstered Chairs

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3 Folding Tables

10 Four-Drawer Filing Cabinets

1 HP Fax Machine

1 Set Weights & Measures

2 Epson Personal Computers w

Monitor

Konica 2203 Copy Machine 4 Open File Organizers 5 Typewriters Town Barn & 1/2 Acre of Land Float Dock & Lifeguard Equipment 3 Safes

2 Epson Disk Drives

3 Gateway /2000 Computers w/

Monitors

State Road Property, Approx. 30 Acres Richmond Shores, 18.4 Acres of Land Library Books 105 Seats for Town Hall 2 Okidata Printers

1 HP Desk Jet Printer

2 Epson FX-286e Printers 4 Computer Tables

5 Fireproof File Cabinets Salt Shed and 2 Acres Land

1 Wet/Dry Vacuum Picnic Table and Accessories Library Bookcases, Table, Desks Chairs Assorted Office Equipment

School Inventory of Buildings, Land and Equipment

Consolidated School and 8 plus 1 Mitsubischi VCR 1 23" Sony Videorecorder/player 1 Magnavox Video camera/recorder 2 Bell & Howell 16mm Film projectors 1 Kodak Filmstrip projectors 1 Kodak Carousel slide projactor 3 Overhead projectors 1 Tape Recorder with headsets 1 Portable Compact Disc player 3 Record players 1 Microphone Amplifier Unit 1 Auditorium sound system

acres of land

1 Royal Konica 4291 Photocopier 1 Xerox 610 Memorywriter typewriter 1 3M Thermofax 1 Bell &Howell Spirit duplicator 1C. Itoh printer 1 Samsung computer with harddrive 1 Samtron color monitor 1 Samsung keyboard

Microsoft mouse 1 NEC Electra 8/24 Telephone system

with 8 phones (donated by NYNEX) 2Upright pianos 12 IIGS Computers 10 Imagewriter II printers 1 Laserwriter lI printer 10 1IGS keyboards 14 Apple monitors 3 data switches

1 Arians 8 HP lawn mower 1 John Deere Model 180, 17 HP

Tractor/Mower 1 Toro Lawn trimmer 1 Pullman floor polisher 1 Pullman vacuum cleaner

4 Amdek monitors 1 Hoover vacuum cleaner

1 Hitachi oolor monitor 1 Floor Safe 11 computer mouses 21 5.25 diskdrives Kitchen Equipment

Miscellaneous Schoolroom furnishings Miscellaneous Gym equipment 3 Canoes

13.50 diskdrives 1 Laminating machine

1Opaque projector 1 Southern Bell portable phone 1 1200/Baud modem

Miscellaneous Playground equipment 4 Computer tables

1 Macintosh LC575 1 4-Phone Listening Center 1 Sharp 25" color television Miscellaneous Healthroom equipment 1 Regulation Size Ping Pong Table

4 Magnavox TV/ VCR Combinations 2 Mini Ping Pong Tables

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