Wilbraham Select Board approves open space and recreation plan update

March 31, 2021 | Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM – Joe Calabrese of the Wilbraham Open Space and Recreation Committee presented the Select Board with the town’s updated Open Space Plan. He explained at the board’s March 29 meeting that the plan must be updated with the state periodically. The plan allows the state to be eligible for Mass Land Grants, which are used to purchase parcels for conservation and recreation.

The committee conducted monthly meetings over the past two years and developed eight key goals, including, protection and preservation of resources, collaboration with other town departments and organizations, communication with the public on the importance of preservation and ongoing projects, and the monitoring and support of open space projects. The plan also sets goals of promoting forestry management, evaluating construction and developments with an eye on ecological impacts, management of trails and expansion of established recreation programs.

The board approved the new plan and will submit it to the state.

The Senior Center Building Committee has set up a page on wilbraham-ma.gov to allow interested residents to review plans and information about the proposed center. The project will be on the Special Town Meeting warrant for voter approval in the fall.

The Select Board presented former Town Accountant Nancy Johnson with a commendation for her years of work with Wilbraham. Johnson retired on March 19. The board has already moved to appoint her replacement. Select Board member Carolyn Brennan said the new accountant comes with experience that make for a seamless transition.

Wilbraham will be applying for a “Public Health Excellence” grant. The funding, which would be administered with help from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), would help with the cost of regionalizing municipal health departments. Currently, the town is exploring a joint venture with Hampden, Ludlow and Longmeadow. Without funding, the startup costs for such a program could be up to $300,000 for three years, said Town Administrator Nick Breault.

Breault explained that an antenna at the rear of Fountain Park is part of a University of Massachusetts research project on migratory birds. The antenna may be located there on and off over the next several months.

During the citizens’ open forum, resident Michael Squindo urged the board to consider ways to encourage residents to attend town meetings.  He said that it is frustrating that a small portion of people make decisions for nearly 15,000 residents.

Share this: