Historical Commission, Jones fail to reach compromise for Common
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

After being asked by Selectmen to meet and reach a compromise, the Historical Commission and resident Elaine Jones are still at a stalemate.

The Historical Commission asked Jones to consider a new location for the 10 benches she wants to put on the Town Common; Jones said no.

"To me, there is no other place. This is where people came to pray for Ryan, this is where the appropriate gift should be," Jones said, referring to a candle memorial held on the Common for her son.

The 10 granite benches were purchased by Jones, in memory of her son First Lt. Ryan Patrick Jones, a Westminster native who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in May 2007. While each bench is engraved with Jones' name, his mother said they are not a memorial to her son, but rather a gift to the town.

"I was trying to give back to the community for what they did for us. I'm just trying to do a good thing," Jones said.

This summer, Jones sought out and received approval from Selectmen to place the benches on the Town Common. The Board of Selectmen later received input from the Historical Commission disapproving of the project, and have sense held a variety of meetings trying to reach a resolution.

The Commission also expressed their concern about the Veterans Garden on the Town Common, which was proposed by the Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club and approved in concept by the Selectmen. The Rotary has withdrawn it's proposal.

The Commission said they are responsible for preserving the Common, which sits in the Historic District. Members have expressed concern that by allowing one memorial to be placed there, it could lead to a slippery slope.

"Initiating a precedent by approving memorials on the Common will not be taken lightly," said a letter drafted by Donna DiRusso, chairman of the Commission. The letter will be sent to the Board of Selectmen, who took up the issue again on Wednesday night after press time.

The Historical Commission asked Jones to consider placing the benches at existing war memorials in town, or in the town owned field, Azarian Barn, which sits near the Common.

"I think this would be an ideal place," said member Dick Spencer. "It is close to the Common, it is as large as the Common; there could be set sections set up for 'In Memory.'"

"We are not telling you can't do it," DiRusso said. "But we were told [by Selectmen] to help you find a different place for your memorials."

When asked by the Commission one last time if she could consider a compromise, Jones responded, "I really don't."

Along with the letter the Historical Commission sent to Selectmen, was a request to form a Committee "whose sole charge would be to determine process and procedure for memorial placement in town."

The Commission recommended the committee consist of a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, a member of the lcoal America Legion, the town's Veterans' Agent, a Cemetery Commission member, a Historical Commission member, and two community members. The Commission asked that if put in place, the committee review the Jones memorial before it is put in place.