Bresnahan Building Committee gets more of a go-ahead
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectmen recognized Dennis Driscoll for his service to the community and the school district during their Monday, June 16, meeting. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER

Ashburnham Selectmen voted on Monday, June 16, to give the go-ahead to the destruction of the former Scout house on the corner of River and Main Streets, after receiving the formal trust documents from the Bresnahan Scouting and Community Center Building Committee.

The committee has been working for a number of years to raise money to build a new Scouting center at the location, and town voters gave approval at May's Annual Town Meeting to allow the Selectmen to negotiate a lease or sale of the property with a non-profit group. The committee has now established a trust fund to care for and build the structure, which has granted it non-profit status.

"This is the kind of organization we need to do business with," said Selectman Christopher Gagnon.

The group needed the go-ahead from the Selectmen to have the Fire Department demolish the building. The Fire Department has received all the needed permits to have a practice burn on the property.

"I don't see any reason why we can't just give the go-ahead," Selectman Jonathan Dennehy said.

The Selectmen agreed to meet with the group in the next month to begin negotiating the lease. There will be discussions about the length and terms of the lease deal.

The building plans are currently before the Zoning Board of Appeals, who needs to grant a special permit for the project.

Ron Skaife, one of the committee members, said there are plans to create a picnic area long the river in around the memorial to William J. Bresnahan, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War. Powers said all of the landscaping is being donated by the Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club.

Skaife also said that the Ashburnham Municipal Light Company is donating $38,000 to put in the equipment to make the facility solar powered.

In other business:

• The town's lowest oil bid this year was from Burke Oil, a Qunicy-based oil company, with a cost of $4.385 a gallon, with the only other two bids received $4.445 from Roy Brothers and $4.645 from Cleghorn Oil Company.

• Selectmen asked to have a firm return date from Town Administrator Kevin Paicos, who is returning from a year of service with the National Guard in Afghanistan. They also asked to get a plan for the transition between Paicos and Interim Town Administrator Paul Boushell.

• Selectmen also disagreed over where the future meeting will take place. Selectman Margaret Whitney said she thought the ability to transmit the board's meetings live was a priority so she wanted to continue to meet the in the VonDeck Room of Oakmont Regional High School until a live drop was established for the Town Hall or in the VMS Building. Dennehy said he would like to establish a permanent meeting location at the renovated Town Hall and would like to see the live drop from the cable company established immediately. Dennehy suggested using

the area by the stage as the meeting location and also establishing a Selectmen's office area.