I support all those in town that want to pay for services that do not currently exist for them, such as sewer services. I also understand that all town services cannot be offered to everyone for one reason or another, the most common reason being cost. Case in point is the connecting the Sturbridge Retirement Cooperative on River Street to the towns sewer system.
For years the owner of the property has fought to have the property connected to the towns sewer system, and now they are looking to an alternative solution. So why give up on the connecting to the towns sewer service? Cost. It would be cost prohibitive to justify spending $8 million to connect the sewer for the 273 residents of the the retirement community, and the town has said no to the request many times. If there were large corporations, very large residential developments, or retailers setting up shop along Route 15, then it would be a whole different story, but that is not the case. The retirement community must build their own sewerage treatment facility for $1.15 million, and they are under a state mandate to either connect to town sewerage, or build the treatment plant, otherwise they will have to shut down.
The community has applied three times for a grant to offset the cost of building the facility, and this year they are trying again, but to be successful they need to show town support, that is one area the state felt was lacking in the past.
A grant is not going to cost me anything, and I do not want to see 273 retired people with low to moderate incomes, being displaced because of not having the proper amount of sewerage.
This has been going on for far too long without a resolution. There are petitions going around town for residents to sign to show their support for this grant. I am not going to wait for the petition to find me, I am going to email my support to sturbridgecoop@verizon.net , with my name and address. This counts as well.
There are close to 300 Sturbridge residents that need our help in order to keep living in their homes, and an email is the least I can do.
How about taking a moment an doing the same. Those retirees would certainly appreciate your thoughts, and effort.
Click here to read the Worcester Telegram article.
Thanks,Wally. All the seniors here are greatful for the support residents have shown as they once again attempt to fund the cost of the treatment plant the state has mandated. We are still accepting e-mails as the application is still a work in progress. If anyone has questions about what we are doing they can also e-mail us.
ReplyDelete1.15 million.... had the management built on site sewer years ago when the issue first came up it would be finished by now at 1/2 the price tag. I do feel bad for the people who live there they were lead astray by their management.
ReplyDeleteManagement has fought for town sewage for years. They never gave up on the residents. Now, they are hoping to do it themselves with the help of a grant. I wish them all the best of luck.
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