Farmer's Market Location

[dweir]

What do you think of the location of the Farmer's Market?

I avoid town center on Tuesday afternoons. The lack of parking and the traffic congestion make it not worth the effort when there are other markets and farmstands with better access.


http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_18...#disqus_thread

[west4]

I think the market idea is sound but I also think it is much to big for the center of Town and has been for a few years now. The Police and Fire Departments have said the same. When this came up earlier in the year, despite what both Departments said the BOS allowed it to continue. The market now has craft vendors and is selling wine. If you look deep into the history of the market, they have been given many things from the Town that most Businesses would not have.
It should be moved to the Four H grounds. It has the parking and space for all the vendors. The rub here is that they will have to PAY for the use of the grounds, unlike now where the use is free. The guy who was told to pay 5K to play soccer on his own Towns fields should take note of that.

[Nab4Life]

I love the idea of the Farmer's Market, but hate the location. I don't know how it is that we haven't had a major accident up there. I avoid the area at all costs because of the congestion and parking hassle, and know other people that would shop the market if was easier to get to. The Abbot school parking lot is really not an option? I know the preschool operates all summer, but isn't there some space? Or one of the other school lots?

[west4]

There have been accidents over the last 3 years. That is one reason the police have recommended that it not be here. How quickly would a fire engine be able to assist it's citizens as the try and navigate through that mess! If they are moved the Town should be collecting a rental for any of it's properties. They can no longer be on school properties because they are now selling wine. Next will be clothing etc. and we have a wonderful weekly flea market the Town is sponsoring.

[DanD]

I like the idea of a farmer's market. Until this year, I have never been through the center of town when it is going on (work and all that stuff). I had a Tuesday off and was dismayed by the traffic, it needs to be moved.

I did not realize the town was not charging for space. I would like to hear the justification of the town essentially subsidizing these private businesses, competing with the many farm stands in the area. If public land is used, fees need to be collected. Fees that are comparable to fees for private land (I have no idea how this can be figured out, but I am sure someone in town gummint can figure it out).

[west4]

There are 3-4 people who run this town (most of you can fill in the blanks). The towns laws, bylaws etc. pertain to everyone other than themselves. Included in that are their affiliations and pet projects. The Farmers Market is one of them so don't expect any change here other than more support for the Market. Most folks in tone have no idea what goes on in Westford behind closed doors. It is not pretty.

[Tony1941]

There are 3-4 people who run this town (most of you can fill in the blanks). The towns laws, bylaws etc. pertain to everyone other than themselves. Included in that are their affiliations and pet projects.

You should run for public office or at least attend town meeting in support of fiscal sanity.

[west4]

In my opinion, one of the major problems with Westford is Town meeting. These same people simply email out their support letters and can muster up their mobs to attend town meeting and any other meeting and push whatever they want through. As sad as it is the average citizen cannot spend two days sitting through the dog and pony show. I have been to Town meeting. In fact when everyone was euphorically voting yes on East Boston Camps I was the one vote saying no because of the costs down the road. Remember how it wasn't going to cost us ANYTHING!
I am a fiscal conservative. Spending $375,000 for the FPCU business expansion is an outrage and not what our Conservation finds were intended for. $500,000 for an elevator at Abott? One which was NOT mandated by law. I agree the school would need one but not in this economic clmate. All this waste going on and families are being asked to fork over $650 for Busing!
Getting rid of Town meeting would be a start. Just me spitting into the wind.

[JMM66]

Hello west4 and other Forumites,

You are so right. Most people in town have no idea what goes on behind closed doors of the various boards, etc.... Their is so much of the elites in town pushing through their pet projects that we all get to pay for. Hhhhmmmm....whose pet project is the Farmer's Market? I can guess who you mean. The Queen Dowager probably.

Sometimes you can effect good for the common good of the people. About one year ago, I attended the Water Board's meeting where some representatives of the Affordable Housing Committee, who shall remain nameless were trying to get through a forgiveness for some fees that the builder of the affordable housing on Boston Road was seeking from the town. I think the request was about $ 50,000.00 in that range. The builder had not noticed some rather large cable on the property. This would require that he excavate and bury the cables. This job was going to cost him thousands of dollars. Several other members of the community accompanied me and spoke against this as well. In the end, the Water Committee agreed that if the builder did not pay the fees to tie into the town's water system, this $$$$ would have to be made up by the other water takers in the system. They agreed that the builders failure to notice these cables oughtn't become the problem of everyone else in town. One time when the Committe did the right thing by the little guy.

One of the things that you all know really frosts my jets is ebc. I have emailed Eric Fahle for confirmation of something that I have heard. He has not responded to me, but I have it from a town official so maybe that's good enough? Here's what I have heard. Talk about fiscal insanity.
The FOEBC requested $ 60,000.00 from the Summer Villages mitigation fund for ebc. The Planning Board gave them $ 30,000.00. But to cover their butts, they required that this be approved by the BOS. It was approved. The FOEBC have signs hanging around town asking you to buy a brick to build a new bath house on the site of the present bath house. So, they are using publicly owned land, using public funds and raising private contributions for this venture. But, here's the deal breaker. While GUARDUP INC is in session on our camps property, the people who are paying the caretaker, paying the mortgage, paying for the upkeep of the property, etc, etc.... will not be alowed to use the brand new bath house because we all could be PEDOPHILES ya know. This summer, GUARDUP INC gave the town $ 14,000.00 for exclusive use of the upper camp for six weeks. Next year it could be as many as nine weeks according to the lease signed by Eric Fahle, chair of the Conservation Committee.
And, my poor girlfriend has told me she may request to work every weekend going into the fall so she can driver her kids everyday and save on the bus fee. Hhhhhmmmm....Would I rather see my tax dollars go to support the schools, the buses, to buy Matty a computer, etc.....or do I want it to go towards subsidizing a for profit organization such as GUARDUP INC?
I am tired, stressed out by work, my family, my ailing elderly father, my ailing elderly dog, but I am not crazy. I will continue to speak up to Jodi Ross et al on the things that I think are important in this town.
I did get Jodi, Bill Turner and George Fletcher to clean up the bypass trail of sharp roots and shoots after numerous emails, but they did it. Now at least I won't trip on a tree root and stab myself to death.
If enough of us speak up, then they will have to listen to us. Right, they can't ignore all of us.

What do I think about the Farmer's Market? I think the site of it ought to be moved elsewhere. I think that the vendors ought to pay the town for the right to use the Town Common or where ever else the Farmer's Market might land.

Yes, I read the article about the poor guy who wanted to play soccer on his lunch break. I am all for that. If he plays soccer enough, he'll avoid the middle aged tire, thereby not becoming another fat American with diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, etc... I am all for that.

Just me spitting into the wind too.

I can hear trees falling in the woods in back of my house. Good night Irene.

June McMorrow

[Tony1941]

You are so right. Most people in town have no idea what goes on behind closed doors of the various boards, etc....
The Queen Dowager probably.

Chairman Mao said "A march of a thousand leagues begins with a single step." Deja vu all over again Yogi--Sounds of the 1970's except that too many of the people are adept at making excuses. Residents of Westford arise. You have nothing to lose but your chains.

Sometimes you can effect good for the common good of the people. About one year ago, I attended the Water Board's meeting where some representatives of the Affordable Housing Committee, who shall remain nameless were trying to get through a forgiveness for some fees that the builder of the affordable housing on Boston Road

Ann Enos and Paul Cully with the able support of Water Commissioner Leslie Thomas who is very disposed to take care of her friends.

One of the things that you all know really frosts my jets is ebc. I have emailed Eric Fahle for confirmation of something that I have heard. He has not responded to me, but I have it from a town official so maybe that's good enough?

How many voters can you turn out at Town Meetings and Town election? i.e. How many Panzer divisions can you muster?

The FOEBC requested $ 60,000.00 from the Summer Villages mitigation fund for ebc. The Planning Board gave them $ 30,000.00.

I was under the impression that mitigation funds had to be used to mitigate problems caused by the development that led to the “donation of mitigation funds”.

Sounds like a case for the state Inspector General or Attorney General

etc.... will not be allowed to use the brand new bath house because we all could be PEDOPHILES ya know.

I ALWAYS SAY TO WATCH OUT FOR THE IRISH.

my poor girlfriend has told me she may request to work every weekend going into the fall so she can driver her kids everyday and save on the bus fee.

Your girlfriend made a mistake when she moved into Westford with a light purse. Of course, if she were to attend ATM and vote an article to provide free busing for all children under the BoS, vote down the revolving fund authorization and reduce the school budget by the same amount.

to buy Matty a computer, etc?

Matty has been loaned a computer much like other students are loaned books to use during the school year. If Matty is to get a computer, why not all Westford students. A program like Burlington’s or Beverly may be a good idea.

If enough of us speak up, then they will have to listen to us. Right, they can't ignore all of us.

I prefer Panzer divisions than whining individuals refer to Libya’s revolution.

What do I think about the Farmer's Market? I think the site of it ought to be moved elsewhere.

How about the upper field at Abbot with parking along Fisher way?

I think that the vendors ought to pay the town for the right to use the Town Common or where ever else the Farmer's Market might land.

So the town can have more money to spend on crucial projects like speed traps on Boston Rd?

Just me spitting into the wind too.

Better than Urinating into the wind or stepping on Superman's cape.