At last week’s Town Meeting Upton voters defeated a proposal to restrict the use of consumer fireworks.

Nancy Thew had gathered 20 signatures on a petition to request an ordinance that would have limited fireworks use to July 4 and New Year’s Eve.

While state law allows them year-round, towns may pass stricter requirements.

Thew said she has a neighbor who has been “harassing me and my animals” by using fireworks “until after 11 at night.”

“My chickens don’t lay for days,” she said. “And I’d love to see my horse in the field without freaking out.”

She also said her dog and cat are traumatized.

“I moved to Upton because it’s a quiet town,” she said. “I’m just for peace and quiet after 9 o’clock.”

Ed Bennett said the neighbor was unhappy over a property dispute.

Laurie Brown said she was sorry for Thew’s prob­lem, “but the whole town doesn’t have that problem. If we vote it in, then it affects everybody.”

Property owner Diane Williamson favored an ordinance.

“Our major concern is the woodlands. It’s a fire issue, too,” she said. “We should consider this for our pets, for our land and for our peace and quiet.”

But Woodstock Town Manager Vern Maxfield, who moderated the meet­

SeeUPTON,Page2

Article Continued Below
See UPTON on Page A02

UPTON

Continued from page 1

ing, said his town had learned through consideration of the issue that a town would be responsible for enforcing such an ordinance, because the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department will not. He said one possibility for legal enforcement might be a fire chief which Upton does not have.

Replied Thew, “I got a legal way – It’s called a .38.”

After about 10 minutes of discussion, the vote was taken and the measure was defeated 15-8.

Another ordinance proposal, to amend the Appeals Ordinance to allow for a variance for access for a disabled person to a residential building, was approved.

Townspeople passed all the money articles on the warrant, but under discussion of the school articles Thew was critical of the state grades received by Telstar High School, where Upton tuitions its students.

“Isn’t that a reflection on the teachers, that they should be doing the job they get paid for?” she asked SAD 44 Supt. Dave Murphy, who attended the meeting.

Murphy said that while the data behind the grades was a reflection on the school system, the “F” grade of last year rose to within a half point of a “C” this year without the district taking specific steps in between, since this year’s grade was based on a test taken only two weeks after the “F” grade was released.

“Looking at one year in isolation is not a good barometer,” he said.

He also said there is a correlation statewide between grades and poverty rate, but that SAD 44 is taking steps to improve its curriculum.

The school articles were eventually passed, with $42,992 raised as the town’s contribution to the total cost of education. The figure is about $10,000 less than last year.

In town elections, Selectman Bob Pepler, Tax Collector Charlotte Dominique, Treasurer Deborah Judkins and Town Clerk Rose Stevens were returned to office unopposed. For School Committee, Pat Kenyon defeated incumbent John Aron 18-5.

The meeting lasted just over an hour.