Friday, February 1, 2013
A private well at Eastleigh Farm was disconnected and DPW re-activated a connection to town water to the farm this week, said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin.
Last year, Eastleigh Farm was told to build a well or pay a water bill. The farm chose to build a private well and disconnect from the Town of Framingham water supply. But this week, the private well at Eastleigh Farm was disconnected and Framingham Department of Public Works re-activated a connection to the town's water to the farm, said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. Halpin told Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night an account has been established in owner Doug Stephan's name and he will be receive his first water/sewer bill in April. Halpin told Selectmen Stephan indicated that he might want to supply a limited amount of the property with well water in the future. "Mr. Stephan understands that he is being metered and invoiced at the …
42.263259
-71.407888
Framingham Public Works: Water and Sewer Department
100 Western Ave, Framingham, MA
/articles/eastleigh-farms-re-connected-to-town-water-this-week
800231
/locations/8723058
42.32986
-71.48182
Eastleigh Farm
1062 Edmands Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/eastleigh-farms-re-connected-to-town-water-this-week
1707216
/locations/8723059
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The Commissioner discussed possible grants and power sources for the farm, including wind and solar, and said the Governor needs to tour the Framingham farm.
Massachusetts' Commissioner of Agriculture Greg Watson toured Eastleigh Farm with owner Doug Stephan last week. Watson, who is a newly appointed Commissioner, was eager to see the farm that was making headlines in Framingham. He spent two hours touring the working farm with Stephan, who explained the farm's history and its daily operations. Stephan also reviewed improvements with the Commissioner that need to made at the farm. There was talk of governmental support to help in getting grants awarded to the farm. Watson was also interested in the strong ties the farm has with not only Framingham residents, but people (families) that travel from all over the state for raw milk. Alternative power sources, such as, wind and solar were also …
42.32986
-71.48182
Eastleigh Farm
1062 Edmands Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/state-agriculture-commissioner-tours-eastleigh-farm
1707216
/locations/7507088
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Building its own well by Nov. 1 would take Eastleigh Farm off the town’s water supply and relieve the cash-strapped farm from paying water bills.
The town and Eastleigh Farm were able to work out a compromise. The Framingham Board of Selectmen approved the gist of a plan crafted by Town Manager Bob Halpin that gives Eastleigh Farm until Nov. 1 to install a well and take itself off of the municipal water supply. The proposal would defer payment of town water bills until a well is installed. The town had sought payment for water consumption beginning July 1 but the farm’s owner contends that water bills could force him out of business. Eastleigh Farm has never paid for its water. Selectman Dennis Giombetti’s motion stipulated that the town would not help with funding or in-kind services for the well but would do whatever it could to expedite any permitting processes that would be …
42.32986
-71.48182
Eastleigh Farm
1062 Edmands Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/eastleigh-farm-water-payments-deferred-until-well-is-installed
1707216
/locations/7477100
Friday, July 6, 2012
Edgar C. Pless Agricultural Award, is being created, and to be presented yearly by the family to a graduating senior considering an education or career in dairy or animal husbantry.
- OBITUARIES
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Friday, July 6, 2012
Edgar Charles Pless, the farm manager at Eastleigh Farm, Framingham, died on Tuesday July 3, 2012. Edgar, mentor to so many, is survived by his loving wife, Georgette, his 5 children, 3 step children and 5 grandchildren and by many friends who loved him. Sunday July 8 at 1 p.m., those who loved Edgar will gather at the Eastleigh Home Farm, 1084 Grove St. to honor him and the magic moments he created in the lives of so many. Please know you are welcome, bringing with you whatever you would like to share. Please consider a contribution in his name to the Edgar C. Pless Agricultural Award. This award will be presented yearly by the family to a graduating high school senior considering an education or career in dairy, or animal husbantry. …
42.332038
-71.462797
1084 Grove St, Framingham, MA
/articles/obituary-edgar-pless-eastleigh-farm-manager
/locations/7386566
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Eastleigh Farm owner Doug Stephan maintains that he will not be able to sustain the farm if he has to pay for its water.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed Tuesday night to table the vote on Eastleigh Farm for a month, making it clear that meetings about the ongoing water bill issue must be held in the next four weeks. Should the board decide to charge farm owner Doug Stephan for water usage, the charges would be effective starting July 1, said Selectman Dennis Giombetti. Stephan’s attorney, Bill Mayer, opened the discussion asking for a delay on voting whether Stephan will have to pay for water on his farm. The question remains whether Eastleigh should be treated as a private business or a public preservation site. The board is divided on the matter. Selectman Ginger Esty said, “Are we as a community going to go back on process because we got what we…
42.32986
-71.48182
Eastleigh Farm
1062 Edmands Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/eastleigh-farm-water-bill-still-in-dispute
1707216
/locations/7330011
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The owner of Eastleigh farm shares his thoughts before the selectmen's meeting tonight, in which Eastleigh water usage will be discussed.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Off and on over the past 4 plus years, there have been discussions and debates about the water "problem" at Eastleigh among various Boards and committees concerned about fairness in Framingham as to who gets what when it comes to Town water. Frankly, the tone of the discussion has been a bit shocking to me, in that I have been accused of being a crook, a liar, and a thief. This all because I bought Eastleigh Farm to save it from development. Were all the previous owners crooks and con men as well? Clearly, no one asked me to do it, but I did think it would be a giant step toward protecting a part of Town where I grew up and still reside, and it was at a time when my vocation was allowing me the financial freedom to make it happen. So …
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Framingham Selectmen decided to decline a $500,000 state grant that could have helped protect Eastleigh Farm from developers; and Selectmen rejected a plea to rejoin the MetroWest Regional Collaborative.
The future of Eastleigh Farm remains a question after the Board of Selectmen decided to pass on a $500,000 state grant that would have allowed a conservation restriction on the 112-acre farm. It took less than a minute for Selectman Ginger Esty to read a prepared motion and the board to vote on the matter during Tuesday night’s meeting. Esty’s motion read, “In concurrence with the property owner we are declining to accept the Eastleigh Farms land grant at this time.” The motion was prepared in executive session, which preceded the regular meeting. When asked after the meeting why the board of Selectmen decided not to accept the grant, Esty would only say that the grant came with too many restrictions and the property owner was in agreement…
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The state awarded a $500,000 grant for Eastleigh Farm for a conservation restriction on the 112-acre farm, which produces raw milk products.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. announced last week land conservation grants totaling more than $1.9 million to help nine Massachusetts municipalities purchase 722 acres of farms, wetlands, forests, and wildlife habitat, including Framingham. The state awarded a $500,000 grant for Eastleigh Farm for a conservation restriction on the 112-acre farm, which produces raw milk products. A working farm since the 1700s, it includes woodlands and pasture as well as significant wetlands, and BioMap2 Core and Critical Natural Landscape habitat. The restriction will also establish an important link to other protected land in the area, including Callahan State Park and several properties owned by Sudbury…
42.32986
-71.48182
Eastleigh Farm
1062 Edmands Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/state-awards-half-million-grant-to-eastleigh-farms
1707216
/locations/6087268
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Town Meeting member David Marks, precinct 16, has filed a motion to reconsider the Eastleigh Farms vote. Town Meeting voted Tuesday night to send the article back to Selectmen.
Special Town Meeting could reconsider its its vote last night on Eastleigh Farm. (To read the discussion on the vote, see Framingham Patch's live blog of Special Town Meeting last night.) Town Meeting member David Marks, of Precinct 16, filed a motion for reconsideration today, said Town Clerk Valerie Mulvey. Tuesday night, Town Meeting members voted to send the article back to Selectmen. Selectmen were asking Town Meeting to give preliminary support to purchasing the 112-acre property on Edmands Road by moving $300,000 from the open space stabilization account into a new account. But a majority of Town Meeting members said there were more questions than answers associated with the proposal. A 2/3 approval vote was needed and it failed. …
42.32986
-71.48182
Eastleigh Farm
1062 Edmands Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/town-meeting-may-reconsider-eastleigh-farm-vote
1707216
/locations/5630037
42.27981
-71.41634
Framingham Memorial Building: Nevins Hall
150 Concord St, Framingham, MA
/articles/town-meeting-may-reconsider-eastleigh-farm-vote
799384
/locations/5630038
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Town Meeting rejected a proposal on Eastleigh Farms, brought forward by Framingham Selectmen. It also tabled a budget article until Nov. 1. The article would deal with a $1.5 million shortfall discovered last week.
Special Town Meeting will be asked to take action on 16 articles. This fall Special Town Meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Much discussion has been focused on article 7, since a $1.5 million error was found in the budget last week. The shortfall must be fixed for the tax rate to be set in December. Framingham Patch will be live blogging during the Fall Special Town Meeting sessions. 7:34 p.m. Moderator says there is a quorum. 7:41 p.m. Moderator talking to Town Meeting members. He is welcoming them to the special town meeting. pledge of allegiance Warrant with 16 articles -- Background materials are on the back tables - Moderator Moderator giving the rules to everyone - Town Meeting members are to stand up, give name and precinct…
42.27981
-71.41634
Framingham Memorial Building: Nevins Hall
150 Concord St, Framingham, MA
/articles/live-blog-fall-special-town-meeting-day-1
799384
/locations/5623900
Leah Graves
11:31 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Agreed! more ›