PHILLIPSTON — The Phillipston Community Preservation Committee (CPC) voted unanimously, 3-0, with two members abstaining due to owning property near the site, to deny a funding request of $250,000 to $750,000 for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Bates Powers Dam at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 13. The dam, owned by the Town of Athol, was deemed a liability by both committee members and residents.
The application proposed preserving the dam as a historic structure and converting it into a passive recreational asset. The Town of Athol gave Phillipston officials until their annual Town Meeting in June to decide whether to purchase the dam. However, CPC Secretary Linda Alger questioned the feasibility of funding the project and promptly made a motion for the committee to reject the application, according to the Athol Daily News.
“Why should the CPC put forth funds when the ultimate use is in doubt?” Alger asked. Adding, “In other words, why put that money into an evaluation of the dam if it’s not going to happen anyway?”
Concerns about long-term financial responsibility were also raised. Town Clerk Karin Foley shared resident feedback, saying, “They come by and they also call me, and they’re all very much not in favor of the town buying this liability of the dam. It’s something future generations are going to have to take care of years from now.” Foley further noted that she doubted the project would gain approval at Town Meeting.
Meanwhile, Alger asked whether Athol officials would consider donating the dam to Mass Wildlife, the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, or “some other wildlife-oriented non-profit.”
The dam has been discussed as a candidate for removal by Mass Wildlife, which prioritizes eliminating aging dams to restore fish habitats, improve biodiversity, and promote climate resilience. Athol officials estimated the cost of removal at $1.7 million, which could likely be covered by state funding.
Although the dam proposal was denied, Selectboard member Nicole Gough told the Athol Daily News that she would explore alternative grant funding options to support the project.
The CPC also denied two additional grant applications during the meeting: a $480,000 request to purchase property owned by local resident Tim Leslie for elderly housing, and a $272,000 request to repurpose a former leach field into a women’s softball facility with additional practice fields for school teams and residents.
The following projects were approved during the CPC’s Jan. 13 meeting:
- $160,000 to rehabilitate the gymnasium at the former Phillipston Memorial Elementary School
- $30,000 to restore windows at the Phillipston Congregational Church
- $50,000 for repairs to the Free Public Library, including work on its foundation, floor framing, and roof