Hubbardston officials approve Chapter 61 applications for three property owners

Hubbardston town officials approved Chapter 61 land-classification applications for three property owners and signed a certificate for a new applicant during a brief meeting that drew no public comment.

The approvals covered: a 61B transfer for Robert Loring; a Chapter 61 application by Gordon and Lisa Savigny (whose application documentation showed livestock losses); and a new applicant, John Alward of 46 Highville Road, for whom officials signed a certificate. Officials discussed qualification thresholds and a recent loss of livestock in deciding the Savignys’ application.

Town staff told the panel that Robert Loring’s submission is a 61B filing after he transferred a lien from his mother’s name to his own; staff said paperwork for that item “checks out.” For the Savignys, staff reported the family had lost about two goats, two sheep and approximately 30 chickens and were left with roughly one goat and about 25 chickens. Staff said the applicants reported 12.1 acres of land and reported no income for the current application year because of those losses.

Officials cited the program’s financial thresholds as part of the discussion. Staff said there is a $500 baseline for the first five acres and an additional $5 per acre for remaining acreage; on the figures presented (12.1 acres), officials calculated the applicant would need about $535 to meet the stated threshold but the Savignys reported $0 for the application year. Town staff also noted the applicants had been approved previously; the transcript records the applicants were approved in October 2023 and that the livestock losses occurred between October 2024 and February 2025.

Board members discussed timing and the automatic approval deadline. One staff member noted that if the board did not act within the 90-day window the application would be automatically approved and gave a May 5 deadline for action on that schedule. After discussion about the apparent loss of income from livestock sales and uncertainty about other possible farm income (vegetable crops, Christmas trees), the members decided to approve the Savignys’ Chapter 61 application for the current year but to send a warning that future approval would depend on reported income.

For John Alward, staff reported he is new to Chapter 61, owns 20.5 acres with 17.65 acres to be placed in the program, and that his paperwork and forest-management plan were in order; officials signed his certificate at the meeting.

Officials also approved the meeting minutes and the executive-session minutes by voice vote. No members of the public were present in person or online for public comment, and the meeting moved into an executive session at the end of the agenda.

Officials instructed staff to send written notices: a letter to the Savignys confirming approval and warning about future eligibility if income is not demonstrated, and a certificate and acceptance letter to Alward. Staff also said they would notify Robert Loring that his 61B transfer had been signed off.