Welcome to Bull Spit Brewing Company!

The following letter was recently sent to the Winchendon Board of Selectmen. In an effort to provide full transparency, we’ve made the letter available for you to read here.

Dear Select Board Members:

Thank you for allowing me to briefly speak to you this evening. I hope that what I was able to say in the 3 minutes that I was allotted got your attention. I also hope that you could hear my frustration. As I said this evening, I can prove all that I spoke about as my calls are all recorded.

Roughly 3 years ago, Geoff Newton tried to force me to install sprinklers in 33 Walnut St. Mass. General Law chapter 148 Sections 26 H & I clearly state that properties with 4 or more units need sprinklers. He and I went back and forth on this matter for several months before K & P Law weighed in and told the then Town Manager, Justin, that Mr. Newton was wrong. Geoff was directed to issue the permit I’d been requesting. He did and we completed the 2 units located on the first floor of this home. While doing this work, we upgraded the electrical to a 4 meter service, one for the landlord panel, 2 for the first floor units and one for the final unit that is going in on the upper floors. This project was put on hold when I bought the third house, 26 Walnut St. and wanted to get get it renovated quickly in order to provide a home for my son and his family. We finally got back to 33 and since early December, we have been fighting with the new Town Bldg. Inspector.

First, unlike the previous 6 units, 2 each in 25, 26 and 33 Walnut St., where I was allowed as the home owner to pull the permits, he insisted that I bring in a General Contractor. Please keep in mind that there is no structural work being done, only non-weight bearing walls. So, I hired a Contractor. We then met again with Mr. Germano. He now insisted that I hire an architect. The plans we had were fine for this level of modification but I brought in an architect. We met again with Mr. Germano fully expecting the permit to finally be issued. He reviewed the documents with all of us, asked questions and indicated that we were all set. Three weeks later, he called to schedule a walk through and we set a time. I was on the phone with one of my carpenters and as we were conducting the walk through, Mr. Germano started advising me about the appellate process indicating that was denying the permit request. I couldn’t believe it. He told me that he believed that I need sprinklers. Please keep in mind that between issuing a cease and desist order at my 86 Front St. bldg. until I bring in an architectural engineer to design all 5 floors rather than let me do the 5th floor along with 3 store fronts, I’m losing more than $10,000 in unrealized monthly rent and to that we can add $3,000 monthly for the 5 beds that will occupy the third unit at 33 Walnut St. coupled with the unnecessary expense of having to bring in a contractor and architect and to date, he has cost me at least $75,000 and counting. Winchendon can not afford this. Most importantly, 5 low income families would have had homes in town this winter.

I’m not sure if any of the current Board members remember 11 years ago when I was about to open the first house, The Town tried to put a geographic preclusion zone in place preventing me from allowing men with certain criminal convictions from living in this house. The same reasoning that applied then applies now. The Home Rule Amendment in the Massachusetts Constitution says that once our legislators have addressed a subject, no bylaws, codes, regulations, policies etc. can be created that make things more onerous. In 2014, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that because M.G.L. ch. 6 Sec. 178 et. seq. had addressed what those who had been convicted of certain crimes would be subjected to post incarceration, a Town, City or County could not create a more onerous rule. They wiped out zoning preclusion zones across the State. At the time, I chose not to seek attorney fees or any damages. The last thing I wanted to do was cause Winchendon financial problems. Mr. Germano is incorrect in demanding that I have sprinklers installed in this home. If I am forced to litigate this matter, I will request both attorney fees and damages for several reasons. Seemingly and sadly, it may be the only way I will be treated fairly.

I am beyond being frustrated with what is taking place in Town. I pay more that $30,000 in yearly property taxes. Everything that I was put through 11 years ago was for naught. In these 11 years, I have assisted more than 170 men to safely return to society. NOT ONE OF THEM HAS RE-OFFENDED. These numbers are unheard of. These men had to live somewhere. They’d served their respective prison or jail sentences. Every one of them does 4+ hours of volunteer work around town and they each spend 2-3 hundred dollars locally each week. The police have NEVER ONCE been called to my homes. We cost the Town nothing. For $30,000+ in taxes, we use nothing but street lights and snow plows. My family and I have donated more money to various local agencies than all but perhaps, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation. I choose to do it quietly. Ironically, Bob O’Keefe was your Board’s Chairperson in 2014. Today, he is one of my greatest supporters and my friend. Perhaps you should speak with him and ask what he’d do with this situation. I can promise you that he is 100% behind me as you should be.

This leads me to the next issue. Last year, I met with Bill, Nicole and Brian to discuss development of three of my properties, 86 Front St., 4 Summer Dr., and 11 Summer Dr. We met for more than an hour. Again, I was on a recorded line and if litigation proves necessary, I can get the calls transcribed. We first discussed 86 Front St. They explained that they preferred me to create low income apts. rather than a Long Term Residential Sober Program. I explained that there wasn’t enough parking to support 15-20 apts. They suggested that I be given 2 lots across from town hall, lots 289 and 290 if I would pay to have a parking lot built that could also be used by the public. I went further and offered to set up a $100,000 trust to reestablish the Converse gardens that used to be beside the river many, many years ago. This was a project my Grandmother wanted to see done as far back as the seventies. It hasn’t happened. I want to make it happen. I can make it happen. I will make it happen. Please let me. We next discussed 11 Summer Dr., the Goodspeed bldg. My plan is to demo. as little as possible and to create 40+ – low income apts.. They were all for this. We then spoke about 4 Summer Drive. They did not know that I was the new owner of Bullspit. I asked what they would like to see done there. I couldn’t have been happier when they said they’d love to have a supermarket back in town. For 6 years, I have tried to find a place to open one. There were 3 when I was a kid. I’ve spent the last 6+ months working to get one of the major chains interested. Most refused due to out population being too small. I was finally able to get one that would have been in my top 3 to agree to come to town as long as I constructed the bldg. to their specs. and for the first five years, charge almost nothing for their lease. I’m willing to do that. My plan is to try to salvage as much of the bldg. as possible but it is crumbling. In the last 3 weeks, a window and surrounding wall,fell in and large pieces of the roof have blown off. I want to build a skate park behind it, something the Youth Group has expressed a desire for. I want to continue to have functions as Keith Kopley did but not just music and food trucks. I’d like to create reasons to come to Town. I’d have a monthly flea market, a yearly car show, I’d allow the Farmers’ Market to utilize the space, and my son would like to host Pokemon card shows like the one he’s having next weekend at the Legion which I was shocked to learn often have several hundred people attend. I’ve been asked if it would be possible to have a driving range net installed so that it could be raised during certain hours then lowered and stored when not in use. I was absolutely thrilled when we left Bill’s office last year. For a moment, I felt as if all of my hard work was paying dividends. now, I feel like the biggest sucker on Earth.

When Keith Kopley won the R.F.P. for $5,001, he worked with the Town to get a block grant to do the soil remediation, The Town had certain responsibilities that they did not complete. He went back and forth with Keith then Justin via emails which I have. Everyone was working to make his plans come to fruition. When he decided to pull out, I contacted him about Goodspeed and I ultimately bought it. I grew up with Davis Witt and spent countless hours running around in there as a kid. I plan to begin renovations there as soon as I finish 86 Front St. This leads me to ask, why is the Town trying to take 4 Summer St. back? Not only did Bullspit pay the $5,001 but we also put $40,000 into electrical upgrades and have agreements with the previous 2 Town Managers. Why is Bill being quoted as saying that he wants to get it back on the tax rolls when I’m willing to immediately pay taxes on it and why is he claiming that Bullspit is no longer in business? Just check the Sec. of the Commonwealth web site. I have a web designer currently updating the my site and we’ve been contacted by a dozen or so groups that are interested in future events. I strongly suggest that you immediately remove Article 26. 4 Summer St. was voted by your Board to be sold to Bullspit. We have invested $45,000+ in this property and that does not take into consideration the work done to bring about a positive future for this property. You should also keep in mind that in accordance with the Mill Conversion Overlay District bylaw #4.2, I, being the owner of Goodspeed, can create the low income apts. mentioned supra making me uniquely able to conform with this bylaw. I ask that you ask yourselves, why try so hard to stop what our town needs so badly? I can’t tell you how many people have told me that Winchendon has forever gotten in it’s own way. My family has been very successful in Town. We have run businesses from Nursing Homes to construction companies, sober homes, produce and clothing stores and a package store. My family has been in town since the early sixties. I love that town. Please don’t make me regret doing all that I do out there. Please don’t force me litigate these issues. Not only can the Town not afford it but why would you want to? You’ve seen what I’ve been able to accomplish on Walnut St. I have the want and the means to put 3 store fronts, a grocery store and 40 -50 low income apts. on line, please let me. God willing, I will be home by year’s end to oversee all of the above. I have 34+ years of sobriety, have completed every D.O.C offered program and want only to be a good citizen and most of all, a good father

I ask that you remove this Article from the Warrant. Let’s set a date to get together where we have more than 3 minutes and let’s work together. Thank you for your consideration of the above. Please respond as soon as possible. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Bobby Grady