ATHOL — Brian Joseph Teason of Orange appeared at a public listening to before Athol’s Selectboard final Tuesday, June 15, to make a pitch for the acceptance of a Course II Automotive Dealership License.
“Fifty-3 Main Avenue has extensive been a auto dealership,” reported Teason. “I was informed by an individual in city it truly commenced as an AMC dealership.”
“Jimmy Stewart’s,” interjected board member Andrew Sujdak.
“Yeah,” said Teason, with a smile. “We’re searching to carry it back again to what it the moment was. Repairs. Likely to be undertaking some detailing down the street. And just selling typical cars and some contemporary made use of cars as effectively.”
“Have you completed this any place else, in any other city?” questioned board Vice Chair Alan Dodge, to which the applicant replied in the negative.
“This is my very first possibility for promoting used cars and trucks,” he claimed, “and utilize for a Class II license.”
Board member Mitch Grosky inquired about the sorts of cars that will be worked on at the Most important Avenue spot, which sits across the road from Athol Glass.
“The autos I have are in really superior form,” replied Teason. “They’re mostly entry-amount vehicles. I’m likely to be bringing them it at night. So, they’re not heading to be sitting overnight. I’m just heading to be going them in and out.
“So, to begin with, I’m most likely going to have 3, 4, 5 cars out in the lot. In the wintertime, I’m not heading to be putting the basic cars and trucks out there — I’m preserving them absent from the salt and the elements. I’ll very likely have F-150s, extra modern day vans — 2000s, 2010s — stuff like that will be out on the whole lot. With any luck ,, absolutely nothing is heading to be sitting way too extended.”
“My only issue,” reported Grosky, “would be your upkeep of that great deal. I want it to be some thing desirable for the town as opposed to what it could be — an eyesore.”
“I concur,” responded Teason. “I’ve currently been out there with my weedwhacker. I’m heading to communicate to the entrepreneurs of the building about perhaps placing in some re-rock and really earning that place shine and sparkle.”
Teason answered “No” when requested by Vice Chair Alan Dodge if he would be setting up a showroom in the making.
“Do you have options for that?” Dodge followed up.
“I do,” explained Teason emphatically. “I do. I hope to at some point acquire the developing in two or 3 yrs down the road. We’ll see how the organization performs and go from there.”
Board member Stephen Raymond asked the applicant about any warranties offered with the sale of utilized vehicles and the bond which Teason could get.
“Yes, it’s a surety bond,” he defined. “So, it is a $25,000 bond that I’ll get as a result of my insurance coverage corporation. I’m actively working with my insurance policies enterprise in Westminster — Anderson, Bagley & Mayo — and we will fundamentally have insurance plan on top insurance policy. So, if something does go mistaken with the motor vehicle, and if I’m not honorable according to the Massachusetts Lemon Legislation, there’s a little something in area to make positive the client is taken care of.
“But I will fully consider care of my clients and I prepare on, even if I do not give a warranty, I will operate with whoever purchases a car or truck. I want them to be pleased.”
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski required to make certain that an ideal restrict on the range of cars that will be on the whole lot at any given time is established.
“You cannot jam 20 cars and trucks into this little area,” reported Suhoski, “and which is the one depth I’m not seeing here.
“Ten to 12 autos, highest, will be retained in the great deal across the road,” claimed Teason. “That was the number for the old restoration middle that made use of to be in there. So, 10 to 12 cars and trucks, and I wrote that on the company description. And I’m not commencing out with 10.”
Michael Kelly, whose property abuts 53 Most important St., requested that accessibility to the small business be minimal to a driveway off of Canal Road, or that a driveway onto and off of Main Street be constrained to night time targeted traffic only. Kelly reported small children participate in on the sidewalk along Main Street, noting much more youngsters will be in the place now that college is out.
To the disappointment of the applicant, Board Chair Rebecca Bialecki continued the community hearing until eventually the board’s future assembly, at which time Teason will be needed to existing a website prepare and details concerning exactly where cars will be stored, subject to any hearth distancing protocols.
“The town has gotten ourselves into problems in the earlier,” said Bialecki, “with a car dealership that was not really properly managed and it was tough to resolve soon after the reality. We want to contribute to your results and have you set up to thriving ideal from the outset.”
Greg Vine can be attained at [email protected]