Athol Daily Information – Athol Selectboard mulls vehicle dealership
ATHOL — Brian Joseph Teason of Orange appeared at a public listening to before Athol’s Selectboard previous Tuesday, June 15, to make a pitch for the acceptance of a Course II Automotive Dealership License.
“Fifty-three Primary Avenue has extensive been a car dealership,” stated Teason. “I was instructed by someone in city it truly started as an AMC dealership.”
“Jimmy Stewart’s,” interjected board member Andrew Sujdak.
“Yeah,” mentioned Teason, with a smile. “We’re seeking to convey it again to what it after was. Repairs. Going to be doing some detailing down the highway. And just advertising traditional cars and trucks and some modern utilised cars and trucks as well.”
“Have you accomplished this any where else, in any other town?” asked board Vice Chair Alan Dodge, to which the applicant replied in the adverse.
“This is my first option for advertising applied autos,” he stated, “and use for a Course II license.”
Board member Mitch Grosky inquired about the forms of vehicles that will be labored on at the Key Street location, which sits across the avenue from Athol Glass.
“The autos I have are in fairly very good form,” replied Teason. “They’re largely entry-stage automobiles. I’m going to be bringing them it at night time. So, they’re not heading to be sitting overnight. I’m just heading to be relocating them in and out.
“So, to get started with, I’m likely heading to have three, 4, five autos out in the lot. In the wintertime, I’m not heading to be placing the basic vehicles out there — I’m retaining them away from the salt and the elements. I’ll probable have F-150s, more modern-day trucks — 2000s, 2010s — stuff like that will be out on the ton. With any luck ,, practically nothing is going to be sitting down far too long.”
“My only concern,” stated Grosky, “would be your upkeep of that great deal. I want it to be something appealing for the city as opposed to what it could be — an eyesore.”
“I concur,” responded Teason. “I’ve previously been out there with my weedwhacker. I’m likely to converse to the homeowners of the setting up about likely putting in some re-rock and really producing that position shine and sparkle.”
Teason answered “No” when questioned by Vice Chair Alan Dodge if he would be location up a showroom in the constructing.
“Do you have ideas for that?” Dodge followed up.
“I do,” explained Teason emphatically. “I do. I hope to at some point obtain the building in two or 3 a long time down the highway. We’ll see how the company operates and go from there.”
Board member Stephen Raymond requested the applicant about any warranties offered with the sale of utilised automobiles and the bond which Teason could obtain.
“Yes, it is a surety bond,” he explained. “So, it’s a $25,000 bond that I’ll get as a result of my insurance plan enterprise. I’m actively working with my insurance policies corporation in Westminster — Anderson, Bagley & Mayo — and we will generally have insurance coverage on top rated coverage. So, if anything does go completely wrong with the motor vehicle, and if I’m not honorable according to the Massachusetts Lemon Regulation, there’s one thing in position to make confident the shopper is taken treatment of.
“But I will absolutely get treatment of my customers and I strategy on, even if I really do not provide a guarantee, I will do the job with whoever purchases a vehicle. I want them to be content.”
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski preferred to make sure that an correct restrict on the amount of cars that will be on the whole lot at any offered time is set.
“You just can’t jam 20 autos into this little location,” said Suhoski, “and which is the a single detail I’m not seeing right here.
“Ten to 12 automobiles, most, will be held in the whole lot across the road,” mentioned Teason. “That was the variety for the outdated restoration heart that used to be in there. So, 10 to 12 cars and trucks, and I wrote that on the enterprise description. And I’m not commencing out with 10.”
Michael Kelly, whose property abuts 53 Key St., requested that access to the business be restricted to a driveway off of Canal Road, or that a driveway onto and off of Primary Avenue be constrained to night time website traffic only. Kelly reported little ones participate in on the sidewalk alongside Primary Avenue, noting much more small children will be in the spot now that college is out.
To the disappointment of the applicant, Board Chair Rebecca Bialecki continued the public hearing until eventually the board’s following meeting, at which time Teason will be expected to current a web site program and information with regards to in which autos will be held, topic to any fire distancing protocols.
“The town has gotten ourselves into issues in the past,” explained Bialecki, “with a car or truck dealership that was not extremely nicely managed and it was challenging to resolve just after the reality. We want to lead to your accomplishment and have you established up to productive suitable from the outset.”
Greg Vine can be reached at [email protected]