After repeated thefts from municipal flowerbeds, Peterborough officials will place permanent plaques in public parks reminding visitors that removing plants is prohibited.
“Plants are being taken during spring and fall plantings, and whoever is stealing them knows what they are doing. They are stealing valuable plants,” said Town Administrator Nicole MacStay.
Terry Reeves, a member of the Peterborough Recreation Department garden committee, said that the committee had noticed plants going missing for the last three years, and that committee member Maude Odgers, who first noticed the thefts, has been documenting the losses.
Reeves said plants have been removed primarily from the Pavilion garden in Depot Square, as well as from Boccelli Park next to the old GAR building (now Post and Beam Brewery), and possibly from other gardens as well.
“They are taking perennials, and they are going after specific plants, and they know exactly what they want,” Reeves said.
At the Tuesday night meeting of the Peterborough Select Board, member Bonnie Tucker wondered if the plants were being stolen for resale, which she said would constitute “true theft.”
A memo from Assistant Town Administrator Seth MacLean requests $2,688 be expended from the Public Gardens and Planters Fund to purchase the plaques. According to MacLean, the signs will be cast bronze plaques “complementing the historic and aesthetic character of the surrounding public places.”
The plaques, to be cast by Peterborough Marble and Granite, will read “Please Respect These Beautiful Public Gardens. Plant Removal is Theft.”
Recreation department to purchase new van
The Peterborough Select Board approved the purchase of a discounted 14-passenger Mercedes Sprinter van for the Recreation Department following a presentation by Recreation Director Craig Foley.
“This is something that we have been thinking about for a while, and something we think would increase participation in our programs and be of great benefit to the department and to our residents,” Fraley said.
Fraley shared a letter from a Peterborough resident, which stated that getting in and out of the department’s current vans is challenging for people with limited mobility. The resident, who uses a cane, noted that the van lacks handrails, has a narrow entrance, and requires most passengers to squeeze into the rear seats.
“Our vans were purchased mainly for the intent of loading up a whole bunch of kids to go somewhere, and they are great for that, but they do not work as well for older people or people with mobility issues,” Fraley said.
The new van has accessibility features including a low-step entryway with handrails, a higher ceiling and center aisle, which will allow passengers to walk upright to their seats, and individual seats rather than bench seating.
“The current vans have created awkward and at times, unsafe conditions for many senior citizens while entering and exiting the vehicles,” said Fraley stated in a letter to the Select Board.
Fraley said that of the six vans the department considered, the Sprinter van has the best mileage and the highest number of features sought by the department, including luggage space.
“The supplier had purchased a large number of these vehicles in 2023, which they were not able to sell, and they are trying to get rid of them at a discounted price. They can have one ready for us as soon as we can get them a check,” Fraley said.
Fraley said the vans have not been driven and are in new condition.
The funds for the purchase of the $83,436 van will come from the Recreation Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.
In answer to a question from the board about what would happen to the department’s older van, which is a 2011 and has nearly 100,000 miles on it, Fraley said he planned to use the old van as a maintenance vehicle.
“We can put lawn mowers or ladders in that van and it will be a huge help, as right now we are paying employees mileage to drive their own vehicles,” Fraley said.