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Billerica, Billerica Blog, billerica mall, jeff parenti, Politics, Public Danger, Roof Collapse, www.cantgettherefromhere.wordpress.com, Zombie Mall
Jeff Parenti put up a posting regarding the collapse of two roofs in two cities in one day following our most recent snowstorm. He juxtaposes those scenarios against the potential for the same at the Billerica (AKA The Zombie) Mall; an entity that has long been allowed to fall into disrepair and neglect due to sparse tenancy and poor revenue to the owners.
Fortunately, due to increased pressure from citizens on our Board of Health, Building Department, Town Manager and Board of Selectmen; the owners, in turn, were pressured to make some fundamental repairs to the roof. They were also forced to remove mold (the type and toxicity of which has never been released to the pubic), to make minimal repair to the exterior, minimal repairs to the parking lot and to finally remove the interior of the movie theater, which has not been inhabited for two decades or more.
Like Jeff, I plan to shop at a more remote Market Basket. Unfortunately, the closest to me is the Wilmington Plaza Market Basket; so, my money will be going to support the revenue of another town, once again; simply because this town can not seem to do anything right until it is too late.
I also urge the town leaders to send the Billerica Building Inspector to examine the mall roof alongside a certified structural engineer at the earliest moment possible. The mall structure is nearing the end of its life expectancy under the best of times. Under the worst of times, such as those we’ve been experiencing for the past 15 – 20 years, that building may already have a foot in the grave. Do you have a telephone?
I’ve been listening for voices from groups such as the Billerica Taxpayer’s Association, members of Town Meeting, and others, who oppose zoning changes and the like, to speak out and voice their opinion on matters such as this one and, with specificity, on their possible solutions. Can they do so, in a factual manner, to justify their position for maintaining the status quo, instead of maintaining or replacing buildings (including schools) that have been crumbling around them? It seems like they prefer either “the sound of silence”, or to engage in dueling fiddles with Nero, [so much for trust between the Regnum and Sacerdotium], instead of offering timely commentary and suggestions. Perhaps, we’ll hear from them in March or April. Rumor has it that the Billerica Watchers Group is considering investing in a seeing eye dog to help them get past the histrionic ravings of their leadership.
Thanks to Jeff for the timing and the cogent eloquence of his very brief statement on the dangers of winter and the potential for harm to citizens who trust that everything will go well whether one speaks out or not. Let us just hope that we dodge another bullet and get by the accumulated ice and snow that is present and the thaw that is sure to follow without injury.
Jeff is a lot kinder and much more soft spoken than I. For that reason alone, I urge you to read his post and to visit his “blob” frequently. If you are a civic minded individual, you’ll find your efforts to read or to subscribe to his “blob” well rewarded. Of course, when a conflict arises between Jeff’s opinion and mine (which happens), I’m the better choice for the more conservative leaning crowd. 
