Fwd_ 3 county fair EMAILSubject: Fwd: 3 county fair
From: Kevin Ross <kross@northamptonma.gov>
Date: 12/2/2024, 1:14 PM
To: Beth Willard <bwillard@northamptonma.gov>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: chris skelton <skeletonc@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 11, 2024 at 9:53 AM
Subject: 3 county fair
To: <kross@northamptonma.gov>
My name is Chris Skelton, I am the Facili�es Manager at the Three County Fair. I have been on unpaid leave of absence since July 17,
2024. A�er hearing about the barn fire that occured in a barn at the Big E recently there are may concerns of public sa�ey that need to be
adressed at the three county fair. My CSL# is 108360, I was hire earlier this year to manage the grounds and the grounds crew and to begin
much need repairs and updates to the grounds. I immeditaly became aware of the severity and amount of code viola�ons. All of the electrical
work that is complete on the grounds is not done by a licensed electrician or supervised by a licensed electrician. All of the electrical permits are
pulled by Art Lymans license, he is 82 years old and had a knee replaced this past winter, Art did nothing to Barn 9. Joe jasinkski a 25 year
employee of the fair and the person responsible for all the code viola�ons and is also the person that does all of the fairs electrical work. While i
was working there was no supervision of electrical work or inspec�ons by the wiring ispector. When barn #9 was completly rewired over the
winter/spring months by Joe, I was told by my superiors that I was not allowed to inspect the work and that I am not to say anything, I had my
concerns when I was informed that when 4-H uses that barn that the kids sleep in the barn, but once again I was told by Art Lyman and Joe to
keep my mouth shut.
In the month of May the club house was inspected for the Liquor License by Kevin Ross and Cpt Davis of NFD. The clubhouse failed due to
exposed wiring and other wiring related viola�ons. They were never fixed, only a missing piece of sheetmetal in the walk in cooler was repaired.
A phone call was made by Art Lyman to Rodger the wiring Inspector. The issue went away without repairing any other viola�ons, and the Liquor
license was issued. A�er the first event that required alchohal Joe and his wife Mary, who is the bar manager for the three county fair stored all
the alcoholic and non alchohlic drinks in the clubhouse’s walk in cooler. The club house and the walk in cooler was le� unlock and un monitored
while full of alcoholic beverages. I no�fied Taylor Hass the execu�ve director. This was allowed by Taylor. Anyone could enter the cooler as gate 2
on fair st is open 7 days a week and the coolers side door is only a few steps from the gate. I had employed two minors as summer staff
members, they had access to the alcohol, I separated the alcoholic beverages from the non-alcoholic beverages and locked the alcoholic
beverages in a separate locked cooler. I secured and locked all entrances to the walk in cooler and the clubhouse on July 10th 2024. On July 11th
2024 i was confronted by Joe over this, My personal safety was threatened. Joe preceded to cut off all the locks that were installed the day prior
so he and Mary can have unrestricted access to the cold drink during non work hours. That was why they le� the cooler unlocked, I informed
the Execu�ve director Taylor Hass of what was happening, nothing was done and the locks remained off and the public and underaged
empolyess once again had access to alcoholic beverages.
There are Two bathrooms that had gas water heaters, One by Bridge St and one byCross Path Rd. Both gas water heaters were removed
and replaced with electric water heaters in May/June, with no permits. The Electrical Maintenance permit was expired but joe replaced them
anyways and wired them with out supervision . In the bathroom by Bridge St you can touch the electric water heater from inside the shower
. When brought to the execu�ve directors and the execu�ve commi�ees a�en�on I was once again told to keep my mouth shut and that Joe
has permission to do the plumbing work. I pointed out the safety concerns that I had, but was once again silenced. I raised concerns about the
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water supply piping for the camping lots potable water , Its all galvanized piping that was replaced by Joe. Again my concerns about the
plumbing were silenced.
On Ferry St there is a camping lot that is located outside the locked perimeter fence that secures the fair grounds and is open to the
public there are unlocked breaker panels and easily accessible electrical hand holes. The main breaker panel located on the power pole that
feeds all the camper panels and barns 4&5 overheats when in use. Joe removes the panel cover and leaves it open to allow the bus bars to cool
down. This is unregulated power straight from a transformer. Campers that are a�ending events at the fair and their children have access to
this panel. The hand holes that you can find in the camping lot are either ro�en wood that do not conceal the wiring connec�ons or unbolted
and removable plas�c covers on the hand holes that i found and removed empty beer cans while trying to repair these common issues. I started
replaced the wood covers and screw them down and install bolts on the plas�c covers that were missing but they were removed by Joe. All of
the buildings including the Arena have broken PVC junc�on boxes and conduits. Most are repaired by Joe using some sort of Tape. When I
brought this to the a�en�on of the execu�ve comitee to prevent further code viola�ons and life safety issues I was silenced and told to ignore it
and that Joe will repair it.
During the setup for the Morgan horse show in July, all of the exterior lights for the grand stand Ring were replaced by Joe and once again
with out a licensed electrician supervising him . I was told not to turn them on. It was brought to my a�en�on that the fuses for the lights had
been bypassed by Joe . On July 17th 2024 I a�empted to inspect the light controls, I was met by Joe once he saw me enter the grand stand and
once again had threats made against my safety, this �me I vacated the property for my safety. I have been on unpaid leave since.
Joe is also allowed to spray incredibly toxic weed killer across the 50 acre property, along fence lines where people walk their dogs and
kids play during the horse shows. The perimeter fences along Ferry, Cross path and Fair st are sprayed where neighborhood residents walk and
walk their dogs on the street. There is no warning to the public that they are walking and contac�ng these poisonous chemicals. People should
be able to trust that they are safe, their horses are safe and property that is stored in the barns is safe and that the property is up to code. There
are reasons why Joe is allowed to do this, but this le�er is about public safety I should have said something along �me ago, but the Big E fire is
proof of what can happen. I hold a Profesinal license threw the Department of Public Sa�ey and I know what can happen and I hope this le�er
serves its purpose to who ever reads it. Any ques�ons feel free to contact me.
Sincerely Chris Skelton
Sent from my iPhone
--
Kevin Ross
Building Commissioner
212 Main Street 587-1240
Northampton,MA 01060 Fax 587-1272
kross@northamptonma.gov
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