On August 18 we were sent the following letter by a Boylston resident which apparently reveals another NEFF land deal regarding Falby property. It is not mentioned on the NEFF web site, nor has it been public information as far as we know. It further opens to question the motives of the foundation vis a vis the protection and conservation of land placed in its trust. We will share additional information as it becomes available. We wonder what else will turn up as more and individuals investigate this sad betrayal of Gertrude Falby.Editor's Note: We have changed some wording on this page as the result of clarifications from the Asperos regarding the fact that Jeanne Aspero owns the land in question, and that it was not needed to build the house.

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"When looking through the web site for the Worcester Registry of Deeds I came across an interesting piece of information. On April 4, 2000 a deed was registered transferring probperty from the New England Forestry Foundation to a Boylston developer's wife for less than a hundred dollars. The land the forestry sold is located in Boylston.  They sold almost an acre, 38, 434 square feet and I don't believe Ms. Falby was made aware of this transaction.

The deed states:

"Parcel 2 on a plan of land entitled "Parcel of land located off Pendell Circle, Boylston, MA owned by New England Forestry Foundation, Inc. prepared for Jeanne M. Aspero, 4 Smith Rd. Northborough, MA dated December 28, 1999, Said parcel contains 38, 434 square feet as shown on said plan.  Said Plan recorded at the Worcester District Registry of Deeds in Plan Book
755, Plan 80".

Of course, now that this land is owned by Mrs. Aspero it would not be open to the public thus violating Ms. Falby's wishes when she donated her land. Her stated purpose in donating her property was so the public could access the properties.

Another transaction I found was between R&J Realty Co., INC., A MASSACHUSETTS CORPORATION WITH A USUAL PLACE OF  BUSINESS  AT 4 SMITH ROAD, NORTHBOROUGH, MA. (see above) R & J Realty sold to the New England Forestry Foundation for less than $100.00 a lot containing 156, 272 square feet. The land is restricted:"this property is being conveyed with the restriction that the use of the said property shall be for the benefit of New Enland Forestry Foundation, Inc., their heirs, successors and assigns, and their invitees and NOT FOR ANY USE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC."

So the land that Gertrude Falby originally gave to NEFF for the Public to use is now owned privately by Jeanne Aspero and not for the public to use and the land NEFF got from the Asperos is not open to the general public. How does NEFF justify that?  The big loser here was the public again, just like when they sold the land to Ken Sydow and now that isn't open to the public.
Is this something we should run by the Attorney General? Do they let donors know that the property given to them might be sold to a developer? If someone wants their land developed they can do that themselves but the presumption is if they donate or sell it to a conservation group it will be conserved.  I think we should report NEFF for what seems to be  a pattern here."

Click here to see NEFF's response to this page and our comments.

See the NEFF Disposition page to see how NEFF's own guidelines were apparently violated.