CONWAY — After working with town counsel and the Department of Revenue, a revised proposal to bring the Festival of the Hills’ organizing committee into the town’s roster will head to the June 1 Annual Town Meeting.

The Selectboard and festival organizers initiated the formal process to create an official Festival of the Hills Committee in February with the intention of creating a revolving fund for the nonprofit’s finances, but the board recently learned that the Department of Revenue advises against a revolving fund.

Instead, the Department of Revenue worked with the town to create draft petition language, which, if approved at Town Meeting, would be sent to the Legislature seeking the establishment of a separate special fund under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 44, Section 53.

“Once Town Meeting votes to ask the Legislature to enact this bit of legislation, then by next year’s Festival of the Hills, assuming they can get this done in the six- to nine-month time frame … then next year’s Festival of the Hills they can be a town committee,” said Selectboard Chair Philip Kantor.

Proceeds in the fund would pay the Festival of the Hills’ expenses and remaining money could be put toward the festival’s annual scholarships for high school seniors.

Kantor explained the shift to a town committee could cut down on the expenses of running the festival, as it could be covered by town insurance and public safety details would be covered.

“Just those two things will save them a lot of money,” Kantor said. “To me, this is a long-term solution and I think the current volunteers appreciate feeling like they have a backstop.”

While the town awaits the legislative action, it is expected the 2024 Festival of the Hills, which will be the 60th edition, will be run by the festival’s volunteer-led committee. The Festival of the Hills is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

“The Festival of the Hills is an ambassador for the town and we have heard from many newer town residents that it was one of the draws to moving here. We have also heard that many residents didn’t realize we were no longer a town-run event,” Festival Committee Co-Chair Sue MacDonald said in February. “We hope that as a town entity, the festival will continue to be a treasured tradition for many generations to come.”

The festival is the town’s biggest event each year and Kantor emphasized the importance of keeping it alive.

“This is our one civic tradition, this is it,” Kantor said. “I think it’s universally appreciated every year.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or
413-930-4081.