Selectboard contributes $2.5K toward shared erosion specialist

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard voted on Monday to contribute $2,500 toward hiring an erosion specialist to share with Gill, Erving and Northfield as they pursue settlements with FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.

FirstLight, which previously submitted its Amended Final License Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a new 50-year license, has three facilities up for relicensing — the hydro-pump facility at Northfield Mountain and two hydroelectric dams in Turners Falls. These have been criticized by environmental advocacy groups for impacts on fish, the Connecticut River and surrounding environment. So far, agreements on recreation and flows and fish passage have been settled, while settlements related to erosion and cultural preservation are not yet finalized.

The prospective erosion expert would “help the four towns, the [Franklin Regional Council of Governments] and the [Connecticut River Conservancy] to present a strong case to FERC and [the state Department of Environmental Protection] that FirstLight should be responsible for taking steps to prevent and mitigate erosion under the new license,” according to the agenda for last week’s Gill Selectboard meeting, where members voted to contribute Gill’s $2,500 share.

Selectboard awards contract for demolition of former Cumberland Farms

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard voted Monday to accept a $24,970 bid from Associated Building Wreckers Inc. to demolish the former Cumberland Farms building at 38 Avenue A.

The former Cumberland Farms property, now owned by the Montague Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (MEDIC), was slated to become the site of Turners Falls’ first new downtown-style building since 1950, with a four-story mixed-use structure proposed by New England Wound Care Medical Director Sohail Waien in early 2020. The pandemic then delayed demolition of the existing structure, as well as construction of the new building.

Later, the project was reduced to a two-story building for financial reasons before falling through altogether by May 2022. The town then issued a request for proposals (RFP), but received no interest. This prompted the town to consider demolition options.

The building’s demolition will be funded by an appropriation approved at May’s Annual Town Meeting.

Selectboard OKs agreement for future affordable housing site

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard voted Monday to enter into a purchase-and-sale agreement with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity relative to a 0.65-acre municipally owned lot that is slated for deed-restricted affordable housing construction.

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity’s plan involves building “six all-electric, energy-efficient, detached single-family homes [on First Street] that would be sold to first-time home buyers with low incomes.” The lot, which formerly contained row housing, is suitable for five to 12 new units, according to Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey. Ramsey noted Monday that Habitat for Humanity is “working on the design as we speak.”

The First Street subdistrict, along with the former Railroad Salvage site at 11 and 15 Power St., was zoned as a “Smart Growth Overlay District” during last year’s Annual Town Meeting to encourage affordable housing. Smart Growth Overlay Districts are defined by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40R as “dense residential or mixed-use smart growth zoning districts, including … affordable housing units … in areas of concentrated development such as existing city and town centers, and in other highly suitable locations.” Such zoning changes encourage the development of residential or mixed-use buildings, of which at least 20% of the units need to be considered “affordable.”

Selectboard promotes assistant town clerk

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard appointed Assistant Town Clerk Kathern “Beanie” Pierce to the position of town clerk at Monday’s meeting. She will fill the vacancy left by Town Clerk Deb Bourbeau, who is retiring after 26 years working in Town Hall.

Bourbeau expressed that Pierce would excel as her successor after publicly endorsing her at a Special Town Meeting earlier this year. Pierce is “ahead of the curve,” Bourbeau said previously, with Pierce having closely observed her work for five years. Bourbeau contrasted this with her own prior experience as an assistant town clerk, which only lasted two years.

“She is going to be a wonderful town clerk,” Bourbeau added. “I have no qualms about leaving because I know she’s going to do a fabulous job.”

June 29: Book Club & Summer Reading Kickoff Pizza Party

ERVING — The Erving Public Library will host a Book Club & Summer Reading Kickoff Pizza Party on Thursday, June 29, at 5:30 p.m. The Summer Reading Program will run from June 29 to Aug. 3.

Registering in advance is suggested for the pizza party. The library can be reached at 413-423-3348 or library@erving-ma.gov.

Women’s Resource Center offering weekly programs

TURNERS FALLS — The Women’s Resource Center at Montague Catholic Social Ministries, located at 41 Third St., is offering the following programs in June and July:

■Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Sewing Club. Free lunch is provided.

■Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Arts and crafts.

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