Erving holds school budget informational hearing

ERVING — The Selectboard, Finance Committee and School Committee held a joint meeting to discuss concerns surrounding the Erving Elementary School budget on Wednesday evening.

With the Finance Committee and Selectboard unable to find an alternate route to a balanced budget, Erving Elementary School is facing staffing cuts as its proposed $3.5 million budget heads to the Annual Town Meeting floor. The School Committee voted to cut $200,000 from staff salaries and $30,000 in special education transportation funding following a March 21 public hearing, a decision prompted by the Selectboard’s request to trim $332,000 from the fiscal year 2024 budget. The School Committee intends to use $65,000 in grants, as well as the potential for cheaper transportation, to make up the difference.

During Wednesday’s hearing, officials clarified a variety of budget implications. This included reaffirming that preschool will continue despite the school’s two preschool teachers being laid off, with Principal Lisa Candito explaining that one of two sixth grade teachers could transition into the role to fill the gap.

The full hearing can be viewed at bit.ly/3HHkdq9.

Public comment period for FirstLight’s FERC relicensing extended

TURNERS FALLS — The Connecticut River Conservancy’s request for a 15-day extension to the public comment period for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s controversial relicensing settlement agreement process was approved on Thursday, as announced by Vince Yearick, director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Division of Hydropower Licensing. The new deadline to submit comments is May 26.

In a Notice of Settlement Agreement on April 7, FERC set a May 7 deadline for the public to file comments regarding the agreement. Then, on April 26, FERC issued a request for information related to the costs of the provisions included in the March 31 agreement and provided 15 days for FirstLight to respond. While the settlement details eight operational and environmental commitments, it does not provide cost estimates for these measures.

“Given the commission’s request for additional information, Connecticut River Conservancy, a party to settlement negotiations, requests that the public comment period be extended 15 days past the date at which the applicant files the requested additional information,” Kelsey Wentling, a river steward for the environmental advocacy group, wrote in her request to FERC. “Stakeholders and the public should have access to this critical information in order to fully consider and respond to the provisions in the settlement agreement.”

Instructions for how to submit comments, review comments and subscribe to notifications from FERC can be found at bit.ly/3HvOU1s.

Selectboard appoints transitional town clerk

MONTAGUE — With veteran Town Clerk Deb Bourbeau retiring, Assistant Town Clerk Kathern “Beanie” Pierce was appointed as transitional town clerk at Monday’s Selectboard meeting.

Town Moderator Ray Godin, who served on the qualifications review panel that evaluated Pierce, told the Selectboard that the committee “would recommend this woman for this position without hesitation or reservation.”

“I think our summary comment was, ‘We would be negligent in our responsibilities if we did not recommend her to you,’” Godin continued.

Town Administrator Steve Ellis clarified that Pierce, who has served as Montague’s assistant town clerk for five years, cannot serve as an “interim town clerk,” but can serve as a “transitional town clerk” until the next election cycle and Bourbeau retires.

“We cannot appoint an interim town clerk while we still have a sitting town clerk who is elected. We do, however, want to very immediately empower — if the Selectboard chooses to move forward and appoint Beanie — her to begin doing things that are far outside of the assistant town clerk’s job description ...” Ellis explained, assuming Montague residents approve the transition of the town clerk position from elected to appointed during the May 16 town election.

Glenn McCrory appointed as Erving tree warden

ERVING — The Selectboard appointed Glenn McCrory as tree warden during its Wednesday meeting.

McCrory, who sent in the only letter of interest to fill the vacancy left by resigning Tree Warden Michael Gordon, will serve in the position through June 30, 2023. According to the letter, McCrory has served as part of the Highway Department since 2008 and was the highway foreman when the Selectboard appointed him as the acting tree warden from 2015 to 2016.

Actor bringing Eleanor Roosevelt new life at Senior Center

TURNERS FALLS — Actor Sheryl Faye, whose performances highlight the impact of women over history, will use costuming and a slideshow to tell the story of Eleanor Roosevelt as a child, wife, mother, first lady and widow at the Gill-Montague Senior Center on Tuesday, May 9, at 1 p.m.

“This dynamic and beloved first lady who wrote a syndicated newspaper column, held press conferences, was a delegate to the United Nations and advocated for expanded roles for women is amazingly brought to life,” the event announcement reads. “This immersive historical performance will be engaging, educational and entertaining as Eleanor Roosevelt comes to life.”

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