Northfield voters OK adding sewer commissioners

Northfield held a Special Town Meeting Wednesday night at Pioneer Valley Regional School.

Northfield held a Special Town Meeting Wednesday night at Pioneer Valley Regional School. FOR THE RECORDER/LIESEL NYGARD

By LIESEL NYGARD

For the Recorder

Published: 01-25-2024 3:52 PM

Modified: 02-21-2024 12:14 AM


NORTHFIELD — Roughly 50 residents attended Wednesday’s Special Town Meeting at Pioneer Valley Regional School where they approved all six warrant articles, including a proposal to increase the number of sewer commissioners from three to five.

Karen Boudreau, who serves on the Board of Sewer Commissioners, explained having two more members will be helpful, particularly in the wake of an upcoming project that would switch Northfield from using an equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) method, which charges the same flat water rate for each establishment, to using a metered method that is based on actual usage regardless of what establishment is using it.

“We’re looking at more and more work, and we’re working with people who have reached out to us and said, ‘I’d like to be involved,’” Boudreau told residents. “We want to hear your input on the switch from EDU to metered.”

Other articles that were approved include transferring $35,000 from the Town Overlay Account to pay for costs associated with the Appellate Tax Board and an agreement to join the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ Franklin County Cooperative Inspection Program for plumbing, gas and electrical inspections. Voters also approved using $3,000 from free cash to cover costs associated with joining the program.

Residents also voted to use $27,250 from the fiscal year 2024 Police Department salaries budget to buy up to eight stationary solar radar units.

Police Chief Jon Hall explained these units will be placed on Main Street and potentially other locations like Gulf Road, Maple Street, Millers Falls Road and Route 142 heading into Vermont.

The town also voted unanimously to use up to $50,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund for costs associated with engineering and/or repairs to the sewer mains on Highland Avenue.

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