COLRAIN — Residents threw their support behind a non-binding resolution to have the Highway Department clear the sidewalks in the town center during Tuesday’s Annual Town Meeting.

In the relatively quick meeting, which generated little discussion on the first 30 proposals on the 32-article warrant, 38 voters approved all but one article.

The approved operating budget for fiscal year 2024 is $1.88 million, which represents a $84,151, or 4.7%, increase over the current year’s figures. Voters also gave their blessing to combined $2.65 million budgets for the Mohawk Trail Regional School District, Franklin County Technical School and their transportation costs.

Sidewalk clearing

A petition that was brought to the town by new Selectboard member Emily Thurber and former Selectboard member Joe Kurland asked the town Highway Department to ensure the sidewalks in the town center are clear of snow and debris in the winter.

Opponents of the article included members of the Finance Committee, which did not unanimously recommend it. Finance Committee member Michael Shuipis said he felt the article represented an improper use of a Town Meeting vote and noted concerns about snow removal should have come up during the budget process so that the necessary funds could be allocated.

Fellow Finance Committee member Betty Ringwood echoed Shuipis, saying that because the article has no money attached to the action, it becomes a moot point.

“Without a dollar figure, it is just words,” she said.

Advocates for sidewalk clearing have come to the Selectboard for years asking for action. Until recently, the sidewalks were not owned by the town, so there was little the Selectboard could do to solve the issue, according to board member Thom Griffin.

Supporters of the article included Colrain Central School Principal Amy Looman and Griswold Memorial Library Director Chelsea Jordan-Makely. They explained students often take walking field trips to the library, but are unable to do this in the winter because of the snow. Additionally, some argued a few children walk to school and need to walk on the street in the winter, which is unsafe.

Many voiced concerns about the arched bridge in the town center. The curvature of the bridge makes it difficult to see the other side. With speeding drivers, some residents feared the conditions could lead to a crash if there are unplowed sidewalks.

With voters ultimately approving the non-binding resolution, the matter of snow removal will be discussed further by the Selectboard.

Official posting location

The only article that did not pass at Town Meeting asked voters to change the official meeting posting site from the bulletin board at the Town Offices to the town website.

This article was brought to Town Meeting by petition from resident Jonathan Lagreze and Kurland. They argued that 60% of towns in the state have already made this transition to having a digital platform be the official posting site, so it is time for Colrain to act as well.

According to a spreadsheet of municipal posting methods posted on the state Attorney General’s Office website, there are seven towns in Franklin County that have the town website designated as the official posting location: Bernardston, Greenfield, Orange, Ashfield, Whately, Shutesbury and New Salem.

Michael Slowinski, former Selectboard member and Municipal Light Plant manager, said only about 71% of Colrain residents have signed up for broadband, and argued the official posting site should not be changed until at least 80% of residents have broadband access. Residents pushed back, however, saying that people without broadband at home can still access the meeting agendas using their smartphones or at the library.

Several people mentioned this article came to Town Meeting out of frustration with the inconsistency of posting on the website. Information about some boards and committees is largely up to date on the website, but other boards’ chairs refuse to use the website to disseminate information.

After a brief and unsuccessful attempt to amend the article to have the website and the bulletin board at the Town Offices both be official posting sites, the article failed.

Reach Bella Levavi
at 413-930-4579 or
blevavi@recorder.com.

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