SUNDERLAND — With the Selectboard opting to withdraw three articles in favor of using American Rescue Plan Act money, residents swiftly approved the remaining articles on the Annual Town Meeting warrant on Friday night.
During the meeting at Sunderland Elementary School, the Selectboard motioned to withdraw Articles 5, 6 and 7, which would have appropriated money to pay for Sunderland Elementary employee sick and vacation time, the town’s share of a needs assessment for the South County Senior Center in South Deerfield and the membership fee for the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District.
The remaining articles approved include a $9.39 million budget for fiscal year 2023 — a 4.2% increase from last year. With the approval of the budget, the Sunderland Police Department will be adding another full-time officer position in the near future.
“We haven’t been able to increase Police Department full-time staff since 2001. … Having a full-time, certified officer would assist with the increased number of calls,” Police Chief Erik Demetropoulos explained. “It will help reduce wait times and allow the department to serve the community.”
Currently, the department’s eight part-time officers “supplement three shifts a week.” In July, Demetropoulos said the department will be down to seven part-time officers and the new full-time officer will “take the place of one of those part-time shifts.” The move for another full-time officer also comes from the town having to adapt to the state police reform bill, which requires all officers to be fully certified over the next few years.
In approving Article 10, residents appropriated $166,500 of Community Preservation Act money for the renovation of the restroom building and replacement of the storage shed at Riverside Park. Article 11 appropriated $100,000 to the town’s Conservation Trust, which helps fund the Conservation Commission’s conservation restrictions or purchases of land.
Residents also approved a change to the holiday section of the town’s personnel bylaws, which now match Massachusetts General Laws and add Juneteenth as a paid holiday.
The town also dedicated its annual report to Scott Bergeron, who served for many years on the Selectboard and Finance Committee, as well as on several other boards.
“While the list is long, Scott’s contributions are immeasurable,” said Selectboard Chair Tom Fydenkevez. “Scott, we appreciate your continued service to the town.”
The full warrant and motions can be viewed a bit.ly/3s54ERk.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.