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Dave Watkins

Deerfield Conservation Committee Plots Path Forward After Energy Code Vote Fails

DEERFIELD — May 21, 2026 — Deerfield's Conservation Committee regrouped after a failed town meeting vote on a specialized building energy code left the town unable to apply for a state roadmap energy grant. Chair M.A. Swedeland and fellow members — David Gilbert, Keith Ryan, and Kingston Dolan — agreed at

Greenfield City Council unanimously backs statewide rent stabilization resolution

Greenfield City Council votes 10-0 to support statewide rent stabilization after a two-hour public comment session.

Greenfield Assessors Approve Excise Abatements, Enter Executive Session on Property Matters

Greenfield assessors debated ADU classification rules and a citywide address-data problem at their May 20 meeting, approving motor vehicle excise abatements and voting to enter executive session.

Whately Conservation Commission Continues Invasive-Species Hearing, Seeks DEP Response

WHATELY — May 20, 2026 — Whately Conservation Commission continues invasive-species hearing and flags a possible simpler permit path for a Chestnut Plain Road property. The commission voted unanimously at its May 20 meeting to carry the public hearing on a Notice of Intent filed by landowner Joya Casey to June

Shutesbury Board of Health Accepts Long-Anomalous Septic Pass at West Pelham Road

SHUTESBURY — May 20, 2026 — Shutesbury Board of Health accepts a passing septic inspection that overrides an 18-year-old failure record. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to accept a current Title V inspection at 305 West Pelham Road conducted by inspector Neil Jackson, despite a 2008 failure report in the

Greenfield City Council Unanimously Backs Rent Stabilization Resolution, Rodenticide Ban

GREENFIELD — May 20, 2026 — Greenfield City Council unanimously backs rent stabilization resolution and rodenticide ban at four-hour May meeting. The council voted unanimously to support a state-level act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants, acknowledging the ballot language was "not ideal" but

Deerfield Board Authorizes EMS Chief Negotiations, Accepts Four Staff Resignations

DEERFIELD — May 20, 2026 — Deerfield Select Board accepts EMS chief recommendation and processes four staff resignations in under 15 minutes. Meeting jointly as the Board of Health and Sewer Commissioners on May 20, board members Tim Hiltner and Trevor McDaniel — acting without Chair Blake, who was absent — voted unanimously to

Greenfield Board of Licensing Approves Dozen Permits in Single May Session

Greenfield's Board of Licensing approved more than a dozen permits at its May 19 meeting, clearing a full slate of summer events and two liquor license changes unanimously.

Greenfield Schools Tap Reserves to Avoid Cuts in $1.7 Million Budget Gap

Greenfield schools plan to absorb a $1.7 million budget gap using reserves, with no program cuts.

Whately and Conway School Committees Pass Policy EFD, Skip June Meeting

WHATELY — May 19, 2026 — Whately and Conway School Committees approve policy EFD and defer five new policies to September. Meeting jointly on May 19, the two committees corrected a Whately minutes error that had overstated a classroom flooring appropriation by $10,000 — the voted figure was $30,000, not $40,

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