Deerfield Select Board Closes Town Meeting Warrant, Adds ZEV and Senior Tax Work-Off Articles

DEERFIELD — April 8, 2026 — Deerfield closes its Annual Town Meeting warrant with at least 19 Select Board articles and eight citizen petitions set for a May 11 vote. The Select Board voted unanimously at its April 8 joint meeting with the Board of Health to add two new articles: a Zero Emission Vehicle policy, which Chair Trevor McDaniel said would build on the town's Green Community designation from around 2011 or 2013 and unlock state rebates on qualifying vehicle purchases, and a Senior Property Tax Work-Off program authorizing eligible residents aged 60 and older and military veterans to earn up to $1,500 in annual property tax abatement through town service. Citizen petitions on the warrant include proposals to expand the Select Board to five members, add an independent Board of Health chair, adopt electronic vote tabulators, and rescind the town's 2011 stretch energy code — several of which may require special legislation to take effect. The board also approved a change of beneficial ownership and officers for Circle K Massachusetts, LLC at 1 Greenfield Road, adopted an updated job description for a South County EMS chief vacancy following the current chief's resignation effective June 22, and accepted the transition of EMS staff member Morgan Farrick to per-diem status as she enters nursing school. Citing expected attendance comparable to last year's near-400-person special town meeting, the board agreed informally to move the May 11 meeting to the school gymnasium rather than the 500-capacity auditorium.