CHESHIRE, Mass.— The town is facing a late budget shakeup and instead of using $100,000 in free cash to offset the tax rate, it will have to use $300,000. Interim Town.
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The last day to register to vote at the Annual Town Meeting is May 25. People can register at Town Hall on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm in the Town.
The small town has traditionally held the parade through town and up to the cemetery on West Mountain Road with veterans, town and state officials, police, firefighters, Shriners, children on red-white-and-blue decorated bicycles and the Hoosac Valley High School band. Like so many events of the past year, Memorial Day was silent in 2020. But with Gov. Charlie Baker s lifting of capacity limits and mask wearing outdoors as of May 29, town officials are hoping for a parade this year on May 31. The Board of Selectmen took up the issue at Tuesday s meeting. In light of the updated COVID-19 guidance from the state, Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi noted that Cheshire had the opportunity to host a parade on Memorial Day. Board members pushed for the parade to happen, saying it would be nice to give Cheshire residents a sense of normalcy after the year of pandemic restrictions.
The board discussed appointed positions Tuesday and agreed it was time to restructure the appointment system and gauge whether long-time appointees were even interested. Our positions have become lifetime appointments even when they aren t lifetime appointments, Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi said. You are in until you bow out, and it is an expectation that you will be appointed the next year. The conversation stemmed from a request from Wire Inspector George Sweet who asked that the Selectmen appoint a backup wire inspector for the backup wire inspector. Selectman Mark Biagini, who was relaying Sweet s request, said Sweet was worried that with an increase in solar panel projects in town, when both he and the assistant inspector out of town, projects would be put on hold.
The day started off with the first ever official softball game at the field complex in Cheshire. ACS, in conjunction with the town of Cheshire, had been working through the fall and spring to rehabilitate a space at the field to host practices and games for the league’s players. On hand to mark the inaugural event was Cheshire Select Board Chair Michelle Francesconi, who tossed the ceremonial first pitch setting the season underway. Prior to the final contest of the day at Reid Field in Adams, newly elected Adams Select board member Howard Rosenberg was on hand to fulfil his “first official order of business” by throwing out a first pitch of his own.