Deerfield’s political power structure may be headed for a major change next week.
Voters head to the polls Monday in an election that could see two-thirds of the town’s selectboard change. Incumbent Mark Gilmore, running for another three years, is being challenged by Planning Board member Henry Komosa and political newcomer Jon Prosperi. And in the other race to fill out the remaining one-year unexpired term of the departing David Wolfram, former Selectman Leonard Grybko Jr. is squaring off with incumbent Deerfield School Committee member Trevor McDaniel.
There are a couple of unique things about this election. It’s pretty rare for two members of any three-member board to turn over and it could very well happen, although Gilmore still enjoys the name recognition advantage afforded every incumbent. It also features two sets of challengers who, while not officially running together, certainly seem to be simpatico politically.
In one corner, you’ve got McDaniel and Prosperi, both young, politically liberal newcomers to politics and to town, although McDaniel has lived in Deerfield for 15 years. On the other side, stand Komosa and Grybko, a couple of guys who have been around town for a number of years and more or less represent the old guard of Deerfield, some of whom haven’t been happy about a number of issues lately, chief among them the effort to move South County EMS out of Deerfield into new digs in Whately’s new town offices.
It’s tough to gauge which block will hold the advantage heading into Monday’s balloting, but one thing’s certain — life’s about to get a whole lot more interesting for remaining board member Carolyn Ness, especially if things break in favor of the “native” ticket.
Now that the pipeline is kaput, the big question is whether Columbia and Berkshire gas companies will drop their moratoriums on new natural gas hookups — and if not, whether Beacon Hill will try to find a way to “compel” them to do so.
“It’s something we are looking into,” 1st Franklin District state Rep. Steve Kulik said. “I personally think they should drop it today.”
That would seem to make a certain amount of sense, but only if the moratorium was, in fact, just a ploy to make is easier to get the pipeline passed. And I’m not sure it’s quite that simple.
While it is true Berkshire Gas had a vested interest in seeing the pipeline built, I find it hard to believe any for-profit company would agree to hamstring itself financially that way, a belief that was reinforced during my last conversation with Berkshire Gas spokesman Chris Farrell.
“Of course we want to be able to sell gas to people,” Farrell said. “But we can’t sell what we don’t have, and right now the capacity isn’t there for new hookups.”
That doesn’t mean Berkshire and Columbia aren’t open to getting dinged for not taking steps to prevent this bottleneck, but that isn’t going to do anything to make gas start flowing again. Kulik and company will also likely take aim at the Department of Public Utilities, which many feel turned a blind eye toward the pipeline’s potential impact out here.
“DPU’s review process clearly needs to be looked at, which is something the Legislature can do,” Kulik said. “That agency did little to protect the people during this process.”
The project may be off, but it sounds like its political shock waves will be felt for many moons to come.
If you are a fan of live music and helping people, Turners Falls is the place to be this weekend.
A group of veteran local musicians led by Mike Slahetka will host a benefit rock ’n’ roll show Sunday at 1 at St. Kaz in Turners. The concert, dubbed “The Old School” will benefit the family of 7-year-old Dimitri Conway, which has been racking up some serious bills as the youngster battles a rare but treatable form of leukemia.
“He’s an enchanting little kid and this is a chance for we musicians and the community to help him out,” Slahetka said. “It’s also an opportunity or people to get exposure to these bands.”
Slahetka says the concert will feature popular rock songs from the ’50s through the ’70s, along with some original works. There is no charge to get in, and there will also be food available, with donations of any amount accepted, all of which will go to Conway’s family.
“He’s being treated in Boston, and the costs are incredible,” Slahetka said. “We’re hoping to see a lot of new faces who want to dance and have a good time.”
All while helping out a special young man who could truly use it. I can think of a lot worse ways to ring in the month of May.
Chris Collins, who worked in local radio in a number of capacities, has observed political life in Franklin County for years. He also is a former staff reporter for The Recorder and a Greenfield native.