SHELBURNE — Selectman and Town Clerk Joseph Judd wears many hats in this town of roughly 1,800 people, but after 21 years, he’ll be leaving his selectman’s cap behind.
Judd has announced he will not be seeking an eighth term on the Board of Selectmen in this spring’s annual election.
Stepping down from his seat on the board will give Judd more time to spend on his business as an outdoor writer and columnist, hunter and expert turkey caller. He frequently travels to sportsmen’s shows and conducts seminars and clinics.
Shelburne Falls Cable TV viewers may have seen Judd’s local TV show, “On the Ridge.” He has hunted wild turkeys in 20 states and was a three-time state chapter president of the National Wild Turkey Federation. In 2013 he won the Federation’s highest honor for his work as a volunteer member.
Judd said he is planning to run for another one-year term as Shelburne’s town clerk. And before becoming a selectman, Judd served as a trustee for the Shelburne Free Public Library for 17 years.
“I’m proud of the way our departments have developed over the last years, and that we have been able to keep our tax rate in a place where we’re the fourth lowest-rate in the county,” said Judd, alluding to the town’s $14.46 per $1,000 valuation tax rate.
“In the last 20 years, we’ve put about $18 million into the infrastructure, by getting grants and working with consultants, without putting it on the taxpayers.” Judd pointed to several street projects and others done primarily through Community Development Block Grants and other programs.
Judd noted that during his years in office, the roofs of all town-owned buildings have been repaired or replaced, and energy efficiencies have been made to the Cowell Gymnasium and to the Pratt Memorial/Arms Library building.
“I’ve always felt the main role as selectman is to help people. That’s what I’m going to miss the most — spending time with people and trying to work with them on finding common ground,” Judd said.
Progress in the town, Judd said, has included the development and support of the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association and a greater ability for Buckland and Shelburne to work together.
“I make this decision at a time when I believe the town to be in a very stable place in many areas, including leadership,” he said. “There are still some projects I’d very much like to be a part of. But, that can be said in any year or time period because … in the role of a selectman, you never really can say that everything is done.”