HEATH — The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on zoning bylaw changes on Monday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Community Hall. The purpose is to review proposed changes that are to be voted on in May at the annual Town Meeting.
SHELBURNE FALLS — The Shelburne Falls Fire District will hold its Annual Meeting Monday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fire Station, 121 State St. The polls will open for elections at noon that day and remain open until 7 p.m.
Arthur Phillips is seeking re-election to a three-year seat on the Board of Commissioners, and Marion Scott is seeking re-election to a three-year seat as an assessor. Gregg Gilmore is running as a write-in candidate for a one-year seat as moderator.
Annual reports are available at the office and if you need one delivered please call Jan at 413-625-6392.
CHARLEMONT — Hawlemont Principal Samantha Rutz will be leaving her position at the end of the school year to return to teaching science at the Mohawk Trail Regional School. Rutz, who has a 12-week-old baby, decided to return to teaching in order to have more time to spend with her daughter, she said.
Before becoming Hawlemont’s principal in July, Rutz taught seventh-grade science and was Franklin County’s “Science Educator of the Year” award recipient from the Massachusetts Association of Teachers.
Superintendent Michael Buoniconti will discuss finding a new principal at the Hawlemont School Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 10, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
SHELBURNE — Two Recreation Committee members have resigned from the five-member board. Emily Schoelzel, who was very involved in the recent upgrade of the Cowell Gymnasium tennis court, is stepping down from the commission due to time constraints. Her five-year term on the committee expires in 2022.
Julie Dubreuil, whose term expires in 2020, said she is resigning from the committee, but will remain an active volunteer as a Little League Baseball coach, with the West County Soccer program and with the Mohawk Athletic Association.
Selectboard members thanked them for their service and active participation in recreation matters. The town is looking for other residents to fill those positions.
ROWE — The town is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s Old Home Day, which set for July 7. The event is to include fireworks; the Historical Society will hold the chicken barbecue and will have an exhibit open to the public that afternoon. Other events will include a road race by the lake, music, kids’ activities, crafts fair and an annual pie-eating contest.
Those interested in helping with plans for that day are asked to call Selectboard Chairwoman Jennifer Morse.
SHELBURNE — Annual Town Meeting voters will be asked to approve new definitions and zoning changes to accommodate changes that are a sign of the times: “recycling center,” “composting facility,” and several definitions regarding marijuana businesses.
Basically, no marijuana enterprises will be allowed within the Village Residential zoning section of town, but several would be allowed by special permit in the Village Commercial, Commercial and Industrial zoned regions.
Craft marijuana cultivator cooperatives would be allowed by special permit in all Village Commercial areas; testing laboratories, retailers, medical marijuana treatment centers, micro businesses research facilities and places selling single servings for consumption would by allowed by special permit only in Village Commercial and Commercial zoned areas. Except for marijuana retailers, medical treatment centers and social-consumption places, all other operations could be done in industrial-zoned parts of town.
Recycling centers could be located with a special permit in industrial zoned areas, and composting facilities could be sited anywhere in town, through a special permit process.
Another revision is to allow large-scale, ground-mounted solar energy systems to occupy up to 20 acres of land. (Current rules allow solar farms of up to 10 acres). Complete zoning changes are available from the Planning Board link on the town’s website: http://townofshelburne.com.