ERVING — The former library building will likely be repurposed into town office space, but the decision has been deprioritized as the town has been forced to focus its resources on coronavirus-related issues.
The Erving Public Library moved at the beginning of March from its old building on Moore Street to a new one on Care Drive, which is four times larger in its footprint than the old one and holds at least twice as many materials.
The most likely candidates to take the old building are the Erving Recreation Commission, or the superintendent of School Union 28, whose office is in Erving, said Administrative Coordinator Bryan Smith.
The needs of both candidates will be assessed by the Selectboard, Smith said. For now, since the state government has shut down non-essential services, library business is on hold. Smith said it will likely be revisited in July.
GILL — An extra full-time police officer has been hired temporarily to help with an expected strain on the Police Department due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The officer is Mitch Waldron, who has already worked for the Police Department on a part-time basis. This makes three full-time employees at the department.
Police Chief Chris Redmond recommended the hire, explaining that he expects a higher-than-usual call volume related not only to medical emergencies, but also — considering many residents will be at home and out of work — suicidal thoughts and domestic violence.
The Selectboard hired Waldron full-time through June 30, and expects to re-evaluate as the public health crisis changes, said Town Administrator Ray Purington.
TURNERS FALLS — The Unity Park field house roof was replaced last week on a faster timeline and at a much lower price than expected.
Montague had budgeted $125,000 for the roof — $100,000 from the town itself, and $25,000 from the state. But when the project was bid earlier this spring, prices were significantly lower than officials had expected. The winning bid was $32,900, from a South Hadley company called Larochelle Construction.
“As I was taught in procurement school, you don’t know what it’s going to cost until the bids are in,” said Town Administrator Steve Ellis.
He said the low price was likely due to this being a slow time of year for construction. The Selectboard approved the offer on March 9.
“I’ll make that motion before they change their mind,” Selectboard member Mike Nelson said.
The state has temporarily banned all non-essential business in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus; but Ellis said the roof replacement, as a public construction project, was allowed to continue on schedule.