MONTAGUE — A proposed fiscal year 2022 budget of $27.1 million and several articles related to ongoing town projects, such as reuse of the former Public Works building and reconstruction of the Fifth Street pedestrian bridge, will be considered at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday.
The meeting will start at 9 a.m. at Franklin County Technical School. It will be outside under a tent.
If passed, the proposed budget of $27,115,146 would represent an increase of about 4 percent over the current fiscal year’s budget of $26.1 million. Within that budget proposal, the two major pieces are $10.8 million for town government, and about $11 million for the Gill-Montague Regional School District.
The Finance Committee, discussing the budget in an informational packet included with the Town Meeting warrant, said that town departments were asked to propose “level-service” budgets this year. The Finance Committee also noted that, while the economic outlook remains uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reserve funds that the town routinely contributes to have served as valuable resources.
Several ongoing town projects also appear on the warrant, requiring Town Meeting votes to proceed.
The Fifth Street pedestrian bridge, which is out of service, will be totally reconstructed. While the project is funded, it requires a temporary easement for the purpose of construction, which must be approved by Town Meeting voters.
Town Administrator Steve Ellis said construction of the new bridge is expected to start this fall, and would likely be finished by June of 2022.
The reuse of the former Public Works building at 500 Avenue A also appears on the warrant, as the Selectboard seeks to find a suitable developer for the project.
Last year, the Selectboard offered a request for proposals to redevelop the building. Although developers had expressed interest in the building, none submitted a proposal. Ellis said the issue that developers cited is that potential environmental issues with the property are not fully documented.
The Town Meeting article, if approved, would allow $32,000 to be spent on an environmental study of the property that should resolve those uncertainties, Ellis explained.
“What we really want is to get the best possible use into that space. That means resolving some of the these uncertainties,” Ellis said.
Another request for proposals is expected to be released after the study, and the property would hopefully be sold to a developer by the fall of 2022, Ellis said.
Articles related to mosquito control policies are on the warrant, as the Selectboard has opted out of the state Department of Agricultural Resources’ program due to concerns related to public health and the environment. The two warrant articles would authorize the Selectboard to consider joining the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District, and would establish a fund of $10,000 to use either for the town’s own mosquito control program or for joining the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District.
In opting out of the state’s program, Montague proposed its own mosquito control program. However, Ellis said the Selectboard is still considering whether it might be better to join the Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District, which involves a $5,000 membership fee.
“We know we have the resources in place to be able to address this concern,” Ellis said. “The conversation will pick up from there.”
Additionally, the Cemetery Commission has proposed that the town take over Highland Cemetery in Millers Falls. This requires Town Meeting approval.
The town already owns seven cemeteries, but none of them have empty spaces remaining, according to Cemetery Commission member Judith Lorei. She said the current owners of Highland Cemetery approached the Cemetery Commission about taking it over.
“It is not an unusual occurrence for a private cemetery to ask the town to take it over,” Lorei said. “The current board (of Highland Cemetery) has done a really wonderful job of managing and maintaining it, but they are getting older and they are looking for somebody to take it over.”
If the town agrees, Highland Cemetery will be the only active town-owned cemetery, Lorei said. It would also be the largest town-owned cemetery, at about 7.5 acres.
To view the full Annual Town Meeting warrant and budget information, visit bit.ly/33I9p7B.
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.