SOUTH DEERFIELD – As the town begins to move forward with the revisioning of the South Deerfield village from the Town Common to the Tilton Library, town officials are seeking the public’s input at a forum Thursday night.
Hosted by the Connecting Community Initative (CCI), residents will be presented with the town’s plans for a variety of projects in South Deerfield, including work on the Leary Lot behind Berkshire Brewing Company, the North Main Street park, a potential move of Town Hall with the creation of a new Senior/Community Center, an affordable senior housing project, Tilton Library renovations and shared-energy infrastructure.
Denise Mason, CCI chair and a member of the Planning Board, said the forum is an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of Deerfield with better “communication, collaboration and innovation.”
“We’re trying to give people the opportunity to voice their opinion and have a role in how the community moves forward,” Mason said.
The CCI is an umbrella committee with representatives from most town boards, including Union 38 and Frontier Regional School District Superintendent Darius Modestow and Police Chief John Paciorek Jr. The committee was convened in November out of a desire from the Selectboard and other boards to work more closely together to ensure synergy between projects as the town seeks funding for the multitude of projects proposed.
With so many moving parts in town, Mason said the intention of the CCI is to “eliminate silos” within the town to maximize efficiency.
In December, Selectboard member Carolyn Shores Ness estimated Deerfield is looking at a total of $40 million in capital projects over the next half-decade or more if it can undertake all of the projects listed for South Deerfield, as well as the $19 million the town is on the hook for.
Mason said some projects’ initial designs and architectural plans, such as the plans for Town Hall to move into the currently closed Senior Center, will be funded by grant money. The town is working with a contracted grant writer to pursue a Community One Stop for Growth grant, which can provide up to $400,000 through the Rural and Small Town Development Fund.
Deerfield also is working with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments to apply for additional grants, such as a Shared Streets and Spaces grant that could provide money to create a sidewalk between Frontier Regional High School and the North Main Street park.
“We’ll be looking to access other grant funding and also talking with our legislators,” Mason said.
The forum will be held via Zoom and can be accessed through this link: https://bit.ly/3JxNCRR. Mason encourages residents to come out, learn about the town’s plans and offer feedback.
“We’re just hoping for public participation,” she said, “and to let people know what our thoughts are.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.