Hawley Special Town Meeting planned for Aug. 17
HAWLEY — A Special Town Meeting is on tap for Monday, Aug. 17, to shift some of responsibilities from Administrative Assistant Tinky Weisblat and Financial Administrator Virginia Gabert to Town Clerk Elizabeth Van Iderstine.
The reason this needs to go to a Special Town Meeting is because the change would raise Van Iderstine’s workload to 20 hours per week, meaning she would be eligible for benefits. The town currently does not have this money in the budget, so it must be approved by voters.
Weisblat said she would become “communications coordinator,” meaning she would handle the town newsletter, the town website and communication with residents. Gabert would remain the financial administrator, though Weisblat said the help from Van Iderstine would allow Gabert to use some of her many accrued vacation days.
“We hope this will be the solution,” Weisblat said.
Road sign discussion continues in Hawley
HAWLEY — Amid resident complaints that the town’s road signs are not aesthetically pleasing, the Selectboard is continuing to discuss whether to make any changes.
According to Administrative Assistant Tinky Weisblat, the signs, “that we all agree are not attractive,” were installed to advise drivers about road conditions because many motorists from out of town using GPS navigation were being told to drive through the Hawley State Forest. Weisblat recounted a story from February where a truck driver ended up spending the night in their truck due to the lack of directions.
In earlier discussion at the June 30 Selectboard meeting, board members agreed that the signs weren’t intended to be aesthetically pleasing.
Buckland Transfer Station hours changing
BUCKLAND — The Buckland Transfer Station, located on Hodgen Road, is changing its hours. Currently, the Transfer Station is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, it will now close at 2:45 instead of 3 p.m.
The change comes due to the time it takes to clean the station after a day of use, and the position of attendant is not salaried, meaning the employees must leave by 3 p.m. According to Town Administrator Pam Guyette, the Transfer Station currently allows residents to drop off their garbage until 3 p.m., meaning employees aren’t leaving until 3:30 or 3:45 in some cases.
“We get it, there are people who work and it’s hard to get to the Transfer Station, [or] you get busy doing other stuff on a Saturday,” Guyette said. “But it does make it difficult if five people decide they’re all going to get there at 3. By the time everyone gets through, it could be 3:30, quarter of 4.”
A clarification of these new hours will posted to the town’s website, and the Selectboard floated the idea of printing flyers to distribute at the Transfer Station.
Mohawk Trail State Forest hosting events through August
CHARLEMONT — The state Department of Recreation and Conservation has released a schedule of events for the Mohawk Trail State Forest that will run through August.
On Fridays and Sundays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m., the Interpretative Nature Center will be open, and those in the state forest will have an opportunity to meet the park interpreter and ask questions.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays and 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays, the state forest will offer a Tall Tree Tour, which is a moderate 2-mile hike, recommended for ages 8 and older. Another hike, offered on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to noon, is the Meadow Meander, a 3-mile hike that is recommended for older children and adults.
Every Saturday, the Mohawk Trail State Forest will also offer Campfire Connections from 7 to 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and s’more materials.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sundays, hikers are able to learn the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the work they’ve done within the state forest.
For all events at the Mohawk Trail State Forest, children must be accompanied by adults, and for all hiking programs, DCR advises to wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, and to bring water and snacks. Severe weather could lead to the cancellation of certain programs.
