Orange Selectboard votes to put encampment bylaw on Special Town Meeting warrant

ORANGE — The Selectboard voted unanimously at its most recent meeting to add a draft bylaw pertaining to encampments on town-owned land to the Dec. 7 Special Town Meeting warrant for consideration by voters.

Police Chief James Sullivan crafted the language after broaching the subject at the Oct. 7 Selectboard meeting, and he reviewed it with members on Nov. 4.

“I kept it really short and sweet and succinct,” he said.

Adoption of the bylaw would prohibit camping on land controlled by the town’s Highway Department without a permit. Violators could be arrested where the offense occurred and receive a fine not to exceed $300.

“I honestly don’t anticipate having to exercise the arrest on the statute very often,” Sullivan said. “A lot of times, I think, it’s going to be a conversation we have with people who are just not aware of the bylaw.”

The chief said he wants a local regulation that could be used to deter people from camping out on public property, which he said has been a problem. He has emphasized that he does not want anyone arrested, but he would like leverage to incentivize people not to camp on town land. Sullivan has compared his desired bylaw to speeding laws and the loose animal bylaw, saying officers will have discretion over whether to issue fines and that the rare arrest would be reserved for repeat offenders.

The bylaw would also apply to vehicles on town-owned land.

Public input sought on reuse of former school

ORANGE — The Orange Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (OEDIC) has scheduled a public meeting for Tuesday, Nov. 17, so townspeople can provide input on the reuse of the former Butterfield School at 94 South Main St.

The community engagement session is set to start at 6 p.m. in Orange Town Hall’s Ruth B. Smith Auditorium. Interested residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about OEDIC’s efforts to redevelop the former school, and to share their thoughts and ideas.

OEDIC is partnering with Resilience Planning & Design, a collaborative planning firm. The Nov. 17 agenda includes an OEDIC presentation summarizing the redevelopment vision and progress, a primer on affordable housing delivered by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, and small group table discussions.

An online survey has been posted to the OEDIC website. It can be found at developingorange.com/butterfield-school-project.

OEDIC assumed ownership of the former Butterfield School site after voters at Annual Town Meeting in June 2025 authorized the Selectboard to convey the property “for the purpose of facilitating beneficial reuse and redevelopment.” The property includes four contiguous parcels and features the closed 37,500-square-foot school built in 1878.

Sewer and Wastewater Commission needs members

ORANGE — With the adoption of the town charter, effective July 1, the town is transitioning from the old structure — where the Selectboard served as the Sewer Commission — to a newly established Sewer and Wastewater Commission with members appointed by the town moderator.

The moderator is seeking interested residents to serve on this newly established commission. This three-member commission will support the town’s sewer and wastewater operations, and guide policy, planning and long-term system performance.

A list of membership requirements and responsibilities is available at tinyurl.com/OrangeSewer. Anyone who is interested in serving is asked to fill out a form at tinyurl.com/OrangeInterestForm.

With questions, email Moderator Steve Garrity at moderator@townoforange.org. The deadline to apply is Nov. 26.

Orange Police K-9 Unit receives donation

ORANGE — The Orange Police Association received a $250 donation from Tractor Supply Co. at the Nov. 7 Hometown Heroes event that will benefit the Orange Police K-9 Unit, assisting with the cost of food, equipment, training and vet bills.

Three different K-9 teams joined Zeus to put on a demonstration for the community during the Hometown Heroes event, held at Tractor Supply Co. at 83 New Athol Road. The demonstration included narcotics detection, obedience, article search and apprehension. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office and Montague Police Department provided assistance.