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Select Board names town officers and advances grant work on ADUs, recycling and Complete Streets
Summary
The board appointed three one‑year officers and a fire department member, discussed a MassDEP recycling grant (battery collection) and a preliminary Complete Streets application (Aug. 7 deadline) that may include library parking‑lot and sidewalk improvements, and noted a BRPC proposal for ADU programs with deed‑restriction and means‑testing requirements.
The Sheffield Select Board on July 20 approved several short‑term appointments and heard updates on multiple grant efforts affecting municipal facilities and housing policy.
Appointments: The board made one‑year appointments for Larry Gould as building inspector, Charles Cohn as constable, and David Ulrich as fire chief; those motions were made and approved by voice vote. The board also approved the appointment of Madison Van Dusen to the Sheffield Fire Department and accepted the chair’s offer to serve as an alternate on the Ashley Falls Historic District Commission to help the commission reach quorum and process pending applications.
Grants and planning updates: The town administrator updated the board on two grant topics. First, the town has a comprehensive‑plan grant with a proposed Open Space and Recreation subcommittee; the administrator asked for resident volunteers and noted the planning committee had begun surveys. Second, the town is pursuing a MassDEP municipal recycling grant focused on battery collection (application due Aug. 31).
Infrastructure funding: Town staff highlighted a preliminary Massachusetts Department of Transportation Complete Streets application due Aug. 7 and asked the board to prioritize candidate projects. The library parking‑lot and sidewalk improvements were flagged as likely candidates; the police station was mentioned as another potential site for parking or access upgrades.
Housing note: The BRPC proposal to use seasonal community grant funding to help establish accessory dwelling units (ADUs) was discussed; the administrator noted that assistance linked to those funds would require deed restrictions and means testing at 250% of area median income for recipients.
Next steps: Staff will follow up on grant applications and coordinate with relevant town committees; the board encouraged residents with interest to contact the town administrator for opportunities to serve on committees.
