Montague meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Montague boards line up October 28 town meeting items; Strathmore Mill contract and school article on agendas

Montague boards spent the past two weeks preparing for an October 28 Special Town Meeting, while the Selectboard's October 5 agenda listed a vote on a not-to-exceed $399,440 contract for the Strathmore Mill cleanup. Minutes for that meeting have not been published, so the record does not yet show whether that contract or any other item on the agenda was approved.

All six meetings summarized below are listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. What follows is what boards were scheduled to take up, not what they decided.

Selectboard: Strathmore Mill contract and town meeting warrant

The October 5 Selectboard agenda listed a vote on a contract with Skanska USA Building Inc for Owner's Project Manager services on the Strathmore Mill Cleanup, at a not-to-exceed amount of $399,440, funded by a State earmark and an EPA Brownfields grant.

The same agenda listed votes on:

• A $60,000 contract with Fuss & O'Neill, Inc for Oakman Street erosion mitigation, covering 30% design plans, funded by a Town Meeting appropriation.
• Change Order #1 with Omasta Landscaping, Inc for the Unity Park Playground footprint expansion, at $7,824, funded by project contingency and the Bid Overrun account.
• An employment agreement for Deputy Chief Joshua Hoffman, effective October 11, 2026, Grade C Step 8, at $103,001 annual salary.
• Approval and execution of the warrant for the October 28, 2026 Special Town Meeting, plus Selectboard recommendations on warrant articles.

The board was also scheduled to hear a domestic violence prevention presentation and an update on the Sheffield and Hillcrest Elementary School feasibility study.

School building committee prepares town meeting article

The Sheffield and Hillcrest Elementary School Building Committee met October 7 to discuss the MSBA process, the feasibility schematic design phase and project financing. The agenda also listed preparation of materials, speakers and public engagement for a special article request at the October 28 Special Town Meeting.

Conservation Commission hearing on 0 Meadow Road

The Conservation Commission met October 8 to continue a public hearing on NOI #2026-07, a proposed single-family house and accessory dwelling unit at 0 Meadow Road in the Connecticut River Riverfront Area. The agenda also listed discussion of Eversource's WT-11 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Program and consolidated local permitting for small clean energy projects under 225 CMR 29.00.

Solar permit hearing at 79 East Taylor Hill Rd

The Zoning Board of Appeals met October 14 for public hearing #26-10 on a special permit request from PV Squared Solar for a 696 sq. ft / 15.9 kW ground-mounted solar installation at 79 East Taylor Hill Rd. The agenda states the board may take votes on the proposal.

Finance Committee and library building committee

The Finance Committee met October 14 for a stipend review of various town positions, preparation for the Special Town Meeting, updates from the Town Administrator and review of minutes from the September 30 meeting.

The Library Building Steering Committee met October 6 for a presentation and discussion of new building materials and fixtures, with a public comment period limited to two minutes per speaker.

Coming up

Two meetings are scheduled for Monday, October 19.

The Selectboard is set to take up Change Order #4 for the FY25 MONT Avenue A Streetscape 5.2 Project at $10,179.36; a grant agreement for Avenue A traffic signal engineering at $110,000; and a contract with Berkshire Design Group for 102-112 Avenue A ramp design at $39,500. The agenda also lists entertainment, common victualler's and auto amusement device licenses for Mystic Cat Pinball, LLC; the appointment of Atticus Belmonte to the Montague Cultural Council; and wastewater updates including the financial impact of a planned plant closure.

The Cemetery Commission is scheduled to discuss a budget article for the October 28 Special Town Meeting and to revise and approve the policy on headstones at Highland Woods. The agenda also lists confirmation or cancellation of headstone cleaning on October 25 and a Highland Lawn clean-up on November 7.

Montague weighs $1.75M school feasibility study, $399,440 Strathmore Mill cleanup contract

Montague boards and committees took up a slate of spending items, contracts and appointments over the past two weeks, with the largest item — a $1,750,000 Consolidated Elementary School Feasibility Study — headed for an October 28 Special Town Meeting. Agendas for the nine recent meetings reviewed here list items for discussion or possible vote. Minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed in those records.

School feasibility study moves toward October 28

The Finance Committee met September 30 at Town Hall to review minutes and vote on Special Town Meeting articles, including the $1,750,000 Consolidated Elementary School Feasibility Study. The same day, the Capital Improvements Committee met from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the Annex Meeting Room at Montague Town Hall, 1 Avenue A, Turners Falls, to review the Gill-Montague Regional School District capital article request for the same study, with Elementary School Building Steering Committee member and Town Administrator Walter Ramsey invited. That committee also planned to review its report to the October 28, 2026 Special Town Meeting and the anticipated FY28 Capital Planning Schedule.

The Sheffield and Hillcrest Elementary School Building Committee met October 7 to discuss the MSBA process, the feasibility schematic design phase, project financing, and preparation of materials for the special article request.

Strathmore Mill cleanup contract on Selectboard agenda

The Selectboard's October 5 agenda listed a contract with Skanska USA Building Inc for Owner's Project Manager services on the Strathmore Mill Cleanup, not-to-exceed $399,440, funded by a State earmark and an EPA Brownfields grant. Also listed: a contract with Fuss & O'Neill, Inc for Oakman Street erosion mitigation (30% design plans) at $60,000, funded by Town Meeting appropriation, and Change Order #1 with Omasta Landscaping, Inc for Unity Park Playground footprint expansion at $7,824, funded by project contingency and the Bid Overrun account. The board was also scheduled to approve and execute the warrant for the October 28 Special Town Meeting and vote on Selectboard recommendations on warrant articles.

Other spending items

The Finance Committee's article list included Prior Year Bills $1,643.02; Airport FY26 Operating Deficit $38,550.27; Airport FY27 Revenue Deficit $15,000; Grant Deficit Cleanup $61,502.31; Cemetery Maintenance/Sexton Stipend $12,032; and Departmental Requests of $16,300 ($5,600 walk-behind automatic floor scrubber; $7,700 infield groomer; $3,000 resurfacing Unity Park walkway and whale unit area). A Senior Tax Work Off article was also listed.

The Retirement Board's September 29 agenda included approval of September 2026 Warrant #9 for $417,860.97, approval of 10 new GMRSD members with effective dates from 7/27/2026 to 9/08/2026, nomination of a chairperson for the October 2026–September 2027 term, a PERAC memo on the COLA Reserve Fund and Enhanced COLA, and discussion of the 1/1/2026 Actuarial Valuation and proposed funding schedule.

Personnel

The Selectboard agenda listed an employment agreement for Deputy Chief Joshua Hoffman effective October 11, 2026, Grade C Step 8, at a $103,001 annual salary, along with police and library personnel appointments.

Health, land and environment

The Board of Health met September 30 at 5:30 pm at the Town Hall Annex to discuss and possibly vote on the town's animal control agreement and contract with FCSO Regional Animal Control. It was also set to receive August 2026 reports from the Director, Public Health Nurse Brittany Tuttle and Animal and Barn Inspector Kathleen Burek, review August 26, 2026 minutes, and sign a letter of support for a Domestic Violence Prevention Proclamation and a PHEP Representative Designation.

The Conservation Commission met October 8 for a continued public hearing on NOI #2026-07, a proposed single-family house and accessory dwelling unit at 0 Meadow Road in the Connecticut River Riverfront Area. It also listed discussion of Eversource's WT-11 Transmission Right-of-Way Reliability Program (TRRP) Project and consolidated local permitting for small clean energy projects under 225 CMR 29.00.

The Library Building Steering Committee met October 6 at 4:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation and discussion of new building materials and fixtures, with public comment limited to two minutes.

Closed session on litigation

The Selectboard held an emergency executive session September 29 at 5:00 pm via Zoom, closing the session under G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss litigation strategy in Snow, Deborah et al vs. Town of Montague, Franklin Superior Court, CA No. 2678CV00056. No other business was listed. The agenda noted the meeting was being recorded and that votes may be taken.

Coming up

The Finance Committee meets October 14 for a stipend review for various town positions, preparation for the Special Town Meeting, review of September 30, 2026 minutes, and updates from the Town Administrator. Dates listed on the September 30 Finance Committee agenda also include an October 21 Pre Town Meeting and the October 28 Special Town Meeting.

Montague Selectboard to sign $1.6M loan; school borrowing election on agenda

The Montague Selectboard is scheduled to sign a $1,616,000 USDA Rural Development loan for the screw pump station upgrade at its Aug. 24 meeting. The board will also hold a public hearing on whether a dog named Scoot is a nuisance or dangerous, appoint two town officials, and adopt the 2026-2031 Hazard Mitigation Plan. No decisions have been finalized from recent meetings, as minutes have not yet been published.

Recent meetings

Selectboard (Aug. 10) — The board discussed a vote to direct the Town Clerk to hold a special election on Oct. 6 for a $236,572,983 borrowing authorization to build a new Franklin County Technical School. Other agenda items included a sewer rate hearing, a tables-and-chairs license for Ritual Bowl at 109 Avenue A, a $4,900 skatepark sealing contract with Tailblock Concrete LLC, and up to $3,600 for final easement plans for Industrial Blvd / Millers Falls Rd intersection improvements. Minutes are not yet available.

Conservation Commission (Aug. 13) — The commission held a public hearing on a proposed garage at 31-33 Randall Road (Parcel #21-0-141) and discussed MassDEP’s draft amendments to state wetlands and water quality regulations (310 CMR 10.00 and 314 CMR 9.00). No minutes published.

Board of Assessors (Aug. 17) — The board reviewed the FY27 revaluation workplan, monthly abatement and exemption reports, the Senior Tax Work-Off Program, and the Farren Site appraisal report. It also authorized Motor Vehicle Warrant 4 for 2026. No minutes published.

Cemetery Commission (Aug. 17) — Routine oversight: approved June minutes, heard the sexton’s report, and received updates on Highland, Chestnut Hill, and Old South cemeteries, including a kiosk, plantings, Stonewall repair, and volunteer headstone cleaning. No major decisions listed.

Upcoming meetings

Selectboard (Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.) — The board will sign the $1,616,000 USDA Rural Development loan for the screw pump station upgrade. It will also hold a public hearing on whether a dog named Scoot is a nuisance or dangerous under M.G.L. c. 140, §157; appoint Klon Koehler to the Cultural Council; request $7,000 from the Community Development Discretionary Fund for cultural programming; appoint Amy Love as Library Assistant at $18.52/hour; and adopt the 2026-2031 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Two executive sessions are scheduled for personnel and collective bargaining.

Retirement Board (Aug. 25, 9:00 a.m.) — The board will approve the August 2026 warrant of $562,346.86, enroll new members Frederick Mogilka Jr. and Brittany-Lee Morrison, approve a partial refund of $58.13 to Debra Underhill and a refund of $45,932.35 to Richard McCarthy, and appoint an election officer.

Planning Board (Aug. 25, 7:00 p.m.) — The board will hold a public hearing on a Habitat for Humanity project at 0 First Street (six single-family homes plus public parking on 0.654 acres, split into seven lots, PAA 2026-01) and a special permit for a dog daycare/training facility at 40-44 Industrial Blvd (SP 2026-01). It will also review two ANR submissions (2026-02 and 2026-03) and discuss FY27 state budget changes to the Zoning Act and the new clean energy permitting process (225 CMR 29.00).

Coming up

• **Selectboard** — Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall (or virtual).
• **Retirement Board** — Aug. 25, 9:00 a.m.
• **Planning Board** — Aug. 25, 7:00 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public. Check the town website for agendas and remote access links.

Montague boards weigh library contracts, school borrowing, and more

Montague's recent board meetings were held on agendas only, with minutes not yet published, so no decisions are confirmed. The most consequential item on the horizon is a Selectboard vote on a special election for a $236,572,983 borrowing authorization to build a new Franklin County Technical School.

Recent meetings

Library construction and trustees

At its July 27 meeting, the Selectboard considered authorizing two addenda totaling $2,554,150 for the Main Library construction project: $570,000 for owner's project manager services with Downes Construction and $1,984,150 for designer services with Schwartz/Silver Architects, both funded by a state library grant and local appropriation. The board also reviewed a new building permit fee schedule effective Aug 1, a DPW summer paving plan covering Randall Wood Dr, Old Stage Rd, Kells Rd, Ripley Rd, and alley/road portions, and a $110,000 award for Avenue A Traffic Signals Engineering design from state funds. The Library Trustees, meeting the same day, discussed a draft gift policy and the possibility of starting a library foundation.

School building committee

The newly formed Sheffield and Hillcrest Elementary School Building Committee held its first meeting on July 29. Members discussed a possible vote to recommend a warrant article for feasibility study funding for the Sheffield Elementary School project, reviewed MSBA eligibility deadlines (including a required local vote authorization by January 26, 2027), and considered potential consolidation of Hillcrest and Sheffield into a PreK–5 facility.

Historical Commission and Board of Health

The Historical Commission, meeting July 27, discussed potential exterior upgrades to the Shea Theater, where artifacts from the Carnegie Library should be stored, and received a presentation on a Blacksmith Shop evaluation. The Board of Health, on July 29, considered updated well regulations, an enforcement order for 4 Burek Dr, and enforcement related to temporary housing and encampments.

Retirement Board

The Retirement Board, meeting July 30, considered approving July 2026 Warrant #7 for $430,257.61 and a $3,000,000 transfer to the PRIT Fund via Warrant #7a, for a total of $3.43M. It also reviewed new member appointments (Christopher Allen and Ashley Manley), a computer monitor purchase, and a schedule change for the Board Administrator to 35 hours per week.

Upcoming meetings

Selectboard (Aug 10)

The Selectboard will vote on directing the Town Clerk to hold a special election on October 6, 2026, for voter consideration of a $236,572,983 borrowing authorization for a new Franklin County Technical School. Other business includes a FY2027 sewer rate hearing, a request for a tables and chairs license from Cindy Ferrer of Ritual Bowl at 109 Avenue A, Turners Falls, approval of a $4,900 skatepark sealing contract with Tailblock Concrete LLC, and authorization of up to $3,600 for final easement plans for Industrial Blvd / Millers Falls Rd intersection improvements.

Conservation Commission (Aug 13)

The Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed garage at 31-33 Randall Road (Parcel #21-0-141) and discuss MassDEP's proposed amendments to state wetlands and water quality regulations (310 CMR 10.00 and 314 CMR 9.00). The meeting is open in person at Town Hall Annex or via Zoom.

Coming up

• **Selectboard Meeting** – Aug 10, 2026: Vote on special election for Franklin Tech school borrowing; sewer rate hearing; skatepark sealing contract.
• **Conservation Commission** – Aug 13, 2026: Public hearing on garage at 31-33 Randall Road; discussion of state wetland rule changes.

Montague boards set to weigh $2.55M in library contracts, well rules, and school feasibility funding

Montague's town boards had a full agenda over the past two weeks, with the Selectboard scheduled to act on $2.55 million in Main Library construction contracts and several other panels lining up votes on well regulations, retirement warrants, and a possible school feasibility study. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, the items below reflect what was on each agenda; outcomes are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Selectboard — Main Library contracts, paving, permit fees

The Selectboard's July 27 agenda called for votes on two addenda for the Main Library construction project totaling $2,554,150: $570,000 for owner's project manager services with Downes Construction and $1,984,150 for designer services with Schwartz/Silver Architects. Both would be funded by a state library grant and local appropriation. The board was also set to approve a new fee schedule for building, plumbing/gas, and electrical permits effective Aug. 1; act on DPW summer paving plans covering Randall Wood Dr, Old Stage Rd, Kells Rd, Ripley Rd, and alley/road portions; and approve a $110,000 award for Avenue A Traffic Signals Engineering design from state funds. Personnel actions on the agenda included a police detective promotion and a new wastewater mechanic appointment.

Board of Health — well regulations and enforcement

The Board of Health's July 29 agenda included a vote on the final draft of updated well regulations, discussion of an enforcement order for a property at 4 Burek Dr, and discussion of temporary housing and encampments enforcement. Director and nurse reports covering June 2026 activities were also scheduled.

Retirement Board — $3.43M in warrants

The Montague Retirement Board's July 30 agenda listed approval of July 2026 Warrant #7 for $430,257.61 and a $3,000,000.00 transfer to the PRIT Fund via Warrant #7a, together totaling $3.43M. The board was also set to vote on new members Christopher Allen and Ashley Manley, a second computer monitor purchase, and a Board Administrator schedule change to 35 hours per week. Travel expenses for an August training session and May and June 2026 financial statements were on the agenda for review.

School Building Committee — first meeting

The newly formed Sheffield and Hillcrest Elementary School Building Committee held its first meeting July 29. The agenda included a possible vote to recommend that the Selectboard place an article on the October 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant to fund a feasibility study for the Sheffield Elementary School project. Members were also set to elect or confirm a Chair and Vice Chair, review Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) eligibility deadlines including a required local vote authorization by January 26, 2027, and discuss potential consolidation of Hillcrest and Sheffield into a PreK–5 facility.

Historical Commission and Library Trustees

The Montague Historical Commission met via Zoom July 27 to discuss possible exterior upgrades to the Shea Theater, decide on a storage location for artifacts from the Carnegie Library, and hear a presentation by Tris Metcalfe on a Blacksmith Shop evaluation. The Library Trustees' monthly meeting the same day included updates from the Building Steering Committee and Budget Committee, review of a draft gift policy, and discussion of starting a library foundation.

Coming up

• **Aug. 6 — Library Building Steering Committee:** Discussion of final design, construction phases, milestones, and schedule for the Main Library Building Project, plus committee roles and potential subcommittees.
• **Aug. 13 — Conservation Commission:** Public hearing on NOI #2026-06 for a proposed garage at 31-33 Randall Road (Parcel #21-0-141), and discussion of MassDEP's proposed amendments to state wetland regulations (310 CMR 10.00 and 314 CMR 9.00). Open to the public in person at Town Hall Annex or via Zoom.

Outcomes for all July meetings listed above remain unconfirmed until minutes are published; readers can check the town's official meeting postings for recorded votes and actions.