Tree Removal by Eversource

Eversource Power Co. will be clearing trees from the power lines.  The trees are being removed, not trimmed.  The clearing is to help prevent power outages now and in the future.  Their contracted tree removal company will be working on several roads in Town.  Many of the trees are on private property and about 60% are in the Town’s right of way.  The private trees are permissioned by the homeowners and are not subject to Town oversight.  While all Town trees are subject to review and discussion by the Tree Warden, all trees deemed hazardous by the Tree Warden are permissioned solely by the Tree Warden and any non-hazardous trees are open to discussion by any concerned residents with the Tree Warden. 

Work will begin on the following roadways:  Bagg, Bates, Bisbee, Bissell, Bryant, Curtis Road, Curtis Lane, Damon Pond, East, Fuller, Goose Lane, Indian Hollow, Munson, North, Old Chesterfield, Pynchon, Smith, Sugar Hill Road, Stage, and Willcutt.  All trees to be removed are marked with blue ribbons.  Please keep in mind that the parameters for what trees should be removed may be different based on viewpoint of removing to protect electrical lines and service versus Town Shade Trees.  The Tree Warden has examined the trees and most of the marked trees have damage to either limbs or root structure.  Sometimes this damage is not fatal to the tree but does make it more susceptible to breaking under stress such as ice buildup or heavy wind.  The goal of this clearing effort is to help prevent future power outages.  The Tree Warden encourages residents concerned about any of the trees marked for removal to contact him at (413) 320-0931 or 296-4068.  It is not feasible to hold public hearings at this time due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 Response

The Town of Chesterfield Select Board, in consultation with the Board of Health and Emergency Planning Committee, entered into a local State of Emergency effective 8:00 p.m. on March 15, 2020.  This was done in order to best prepare and protect the residents of the Town of Chesterfield in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This declaration eases some procurement requirements, allows the Town to overspend line items, and gives the Police and Fire Chiefs more flexibility in staffing.

In an effort to protect the health of Town officials and employees, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to continue essential Town government operations, all Chesterfield municipal buildings will be closed to the general public effective 8 a.m. March 16, 2020 until further notice.  The Town municipal buildings include the Town Office, Town Hall, Police Station, Fire Station, Highway Garage, Library, and Community/Senior Center.  All Town employees will continue to work their usual hours in their offices.  

To communicate with Town employees, please call, email, or use USPS mail.  Contact info can be found under the CONTACT tab on the website.

FACE COVERING ORDER NOW IN EFFECT

Effective May 6th, Governor Baker issued an order requiring individuals to wear face coverings in public places. Any person who is in a place open to the public in the Commonwealth, when unable to maintain a distance of approximately six feet from every other person, shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face covering. This order applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Exceptions include children under the age of 2 and those unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition.

The use of a face covering does not replace important social distancing measures. All individuals must continue to maintain more than 6 feet of distance from other people; wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; and stay home when sick.

Stay Informed

In an effort to ensure you have good situational awareness and early guidance from DPH, all stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to visit the DPH website as updates and guidance changes frequently.  The link for DPH website can be found here: www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus. 

Additionally, Massachusetts residents can call Mass 2-1-1 to learn more about:

·  COVID-19 prevention, symptoms, and treatment 

·  Information about testing

·  Guidance for people planning or returning from travel

Massachusetts 2-1-1 is open to callers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Operators fluent in Spanish are available, and more than 150 other languages are supported through an interpreter services line. Residents with questions can dial 2-1-1 from any landline or cellphone, or use the live chat option on the Mass 2-1-1 website.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Alert Information   

Massachusetts Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19):

Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health – Overview of Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) 

Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health – COVID-19 Cases, Quarantine and Monitoring

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 incident Mapping Dashboard

Massachusetts Governor Baker’s Press releases related to COVID-19

Chesterfield  Response & Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): 

Board of Health Coronavirus COVID-19 message & informational links

Attachments:

Press Release Regarding Chesterfield Local State if Emergency	[ ]	151 kB
Memo to Town Employees Regarding Closure of Town Offices to Public	[ ]	142 kB

COVID-19 CDC Link for More Info

For information from the CDC (Centers of Disease Control) about COVID-19, please copy and paste this link in your browser:

https://tools.cdc.gov/medialibrary/index.aspx#/microsite/id/403323

Annual Town Election May 4, 2020

Annual Town Election

Chesterfield's Annual Town Election will be Monday, May 4, 2020 with voting from 12 noon until 8 p.m.  The election will be held in the Community Center at 400 Main Road.  This year, early voting by mail and absentee ballot voting will be available for all registered voters.  We are encouraging voters to choose one of these options and avoid the public polling place.

The application forms to request early voting/absentee ballot are available on the bulletin board at the Chesterfield Post Office as well as on the Town Clerk’s page on our website, www.townofchesterfieldma.com.  The completed application can be sent to the Town Clerk to request a ballot and as soon as they are available, they will be mailed to applicants.  Remember to allow enough time for the ballot to be delivered back to the Town Clerk before May 4th. 

Please note that voting will take place at the Community Center at 400 Main Road and not the Town Offices.  The larger space will allow us to work within the social distancing practices.  The number of voters allowed inside the building at any given time will be limited.  We will sanitize the voting area between usage.  However, if you are immune compromised, a senior, or otherwise considered in the high-risk population, you are advised to request an absentee or early voter ballot, which will be sent to you.  The application can be emailed to the Town Clerk, Sandy Wickland, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mailed via USPS, or left in the secure dropbox by the back door at the Town Offices. 

If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the Town Clerk.

The last day to register to vote for the May 4th election is April 14th. 

The following Town positions will be on the Annual Town Election ballot.  (Current members serving are listed.)

Selectman (3 years) - Patricia Colson-Montgomery

*Selectman (2 years) - Bob Recos is retiring as of May

Assessor (3 years) - Mary Anne Severance-Rys

Town Clerk (3 years) - Sandra L Wickland

Treasurer (3 years) - Margaret McWherter 

Tax Collector (3 Years) - Lenore Pittsinger

Board of Health (3 years) - Henry Badner

*Chesterfield/Goshen School Committee (2 years) - Gail Lucey, not seeking election

Chesterfield/Goshen School Committee (3 years) - Donald Willard

*Hampshire Regional School Committee (2 years) - vacancy

Constable (3 years) - Robert Judd, Jr.

*Library Trustee (3 years) - Betsy Todd  is not seeking re-election

Planning Board (3 Years) - Maureen Borg

Planning Board (3 years) - Daniel Henshaw

Planning Board (3 years) - Judith Terry

Tree Warden (3 years) - John Lynch

*These positions need to be filled because of current vacancies or because current officials will not be seeking re-election or are retiring.

Voting by absentee ballot is encouraged because of the social distancing guidelines.  The application for an absentee ballot is attached below.

Attachments:

Absentee Ballot Application	[ ]	991 kB
Early Voting Ballot Application	[ ]	458 kB

Special Town Meeting Tuesday, February 4, 2020

There will be a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, February 4th with a snow date of February 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center.  The main focus of the meeting is to vote on funding for Broadband drops (connections to houses).  Please see the warrant, which is attached below.  There will be a short presentation by MLP Manager Justin West at the beginning of the meeting to explain the funding request.

Attachments:

STM Warrant Feb 4 2020

[ ]

892 kB