Town Manager Steve Williams | | Greetings regular and new readers of our town newsletter. It may seem like a long time ago now, but our Town Meeting (on May 31st) hadn’t happened by the time we assembled our last issue, and I want to thank everyone who made Town Meeting the success that it was this year. This was our largest Town Meeting ever, with more than 1,100 voters in attendance, and lots of work went into making it run smoothly. The meeting ended around noon with all 50 warrant articles passing. | | |
We will share the minutes when they are ready, and in the meantime you can check out the top of our Agenda Center on the town website to find the warrant, motions, and certification for both Annual and Special Town Meetings, as well as BCTV for video of the meeting. Thank you to many colleagues who led the event or worked behind the scenes, and thank you to residents for showing up, having patience, and contributing your thoughts and votes to our town.
This month I want to draw attention to two surveys we are running to get more feedback about Town Meeting and community services. Our Communications Manager, Kate Nadeau, has been working across departments to develop these surveys as tools that can help us figure out how to improve. The Town Meeting Feedback Survey invites feedback from all residents, regardless of whether you attended this year’s meeting. Along the same lines, we’re looking for feedback from all residents, employees, business-owners, and visitors in our Community Services Survey, whether or not you’ve used the services (Recreation Dept., Senior Center, Veterans’ Services) asked about in the survey before. Each survey takes around 5-10 minutes to complete, and we really appreciate your input! You can find more information and the links again among the announcements below.
I’d also like to kick off our fiscal year with a welcome to our newly reconstituted Select Board, whose members have set their liaison duties (described below) to connect with all of the boards, committees, and advisory groups that inform and direct our town. I thank them for this work and look forward to the year ahead. And lastly, I’d like to wish everyone a happy and safe July. There are a lot of great things to take advantage of in Belchertown this month!
– Steve Williams, Town Manager
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Select Board Liaison Assignments for FY26
The Belchertown Select Board has reorganized for Fiscal Year 2026 and announced updated liaison assignments following the annual town election.
Jonathan Ritter joins the Board as its newest member, filling the seat previously held by Ed Boscher, who did not seek re-election. As part of the reorganization, Lesa Lessard Pearson has been named Chair, Jennifer Turner—recently re-elected—will serve as Vice Chair, and Nicole Miner has been named Clerk. Whitney Jorns-Kuhnlenz continues as a member.
In FY25, Ed Boscher served as Chair, Lesa Lessard Pearson was Vice Chair, and Jennifer Turner served as Clerk.
The Select Board members serve as liaisons to a wide range of town boards, committees, and commissions to support communication, oversight, and collaboration across local government.
FY26 Select Board Liaison Assignments:
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Lesa Lessard Pearson – Chair
• Capital Improvement Planning Committee
• Economic Development & Industrial Corporation (EDIC)
• Town Legal Affairs (Law Account)
Jennifer Turner – Vice Chair
• Belchertown Overcoming Adversity Together (BOAT)
• Conservation Commission
• Creative Economy Committee
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force
• Historic By-Law Commission
• Historical Commission
• Lakes Committee
• McPherson Garden Committee
• Recreation Committee
• Planning Board
Nicole Miner – Clerk
• Agricultural Commission
• Animal Control Advisory Board
• Belchertown Buildings & Grounds Committee
• Belchertown School Committee (Alternate)
• Branding Committee
• Council on Aging
• Finance Committee
• Zoning Board of Appeals
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Whitney Jorns-Kuhnlenz – Member
• Belchertown Age & Dementia Friendly Implementation Group
• Belchertown School Committee
• Clapp Memorial Library
• Community Preservation Committee
• Cultural Council
• Energy & Sustainability Committee
• Family Center Committee
• Scholarship Committee
Jonathan Ritter – Member
• BCTV
• Board of Assessors
• Cable Service Committee
• Communication Committee
• Fair Committee
• Hazard Mitigation Committee
• Memorial Committee
• Veterans’ Services Advisory Board
These liaison roles help ensure that the Select Board remains connected to the work of Belchertown’s many volunteer committees and advisory groups.
For more information about Select Board members and their responsibilities, visit the Select Board page on the town website.
| | Town Meeting Feedback Survey | |
We’re collecting feedback to help improve future Town Meetings, and your input matters!
Survey link: www.belchertown.org/townmeetingfeedback
Whether you attended the 2025 Annual Town Meeting or not, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey and help us improve future Town Meetings for everyone.
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People Updates from the Office of Human Resources
Welcome Our New DPW Team Members!
The Town of Belchertown is pleased to welcome two new additions to our Department of Public Works:
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Alexander Smidy joined the DPW as a Seasonal Laborer on May 30, 2025. Alexander will be supporting various seasonal maintenance projects throughout the Town during the busy summer months.
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Fionn Lydon began his role as a Highway Laborer with the DPW on June 6, 2025. Fionn will be working with the Highway Division to help maintain and improve our local roads and infrastructure.
Please join us in welcoming Alexander and Fionn to the team and thanking them for their service to our community!
Celebrating 5 Years of Dedicated Service
The Town of Belchertown proudly recognizes and celebrates the 5-year work anniversaries of the following employees:
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Vincent Daponte, Police Patrol Officer
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Matthew Menard, Police Patrol Officer
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Robert Mileski, Jr., DPW Maintenance Worker
Since joining the Town in 2020, each of these individuals has demonstrated unwavering dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving our community.
We are grateful for their hard work and contributions over the past five years.
Please join us in congratulating Vinny, Matthew, and Rob on this important milestone—and in thanking them for their continued service to Belchertown!
| | Updates from the Department of Public Works | | |
The Department of Public Works has been busy closing out FY25 and preparing for FY26 simultaneously. Preparations are also underway for this year’s upcoming Hazardous Waste Household Collection Event scheduled for September 13, 2025. Here’s what our divisions have been up to:
In the Highway Division:
- Continued road work and resurfacing while traffic volumes are down.
- The shop is very busy with maintenance of the town’s fleet of 70 plus vehicles.
- Seasonal roadside mowing continues almost daily with sometimes two machines each day.
The Belchertown Cemetery Division continues to see an influx of burial lot sales and lot transfers.
In the Maintenance Division:
- Daily mowing of town grounds.
- Lining of the school athletic fields.
- Put up new American flags on all flag poles.
- Set up 40 military banners and put up all flags on telephone poles on the town common.
- Bark mulched and weeded the town common, Lawrence Memorial Hall, and South Cemetery.
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At the Transfer Station:
- The Trash Gala Event, held on Friday, June 13th, 2025, was a success!
- The DPW hosted an informational/educational table for viewing and offered one free transfer station permit sticker to recycled costume winner Charlotte Cassidy.
- The Transfer Station’s newest addition of our Universal Waste Shed will be opening soon.
| | The three new container murals at the Transfer Station! | | |
At the Waste Water Treatment Facility:
- Safety training, including Right To Know, Summer Weather, PPE BB Pathogens, Hearing Testing, and Respirator Fit testing.
- Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Repairs & Maintenance: Post Eq tanks diffuser repairs, WRF electrical conduit install on north side of facility, PH meter replacement annual Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) draining for repairs and maintenance.
- Capital Replacement Projects: Started on the facility generator bid awarding and submittal process. Started on the Facility and Station’s SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) replacement programming and prebid process.
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NEW Notification Platform
The Town of Belchertown has launched a new notification system!
Residents can now choose to receive both emergency and non-emergency alerts directly from the town.
- Non-emergency examples: planned road closures, changes to the transfer station schedule.
- Emergency examples: missing persons, major accidents that result in road closures.
All residents are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.
Please note: If you were previously signed up for town notifications, you MUST sign up again—your information could not be transferred from the old system.
You can sign up a few different ways:
Stay informed and stay safe—sign up today!
| | | | | | Senior Center Summer News Featuring Books, Ice Cream, Music, and Comedy | | In June, we celebrated a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a new bookshelf at the Senior Center, dedicated to literature and news that highlights the LGBTQIA+ community. Everyone is encouraged to explore and make use of these valuable resources. Additionally, don't forget that the Rainbow Social Group gathers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10 am at the Senior Center. We look forward to seeing you there! | | The new bookshelf at the Senior Center. | | Community members attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bookshelf! | | |
July is National Ice Cream Month, and what better way to indulge than with a delightful ice cream dessert every Friday after lunch!
The Center is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming “Party on the Patio” featuring the beloved Stephen George on July 11th at 12:30 pm. He’s a local favorite, so grab your lawn chair and get ready for an afternoon filled with vibrant music and good vibes!
Don't miss out on a fantastic fundraising comedy event hosted by the Belchertown Senior Citizens Center Association (BSCCA) on Wednesday, July 16th! Join us for “Misgivings,” a delightful mix of laughter, joy, humor, and a touch of bingo. Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased in person at the Senior Center. Doors will open at 12:30 pm, and the show kicks off at 1 pm. Come for the fun and support a great cause!
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Community Services Survey
What Programs, Services, and Facilities Do You Want in Belchertown?
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The Town of Belchertown is taking a closer look at how it delivers community services, and we want your input to help guide future improvements.
This short online survey invites feedback on the Recreation Department, the Senior Center, and the Veterans’ Services Department. We’re asking residents to share their thoughts on what these departments should offer—and what changes the community might be open to considering.
Whether or not you currently use these services, your feedback will help us understand what’s working, what’s missing, and what new offerings or facilities the community may need. The survey only takes a few minutes and will help shape the future of community services in town.
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You can click here to take the survey or scan the QR code.
Your voice matters—please take a few minutes to complete the survey and help shape the future of community services in Belchertown!
| | | | | Recreation Department: Summer Is Here! | | |
Please check out www.belchertownrec.com to see what summer activities we have to offer as we have a variety of activities that will start in the month of July.
Hot outside and looking for a place to go? The Belchertown Town Beach is now open 7 days a week (weather dependent) located on Lake Arcadia at 21 Town Beach Road. All membership and daily entrance fees and information is available on our website.
We will be partnering with the Cultural Council for July's Food Truck Friday taking place on July 18th, hope to see everyone there!
We are also gathering feedback through the Community Services Survey mentioned above in this newsletter. Please send your thoughts on Rec Dept. services and other offerings in Belchertown!
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Belchertown Police: June and July Community Happenings
On June 1 we participated in the Flag Raising Ceremony outside Town Hall and the Pride Celebration Event that was held on the Town Common. The DEI Task Force, led by Officer Vincent Daponte did an outstanding job organizing and making this event a success!
We’re getting ready for our Summer Youth Police Academy, scheduled for July 14–18. A few spots are still available for students entering grades 8 through 12. To register or learn more, please contact the Belchertown Recreation Department.
| | Officer Vincent Daponte with other members of the community at the Belchertown Pride Celebration on June 1, 2025. | | The UMass Memorial Medical Center’s Life Flight helicopter visiting Belchertown’s 2024 Summer Youth Police Academy. | | Belchertown Awards 2025 Town Scholarships to Local Graduates | | |
The Belchertown Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 town scholarships. Five graduating seniors have each been awarded $1,500 to support their pursuit of post-secondary education. These scholarships recognize students who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, and financial need.
This year’s recipients are all graduates of Belchertown High School:
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Alexandra Barabolkin – attending Regis College
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Meera Berryhill – attending UMass Amherst
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Benjamin Les – attending Wesleyan University
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Noah Les – attending Bridgewater State University
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George Wheeler – attending Worcester State College
Scholarships are open to graduating seniors from Belchertown High School, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, and local homeschool programs. The awards are funded entirely through donations from community members and used to cover expenses such as tuition, books, and fees.
“The continued generosity of Belchertown residents allows us to support students as they take the next step in their education,” said Committee Chair Wesley J. Dunham. “We are grateful to all who have contributed over the years.”
Donations to the Belchertown Scholarship Fund can be made online through the town’s tax payment portal, by check, in person at Town Hall, or through the quarterly tax bill donation option. Every contribution helps ensure future students can access the same opportunity.
To learn more about the program, visit the Belchertown Scholarship Committee webpage.
| | Quick Updates From Town Departments | | |
Inspection Services Report
As of June 24, 2025, 415 building permits have been issued for the calendar year.
Between May 22, 2025 and June 24, 2025:
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Inspection Services issued 102 building permits, 55 electrical permits, 9 plumbing permits, and 6 gas permits.
- Building inspectors performed 67+ building/site inspections; the Assistant Building Inspector, Chris Rice, covered inspections for Paul Adzima while he was away on vacation.
- There were 34 electrical inspections performed by electrical inspectors.
- Gas pumps at Express Stop located at 122 Federal Street were tested and certified.
- (Figures for plumbing and gas inspections for June were not in at the time of this report.)
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A Reminder From The Conservation Department: Take Advantage of Belchertown’s Conservation Areas This Summer!
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and explore one of the Conservation Commission's beautiful conservation areas. You can find trail maps and more information on the Commission's town conservation lands webpage.
| | The 2015 Open Space and Recreation Map of Belchertown (click to open link to PDF). An updated map is in preparation | |
Assessors Office Update
Real estate exemption applications will be mailed the week of July 7, 2025. If you already receive the exemption, you are already on the mailing list. For more information regarding exemption eligibility, please contact the Assessors Office (Andrea Filipkowski, 413-323-0413, email: afilipkowski@belchertown.org).
The Assessors Office staff continues to do cyclical inspections in the north end of town. Letters were mailed to various property owners on Brenda Lane, Federal Street, North Street, Old Amherst Road, Raymond Drive, Two Ponds Road, and Warren Wright Street.
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Planning Department Updates
The Planning Department has spent time applying for grants for the state's One Stop program. This is the annual round of competitive grants the state offers. In prior years, various town departments have been able to fund important projects throughout town. The Planning Board is finishing their revision of the subdivision regulations.
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Fire-Rescue Stats for May 2025
The Belchertown Fire-Rescue Department had a steady flow of emergency responses and safety inspections throughout the month of May. Our numbers were: 253 total incidents, including 183 EMS calls and 70 fire-related calls. We completed 43 fire inspections, provided mutual aid 10 times, and received mutual aid 4 times.
| | A note on mutual aid: The state has recently updated how it tracks mutual aid activity across departments, so you may notice some changes in how we report these numbers going forward. While the system is new, our commitment to supporting surrounding communities—and receiving help when needed—remains unchanged. | | 10 Year Anniversary Party at the Shelter: Celebrate BARC’s Support for Belchertown Animal Control | | |
BARC Inc., the nonprofit created to build a new shelter for Belchertown Animal Control, is holding a 10 year anniversary party at the shelter (165 George Hannum St.) on Sunday, July 13th from 11:00am – 3:00pm. They will be celebrating the fact that they fundraised over $100,000 to help build a state of the art facility and that they continue to provide support to Belchertown Animal Control, the animals in their care, and to residents of Belchertown with pet companions.
This event is free and open to everyone.
| | Trail Tidy and Critter Sampling with the Friends of Lake Wallace | | |
Summer Trail Tidy
Sunday July 13th, 8:30-10:00 am
Meet at the parking lot by the Skate Park
Our summer-season trail maintenance day! Come help widen the paths so everyone can use them. Drizzle or shine… only heavy rain (or lightning) will cancel the event.
Bring clippers and rakes to help redefine the edges of the trail. Wear closed toe shoes, dress for the weather, and bring work gloves and water, tuck your long pants in to protect from ticks.
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Critter Sampling
Friday July 18th, 9:00-10:30 am
Meet on the far side of Foley Field
Come explore the diversity of life in the water ... especially the critters that eat mosquitoes!
Dress for water, dirt, and sun. Bring water. Wash hands after applying bug spray or sunscreen. Children grade 6 and under must be accompanied and assisted by an adult.
(Free, with suggested donation of $5 to fund activities and improvements on the Trail.)
| | Belchertown Community Band July Concerts | | |
Summer music returns to the Town Common! The Belchertown Community Band will be performing two concerts this July as part of its annual summer series. These free, family-friendly events are a great way to enjoy live music in a relaxed outdoor setting—bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and friends!
Concert Dates:
Thursday, July 24 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Thursday, July 31 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
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This year’s tournament will benefit the Belchertown Education Foundation, an organization with a mission of enriching education for students in Belchertown Schools, including academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits. The Foundation has provided more than $100,000 in grants to Belchertown Schools, supporting innovative projects that would have otherwise gone unfunded.
“We are excited to have this special spotlight to share our impact, make more friends and showcase the many wonderful businesses and organizations in Belchertown,” says Jennifer Faulkner, president of the Belchertown Education Foundation’s Board of Directors. She encourages local businesses and organizations to take part in numerous ways.
Golfers can register at https://www.amherstarea.com/golf-tournament/. Businesses who wish to sponsor a hole on the green, donate to the raffle, or be involved in another way may contact Polina Potochevska, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce at 413-253-0700.
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3rd Issue Forward
If you signed up for The Carriagetown Chronicle in the last month, please help us by forwarding this email to 2 people you know who might want to subscribe. New subscribers can sign up at our town webpage: www.belchertown.org/newsletter. Thanks for reading and getting the word out!
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