THANK YOU to everyone for coming out to cast their vote. Congratulations to our elected leaders! 

Town Council:

Ryan Gauthier (Councilor at Large: 3 year term)

Jan McCoy (Councilor at Large: 1 year term)

Philip Hebert (District 1 Councilor: 3 year Term)

School Committee:

Bonny Rathbone

Matthew Lovell

Planning Board:

Lori Walder

Scott Day

Thank you to the dedicated community members for your candidacy and commitment to serve. 

Review the results on our website here

Results of the Non-Binding Public Opinion Advisory Question:

Shall the Town of Palmer's four fire districts take whatever actions are necessary to complete a mergerof the Bondsville, Palmer, Thorndike, and Three Rivers Fire Districts into a single fire district?

Total number of voters across all the districts:

Yes- 442 total
No- 241 total 
Blank- 25 total

Total number of Voters: 708

The data table below depicts the Official Results depicted on the PDF above:

Jan McCoy

I'm a life-long resident of Palmer with strong community ties. My great- grandparents settled here in town when they came from Poland, and our family has remained here ever since. I have volunteered for several town boards and committees, and continue to be involved in local events.  

As a public servant on the Town Council, it is my duty to listen to resident feedback, protect community welfare, and make decisions that reflect the public's needs.  

Ryan Gauthier

I have proudly called Palmer home since 2012, when my wife, Nicole, and I moved to town. We were married in 2015 and are raising our family here in Palmer.

I serve as a Captain with the Palmer Fire Department, where I work as a Shift Captain, Fire Prevention Officer, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Fire and Life Safety Educator. Before joining the fire service, I served with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department. I am also a founding member and current Vice President of the Professional Firefighters of Palmer Local 5564, where I have helped lead numerous community initiatives, including local food and toy drives, community clean-up events, volunteer projects at the local animal shelter, and our union's annual pumpkin fundraiser.

In addition to my public service, I am a Fourth Degree Knight with Knights of Columbus Council #376. I am passionate about giving back to the community and believe in leadership through service, transparency, and collaboration.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, working out, hiking, boating on the lake, creating digital media, and enjoying the outdoors.

I look forward to serving the residents of Palmer and working collaboratively with my fellow councilors to help strengthen our community and ensure Palmer remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Welcome to our new website!

At a recent Town Council Meeting, Ashley our Director of Administrative Services, walked us through the new site introducing key features such as our Community Events and Meetings Calendar, Latest News Section, and more,

Watch here.

Visit the new website

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) works with Palmer and Monson

Earlier this year, Palmer received a District Local Technical Assistance Program Award (DLTA) from PVPC in the amount of $20,000 to support the Town of Palmer Planning Board’s project, Palmer Subdivision Rules and Regulations Update and $25,000 to support a collaborative plan to evaluate the opportunities to collaborate services and resources for community members in Palmer and Monson. 

Our Council on Aging Board of Directors, Senior Center Team, and Recreation Committee, have all participated in conversations with our PVPC liaison and Monson team members to discuss the challenges and opportunities with merging Senior and Recreation services for the community.

We look forward to sharing the final report with all of you.

Seeking a new home for DPW

Town Council members met in Executive Session throughout June and made a formal vote at their meeting on July 13 to authorize the purchase of 1307 Park Street through a "Friendly Taking" for 1307 Park Street. Town Council, the property owner, and I are working through the next steps such as conducting environmental testing, and signing the appropriate paperwork for the taking. The goal is to have everything closed in August.

1307 Park Street presents a unique opportunity to address a longstanding community need by relocating our Department of Public Works headquarters. While this property is not a brand-new facility with every modern amenity, it offers a practical and cost-effective solution at a fraction of the expense of constructing a new DPW building. In today's market, a new facility of the size of Palmer would require could easily exceed $15 million. Thanks to the Capital Stabilization funds that the Town Council has prudently set aside over the past several years, we have the opportunity to purchase this building without seeking a debt exclusion from taxpayers. That is an uncommon opportunity and one our community should be proud of and pleased with.

Dennis Clarke from DPW adds, "The new Palmer DPW facility on Park Street will benefit our department, our employees, and the residents we serve. Relocating the facility out of the flood plain will protect our operations and equipment from flooding, ensuring we can continue to provide essential services during severe weather events. The new facility will offer a safer, more efficient space for maintaining and repairing our fleet, improving reliability and reducing downtime. In addition, the new ground-level, ADA-accessible offices will make it easier for residents to access our services while providing a more welcoming and functional environment for both the public and staff."

Message from our Building Inspectors:
Information regarding Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program for homeowners

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has launched phase one of a statewide Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program.

The initiative aims to lower housing costs and increase housing production across Massachusetts by helping homeowners determine the feasibility of building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on their property.

An ADU is a small residential living space located on the same lot as another home. These units can be situated inside an existing home as a converted basement apartment or attached to a primary residence as an addition. They can also be completely detached, such as a cottage or a converted garage in a backyard. ADUs can provide flexible housing options for families, caregivers, renters, and communities.

This program, administered by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) in collaboration with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, is designed to help homeowners access professional feasibility studies.

Read the rest of this article

View the Building Inspectors Checklist

Community Choice Power Supply Program

The Town of Palmer developed the Aggregation Plan in compliance with Massachusetts law regarding public aggregation of electric consumers. It contains required information on the structure, operations, services, funding, and policies of the Town’s Plan. The Plan has been developed in consultation with the Town’s aggregation implementation consultant, Titan Energy, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). 

The purpose of this Plan is to represent consumer interests in competitive markets for electricity. It seeks to aggregate consumers in the Town to negotiate rates for power supply. It brings together the buying power of eligible consumers throughout Palmer. Furthermore, the Town seeks to better manage energy prices. Participation is voluntary for each eligible consumer. 

Eligible consumers have the opportunity to decline service provided through the Plan and to choose any Competitive Supplier they wish. National Grid would remain the distribution utility for Palmer; however, third-party suppliers would procure the energy on behalf of the Town. Eligible consumers would be enrolled automatically if the Plan is implemented but retain the ability to opt out and choose any supplier they wish. Individuals would still receive and pay their own bills, but the Town would have negotiated the rate they pay for the electricity.

Learn more

1st Quarter Personal Property and
Real Estate Taxes Due August 3, 2026

Payments can be made in the following ways:

In person: Cash/Check/Money Order accepted at the office.

• Drop box: Leave a check or Money Order in the drop box located just outside Town Hall.
• Online: Pay conveniently by using UniPay

Please feel free to contact our office with any questions at (413) 283-2601

State Primary Election Deadlines

August 22, 2026 by 5 pm

Last Day to register to vote &
Last day to change party designation

August 25, 2026 by 5 pm

Last Day to request a vote by mail ballot

September 1, 2026

State Primary Election

Watch out for School Buses!

Palmer Public Schools' students in grades 1-12 return to the classroom Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Pathfinder Vocational Technical High School students return to the classroom Tuesday, September 1, 2026

2026 Calendar- Palmer Yard Waste Facility
Open Select Saturdays & Sundays

April to November from 9 am - 3 pm


Palmer Yard Waste Facility will open to residents to drop off clippings and leaves at the compost area across from Burleigh Park on the highlighted days below:

Remember:

• Bring your ID confirming Palmer residency
• Lawn debris must be in brown paper bags (no plastic bags)
• Do not leave bags up against locked gate

Facility will be operating on the following days from 9 am - 3 pm:

August 8, 9, 22, 23

September 5, 6, 19, 20, 26, 27

October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31

November 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22

Questions? Call our Department of Public Works (DPW) at 413-283-2615.

School Supplies Drive Happening 
NOW - August 5th

We are collecting school supplies to benefit the Palmer Public School System.

Please leave a donation to help a student with his/her school supply needs by placing your items in the bin by the Town Clerk's Office during our operating hours.



Suggested donation items include:

Ticonderoga Pencils

Plastic Pencil Box or Pencil Case

Erasers (both pencil top style and sticks)

Crayola Markers

Box of 24 Crayola Crayons

Colored Pencils

Children Scissors

Elmer's Glue Sticks

Scotch Tape

Post-it Notes

Expo Markers

Single Subject Notebooks

Ruler with both cm/ inch

Hand- Held Pencil Sharpener

Lysol/Clorox Wipes

Tissues

Hand Sanitizer

Paper Towels

Supplies Drive for 
Mill Town Regional Animal Control

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Palmer Fire collected hundreds of pounds of dog food, cat food, bird seed, as well as a wide variety of pet toys, treats, blankets, and other essential supplies, ensuring that animals in the care of MTRAC receive the nourishment, comfort, and care they deserve.

Community Fun on Forest Lake

Palmer Recreation and Chicopee 4Rivers Watershed teamed up on Saturday, June 27th to offer two clinics- Learning How to Fish with MassWildlife Angler Education Program and Learning How to Paddle.

With over 50 participants, it was a great day enjoying our community's resources. Thank you to Jim Legacy, Keith Davies, our Rec Committee, and Conservation Agent for coordinating the day.

DPW Update

Our crew has had a very busy summer season already and are doing such a great job with:

• Making sidewalk repairs on Sykes & Church Street
• Installing tables at Hyrniewicz Park
• Making repairs to the catch basin on Flynt Street
• Prepping Legion Field for baseball
• Making repairs and improvements to the fleet

Work with us!

The Town of Palmer is seeking community-minded professional to support local initiatives, and support community members. If you are driven by service, collaboration, and making a positive impact, we want to hear from you.

We're hiring:

• Town Planner
• Administrative Assistant- Treasurer/Collector
• Per- Diem- Animal Control Officer
  

Click on the opportunities above to learn more and/or apply

Volunteer with us!

The Town of Palmer is seeking dedicated community members to serve on several of our boards, committees, and commissions. We welcome new applicants as well as current members interested in continuing their service.

Still seeking members for:

License Commission: 2 Seats- Terms to 2029

Palmer Cultural Council: 2 Seats- One Term to 2028, the other 2029

Palmer Redevelopment Authority: 1 seat- Term to 2029

Zoning Board of Appeals: 1 Seat-Term to 2029

Learn more by visiting, https://www.townofpalmer.com/volunteer

Thank you for helping strengthen our community through your volunteer service!

Previous Poll Question Result


Last newsletter, we asked you, "What do you enjoy most about Springtime in Palmer?"

Out of 56 total responses, 20 chose "attending a sporting event at our parks," 19 chose" attending community events," 10 chose, " Enjoying our Trails & Conservation Areas," and 7 chose "spending time on Forest Lake."

Congratulations Holly & Heidi!


Holly Mann has accepted a new position as the Town Accountant for Spencer after serving as our Assistant Accountant for {years].

Heidi Mannarino has accepted a new position as Westborough's Conservation Agent after serving as our Planning Director for [ years] and our Conservation Agent before that for [ Years].

We thank both Holly and Heidi for their contributions and best wishes on their next chapter!

Nominate a community member!

Do you know someone in town that is working hard to make Palmer an even better place? Let us know! We want to acknowledge all the amazing people that make our town so great! Nominate someone you think deserves an extra shoutout of appreciation. Click the button below to open the form

Upcoming Meetings

Learn what is happening in your community and tune into our upcoming meetings.



Town Council 
Hosted on the 2nd Monday each month
Upcoming Dates: August 10th at 6 pm
Town Council Room, Town Administration Building
4417 Main Street | Palmer, MA 01609

Watch previous meetings here

Planning Board
Tentative: Monday, August 17th

National Night Out

Tuesday, August 4th from 6- 8 pm
Palmer Police Department
4419 Main Street | Palmer, MA 01069

Join us for this annual community-building event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

This program is free and registration is not required.

Save the Date: Lemonade Day!

Saturday, August 22nd from 12- 3 pm
Find a stand near you!

Lemonade Day is a fantastic adventure where kids dive into the world of entrepreneurship! They discover vital business and life skills, like setting ambitious goals, crafting smart plans, and working hard to turn dreams into reality.

You can play a part in their success story—visit their lively pop-up stands and savor a refreshing cup of lemonade today.

Cheers to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs!

More to come! We will post final details on the Community Events Calendar

Programs hosted by Palmer Public Library
1455 N. Main Street | Palmer, MA 01069

Free events for all ages all month long!

Highlights:

• Summer Performance: Toe Jam Puppet Band 8/12 @ 10:30 am
• Summer Reading Wrap up Party 8/17 @ 6 pm
• Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams 8/25 @ 6:30 pm

Weekly program highlights:

• Tots & Tykes Playtime|Mondays @ 10 am
• Mah Jongg Club|Mondays 12:30 - 3:30 pm
• Teen Scene|Tuesdays 2- 5 pm
• Music for Munchkins|Wednesdays @ 10:30 am
• Tech Help Open Hours|Fridays 12- 1:45 pm

Programs hosted by Palmer Senior Center

Memorial Hall 1029 Central Street | Palmer, MA 01069

Events all month long for Adults aged 55+!

New Activities:

• Chair Volleyball on Mondays at 10 am 
• Watercolor Crafternoon on Tuesdays at 12:30 
• Fruit and Veggie Stand on Wednesdays at 10 am 

Weekly Programs:

• Coffee Social|Daily @ 8:30 am
• Breakfast/Trivia|Tues. & Thurs. @ 9:30 am 
• Blood Pressure Clinic | Thursdays @ 9:30 am
• Movie Afternoons | Fridays @12:30 pm
• Exercise options including: Healthy Bones/ Balance, Chair Yoga, Zumba, Gentle Stretch, Strength Training, Tai Chi- PLUS Tues. & Thurs. evening Piyo Exercise 
• Craft activities including: Card Designs, Painting, Knit/Crochet, & more!