TOWN OF ASHFIELD 2019 Annual Report ASHFIELD AT A GLANCE Incorporated: June 21, 1765 Population: 2018 Town Census 1,705 Miles of Road: Approx. 70 miles Area: 40.3 square miles Elevation: 1,244 feet Residential Tax Rate: FY2018 $17.18 per $1,000 of valuation FY2019 $17.16 per $1,000 of valuation Form of Government: Open Town Meeting/Select Board/Town Administrator Religious Institutions: United Church of Christ, Episcopal Schools: Preschool - Sixth attend Sanderson Academy Seventh – Twelfth attend Mohawk Trail Regional Transportation: Franklin Regional Transit Authority Public Safety: Police and Fire Departments, Emergency Management Director, and Highland Ambulance Service Recreation: Ashfield Community Band Belding Memorial Park/Ashfield Lake features swimming and picnic facilities, boating, fishing, swings, tennis courts, trails, and skating. The Field Field at Sanderson features a playground and athletic fields. Hilltown Snowmobile Association creates and maintains trails throughout town for snowmobiling, x-country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and hiking. Rock climbing happens at Chapel Brook. Golfing at Edge Hill or Community Golf Course. Ashfield Trails build and maintain connecting footpaths for non-motorized use for hikers, bikers and snowshoeing/skiing. Yoga and Tai Chi happen in town. Ashfield Exercise happens at Sanderson Academy and Tai Kwan Do is taught privately. Ashfield Rod & Gun Club. Website: www.ashfield.org Town of Ashfield Two Hundred and Fifty Fourth Annual Report Of the Town Officers and Committees For the year end 2019 Table of Contents DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 A BLAST FROM THE PAST – THE “FRESHET” OF 1878 .............................................................................................................. 3 GOVERNMENT CONTACT INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................... 7 TOWN OFFICERS .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 REPORT OF THE SELECT BOARD............................................................................................................................................ 15 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING – MAY 4, 2019 ............................................................................................................................ 17 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – FEBRUARY 5, 2019 .................................................................................................................... 38 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – JUNE 24, 2019 ........................................................................................................................... 40 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – DECEMBER 2, 2019 .................................................................................................................... 43 AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION ............................................................................................................................................. 45 ANIMAL CONTROL ............................................................................................................................................................... 46 BOARD OF ASSESSORS ......................................................................................................................................................... 47 BELDING MEMORIAL LIBRARY TRUSTEES ............................................................................................................................. 48 BOARD OF HEALTH............................................................................................................................................................... 49 ASHFIELD BURIAL GROUND ASSOCIATION ........................................................................................................................... 50 CONSERVATION COMMISSION ............................................................................................................................................ 51 COUNCIL ON AGING ............................................................................................................................................................. 52 CULTURAL COUNCIL ............................................................................................................................................................. 53 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT................................................................................................................................................ 54 FINANCE COMMITTEE .......................................................................................................................................................... 56 FIRE DEPARTMENT ............................................................................................................................................................... 57 FRANKLIN REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT ............................................................................................................... 58 COOPERATIVE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ............................................................................................................................... 58 FRANKLIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM ................................................................................................. 58 PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH ................................................................................................................................................... 59 SPECIAL PROJECTS................................................................................................................................................................ 59 FRANKLIN REGIONAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM ......................................................................................................................... 61 GREEN COMMUNITIES ......................................................................................................................................................... 63 HIGHLAND AMBULANCE EMS, INC. ...................................................................................................................................... 70 HILLTOWN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COOPERATIVE.......................................................................................................... 72 PAGE | i Table of Contents HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT ...................................................................................................................................................... 74 HISTORICAL SOCIETY ............................................................................................................................................................ 75 HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ............................................................................................................................. 76 MARY PRISCILLA HOWES FUND ............................................................................................................................................ 78 MOHAWK TRAIL REGIONAL SCHOOL .................................................................................................................................... 79 SPECIAL EDUCATION AND PUPIL SERVICES........................................................................................................................... 81 ASHFIELD SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 82 VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ............................................................................................... 83 MARY LYON FOUNDATION, INC. .......................................................................................................................................... 85 CARL H. NILMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND ................................................................................................................................. 86 FRED WELLS TRUSTEES ......................................................................................................................................................... 87 PARK COMMISSION ............................................................................................................................................................. 88 PLANNING BOARD ............................................................................................................................................................... 89 POLICE DEPARTMENT .......................................................................................................................................................... 90 SENIOR CENTER.................................................................................................................................................................... 93 SEWER COMMISSION ........................................................................................................................................................... 94 TOWN ACCOUNTANT ........................................................................................................................................................... 95 TOWN CLERK .....................................................................................................................................................................