PRSRT STD Belchertown, Granby & Amherst U.S. POSTAGE PAID PALMER, MA PERMIT NO. 22 ECR-WSS LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020 ENTINELYOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1915 A TURLEY PUBLICATIONS ❙ www.turley.com Volume 105 • Number 10 www.sentinel.turley.com EDUCATION AMHERST FACES & PLACES SPORTS Free meals offered A new Instagram A sneaky snack...p. 10 Senior boys to children...p. 8 daily image...p. 9 tennis...p. 11 BELCHERTOWN Students and their families were part of a car parade in celebration of the Selectboard class of 2020 out- side of Belchertown High School after condemns the COVID-19 pan- Seniors demic changed the get send graduation date. racism off from the Agrees to take action MELINA BOURDEAU Staff writer BELCHERTOWN – While sidewalk protests against police brutali- ty, and vigils for George Floyd’s death take place across the coun- try, the Belchertown Selectboard agreed to put out a statement and begin the process of taking action “not on a political topic, but a human rights topic.” On May 25, Minneapolis Police arrested George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, after a report he purchased cigarettes with a counterfeit bill. After arriving on scene, Floyd died when Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, according to New York Times reports. See SELECTBOARD, page 10 • REGION Towns face phase II COVID consultant hired for Quabbin Health District MELINA BOURDEAU Staff Writer Teachers and staff lined the sidewalk outside of Belcher- PHOTOS BY MELINA BOURDEAU town High School for a send off to the graduates of the In honor of what was supposed to be their graduation day, Belchertown seniors did a car parade on the Belchertown school grounds in their caps and gowns. BELCHERTOWN – With class of 2020 last Friday. Phase II underway for the state of Massachusetts, the Quabbin GRANBY Health District has hired a con- sultant to help departments and businesses to navigate measures they need to keep people safe in Granby fire chief on unpaid administrative leave the wake of the COVID-19 pan- MELINA BOURDEAU notification to Mitchell dated June According to Mitchell’s con- of 2018, following an investiga- demic. Staff Report 1, notifying him of “the town’s tract, he was paid $85,000 for the tion into the chief’s conduct while In Belchertown, there have intention not to renew (his) con- first year of the contract, which on duty, according to Sentinel been a total of 100 confirmed GRANBY – As of June 1, tract as of July 1, 2021,” according began in January 2018. archives. cases of COVID-19, five of Granby Fire Chief John Mitchell to the letter. “There is no determination of From August to September of which were new, according to Jr. was placed on unpaid admin- The letter was signed by action at this time (after 30 days),” the same year, Mitchell was on Quabbin District Health Director istrative leave from the Fire Selectboard members Glenn Martin said on Monday. The paid administrative leave while an Judy Metcalf. There have been Department for 30 days, according Sexton and Jennifer Silva. Granby selectboard will be meet- investigation into alleged harass- a total of eight deaths related to to Town Administrator Christopher On May 7, Mitchell resigned ing next Wednesday. ment and hostile work environment the virus, with one most recently Martin. from his position as veteran’s agent This is not the first time Mitchell were underway. reported as of Friday, June 5. Since June 1, Deputy Chief for the town via email, according has been placed on administrative Mitchell could not be reached As the town begins moving Bruce Carpenter has been working to Martin. South Hadley Veteran’s leave from the department. for a comment via email by press as acting chief of the department. Agent, Michael Slater is filling that He was placed on paid adminis- time. The Selectboard sent a letter of position for the time being. trative leave for one week in spring See PHASEII, page 4 • Call Surner Surner Heating has partnered with the and ask for our Susan G. 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VISIT OUR WEBSITE SURNERHEAT.COM PAGEPAGE 2 2 THETHE SENTINEL SENTINEL • •THURSDAY, THURSDAY, JUNE JUNE 11, 11, 2020 2020 STM, ATM next week MELINA BOURDEAU meet the six-foot distancing requirements.” MELINA BOURDEAU separated to meet the six-foot distancing Staff Report There will be fans set up to “aggres- Staff Report requirements.” sivelyThere exhaust will be the fans air” set in upthe to gym, “aggres which- BELCHERTOWN – Like many events BELCHERTOWN – Like many events sivelyBrougham exhaust said the the air” will in bethe exchangedgym, which in and occasions being held in the COVID-19 and occasions being held in the COVID- Broughamabout eight said to 10 the minutes. will be exchanged in era, the Annual and Special Town Meetings 19 era, the Annual and Special Town aboutIn aneight effort to 10 to minutes. minimize the activity at will be different this year. PHONE Meetings will be different this year. townIn an meeting, effort to theminimize awards the and activity patriotic at PHONE This year the meetings will be held in This year the meetings will be held in townexercises meeting, were cancelledthe awards in andorder patriotic to make 413.283.8393 the Belchertown gymnasium on June 22. 413.283.8393 the Belchertown gymnasium on June 22. exercisesthe meeting were as cancelledshort as possible, in order accordingto make The Special Town Meeting is set to begin Fax:Fax: 413.289.1977 413.289.1977 The Special Town Meeting is set to begin theto Brougham.meeting as short as possible, according at 7 p.m. and the Annual Town Meeting Subscriptions:Subscriptions: 413.283.8393 413.283.8393 at 7 p.m. and the Annual Town Meeting to Brougham.There are 30 articles on the Annual Town will start at 7:30 p.m. Meeting agenda and four on the Special will start at 7:30 p.m. There are 30 articles on the Annual EMAILEMAIL In the select board meeting on Monday, In the select board meeting on Monday, TownTown Meeting.Meeting agenda and four on the Town Administrator Gary Brougham AdvertisingAdvertising Sales Sales Town Administrator Gary Brougham SpecialThe selectboardTown Meeting. has expressed through- explained some of the precautions that are MaureenMaureen McGarrett McGarrett Hall Hall fromfrom your your Friends Friends at at explained some of the precautions that are outThe the selectboard COVID-19 has virtual expressed meetings through that- planned to keep attendees safe while hav- [email protected]@turley.com planned to keep attendees safe while hav- outthere the will COVID-19 be a town virtual meeting meetings in the that fall, BellBell & & Hudson Hudson Insurance Insurance Agency Agency ing their say in local government. where items that were unable to be includ- ing their say in local government. there will be a town meeting in the fall, Editor “The registers will set up in the lobby Editor “The registers will set up in the lobby whereed at theitems Annual that were Town unable Meeting to be couldinclud be- Melina Bourdeau entering the high school, it will be one- Melina Bourdeau entering the high school it will be one-way edaddressed at the Annual at a later Town date. Meeting could be [email protected] CongratulationsCongratulations To To Our Our way traffic with directional arrows into the [email protected] traffic directional arrows into the seating addressedItems atinclude a later date. acquiring a patrol seating area,” Brougham said. “There will ScholarshipScholarship Winner Winner area,” Brougham said. “There will be one motorcycleItems include for the acquiring Belchertown a patrol Police Subscriptions be one exit door to the rear of the gymna- Subscriptions exit door to the rear of the gymnasium with motorcycleDepartment, for a chestthe Belchertown compression Policesystem $31$31 per per year year pre-paid pre-paid Nate Courchesne sium with a police officer positioned to Nate Courchesne a police officer positioned to direct reentry Department,for the Fire/EMS a chest Department, compression a systemone-ton ($36($36 out out of of state) state) direct reentry for those who need to use the for those who need to use the restroom. fordump the truckFire/EMS for the Department, Department a ofone-ton Public restroom. The chairs we plan to set on the The chairs we plan to set on the floor are dumpWorks truck and otherfor the articles Department including of Publicregular WEB floor are somewhere in the vicinity of 320.” WEB somewhere in the vicinity of 320.” Worksbusiness and items. other articles including regular www.sentinel.turley.com The quorum for the two meetings is 75 www.sentinel.turley.com The quorum for the two meeting is 75 businessBrougham items. said there may be a recom- people. people. mendationBrougham to saidpass there over maysome be warrant a recom arti- - @ The Sentinel The rows of chairs, which will be in @ The Sentinel The rows of chairs, which will be in mendationcles. to pass over some warrant arti- pairs, will be six or more feet apart. The pairs, will be six or more feet apart. The cles.“I would suggest some of them would bleachers will be used for non-voters and result in a recommendation to take no TheThe Sentinel Sentinel is publishedis published by by Servicing the Insurance Needs of bleachers will be used for non-voters and “I would suggest some of them would Turley Publications, Inc.