ASHFIELD — Roughly 30 voters unanimously passed all three articles at Monday’s Special Town Meeting, paving the way for 911 infrastructure upgrades at the schools and a tennis court rehabilitation project.
Article 1 requested a $20,000 transfer from the Grant Match Stabilization Fund to the Park Tennis Court Rehab Account. The tennis court rehabilitation project has already received $100,000 in funding, along with an additional $58,900 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, but the project has proven to be more expensive than initially anticipated.
The plan is still to replace the pavement and nets, and to create two pickleball courts, according to Park Commission Chair Judy Haupt. The tennis court area will remain the same size.
The article passed unanimously, with support from the Finance Committee.
Articles 2 and 3 asked to appropriate $6,812 and $2,591 for enhanced 911 infrastructure at Sanderson Academy and Mohawk Trail Regional School, respectively, after an unfunded mandate from the state for all public schools to update their phone systems to enable first responders to see where in the building a 911 call is coming from, among other enhanced features.
Haupt asked to clarify that the $2,591 for the Mohawk Trail Regional School infrastructure upgrade represents Ashfield’s portion of the bill, as the school serves Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield and Shelburne as well. Selectboard members confirmed this.
With positive recommendations from the Finance Committee, voters unanimously approved both articles.