MassHire staff to talk job searching

TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center at 24 Third St. will host staff from MassHire on Thursday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to noon. Attendees can learn about how MassHire can help in preparing for a job search and finding a job.

For more information, contact Stacey Langknecht at slangknecht@brickhousecommunity.org or 413-800-2496.

Board to add sites to FRCOG
Brownfields
program

MONTAGUE — Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey addressed the Selectboard last week regarding the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ Brownfields Assessment Program, which is seeking input from area communities on sites they’d like added. Ramsey suggested three sites: the First Street parking area, which may become a site for Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity residences; the former Cumberland Farms at 38 Avenue A; and the former Farren Care Center on Montague City Road.

Selectboard votes to adopt Digital Equity Plan

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard voted last week to approve the Digital Equity Plan developed by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. The plan was funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI).

Ted Harvey, senior economic development planner with FRCOG, said the purpose of these pans is to “guide municipal decision-making and investments related to increasing access, adoption and usage of the internet.”

Among the goals of the plan is to provide a fast and affordable internet connection, adequate devices and increased digital literacy. Harvey said that one challenge facing Montague is that there is only one internet service provider, Comcast, and some areas don’t have reliable service. He added that there is a need for free public Wi-Fi and to expand the free device programs run through the libraries and Senior Center. Part of the process included soliciting feedback from the community.

“I really feel like this is the community’s plan,” Town Administrator Steven Ellis.

The Digital Equity Plan will be posted on the town website.

Board seeks rural development grant

MONTAGUE — The Selectboard voted last week to seek a grant to redevelop a derelict home at 10 Unity St.

Alyssa Larose, real estate project manager and housing development director for Rural Development Inc., spoke to the board about the Rural Homes Pilot Program, which was started about a year ago. The program works through the receivership process to redevelop vacant homes into new affordable housing.

“Our version of this (the receivership process), we’d place a restriction on the site so it’s more affordable to the buyer and will remain that way for some years,” said Larose, adding that the restriction would last for 30 years.

Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey said this property is one that the town has been eyeing for some time.

The house at 10 Unity St. has been vacant for 10 years, Larose said, and the owners have been unresponsive. She said the house, a small two-bedroom ranch, isn’t salvageable and the plan is to demolish it and construct a new single-family home. She added that the lot is undersized and so a permit will be needed from the Zoning Board of Appeals.