Hi Everyone:
Happy Holidays! I wish you a joyful time with family and friends over the holidays. Kaye and I are especially excited to see our adult sons watch Christmas and Hanukah through their children's eyes. Magic!
The Town a gift this year — a MassWorks Grant that will go toward the first half of the Schnopp Road project. Read about that and more in this Newsletter.
Sincerely,
Bob
Alert: Elevated Manganese Detected in the Town’s Water
On December 15, 2022, MassDEP informed the Town that our Public Water System had elevated levels of manganese found in the sample collected on 11/21/22 was 1.87 mg/L. We immediately issued a Public Health Alert on the Town's website, sent an email notification to residents on the Town's Newsletter Distribution list, and have a mailing going out to all water users informing them of the situation, what we are now doing to address the matter, and provide further information about the concerns and how to address them while we work to rectify the problem. This information is available on the Town's website here.
Hinsdale Awarded $1,000,000 MassWorks Grant for the Schnopp Roads Project
We are extremely pleased that the Town has been awarded $1,000,000 to begin the Schnopp Roads Project this coming spring. Working with Foresight Land Services, we plan to put the project out to bid in late February. Construction should begin in late April, provided the weather cooperates.
Foresight has engineered the complete Schnopp Road Project, which runs from the Peru line to the Dalton line over George Schnopp, Frank Schnopp, and a short section of Old Winsor Road. The project includes several culverts, one major one (read expensive) on George Schnopp's end, roughly a 1/4 mile from the Peru line. That culvert will be costly to replace (+/- $500,000). Therefore we are actively pursuing additional grants to defray the cost of the culvert work. The project will begin at the Peru line, and we intend to go as far as possible with the funding.
In early January, we will be submitting our and will be submitting our Expression of Interest, informing the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development that we intend to seek another $1,000,000 MassWorks grant in FY24.
More on all of this as it develops.
Select Board Ends PD Merger Talks with Dalton
On December 8, 2022, the Town Administrator wrote Dalton's Select Board Chair, Police Chief, and Town Manager to inform them that Hinsdale has decided to withdraw from any further discussion of merging our Police Department with Dalton's.
Graves thanked Dalton and Hinsdale Residents who participated in the dialogue over the past several months, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to explore the possibility. He also thanked Municipal Resource. Inc. for their role in the process and in the three info sessions held this fall with residents.
Dalton and Hinsdale are fortunate to have Police Departments with good leadership and officers who are responsive to the needs and concerns of our respective communities. The full letter is available here.
Chief Rathbun has asked for time at an upcoming meeting to discuss the next steps for Hinsdale PD.
Jamie Callahan appointed DPW Superintendent
Jamie Callahan joined the DPW Staff last summer and almost immediately was appointed Interim DPW Superintendent. At that time, the Select Board stated we would run a complete search in the late fall, which we did, and we are grateful to the Search Committee volunteers who read applications and interviewed a few other finalists.
During the search process, the Committee realized that Jamie had learned much about the Town's roads and the water and sewer systems. They also understood he knew all about our deferred maintenance needs. They also understood that resources are tight and that expectations are high.
The Search Committee told the Board that Jamie was the unanimous choice for the Town. The Select Board appointed Jamie DPW Superintendent on November 21, 2022.
Please join the Select Board and Search Committee in support of Jamie as he takes on this important role.
Mailboxes and Snowplows
Let me remind everyone that personal Mailboxes (and newspaper boxes) installed in the town right of way are placed at the owner's risk. They should be sufficiently solid to withstand snow-clearing efforts by the Town. It must be installed per U.S. Postal Service regulations. The owner is responsible for clearing the snow around their mailbox to ensure mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.
The Town does not replace mailboxes if damaged by snow or ice being discharged by the snowplow. We only assume responsibility if a town plow contacts the mailbox or post. Additionally, we are not responsible for damage to a mailbox or post if the front of the box extends past the curb or is within 6 inches from the curb line.
Please get in touch with DPW Superintendent Jamie Callahan at dpw@hinsdalema.gov if you have questions or concerns.
Are you prepared for an extended Power Outage?
A Bad Snow Storm?
Or some other Emergency?
Start a basic emergency supply kit. Add to it as needed. Adapt it to your unique needs. Include supplies for staying home without water or electricity and supplies for leaving home in a hurry. Store your kit in a dry area that is easy to get to. Review your kit every six months to replace outdated or seasonal supplies.
Supplies for Home or Evacuation
- Emergency contact information
- Copies of important documents
- Prescription medications and eyeglasses
- Phone charger and battery pack
- Cash or traveler’s checks
- Face coverings
- Whistle to signal for help
- Diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, if needed
- Pet food, supplies, vaccine records, tag, crate, if needed
Additional Supplies when staying home
- Bottled water (1-Gal/person/day/3-days)
- Canned foods and foods that don’t go bad
- Manual can opener
- Flashlight or lantern with extra batteries
- First aid kit and thermometer
- Radio (battery-powered or hand crank) with extra batteries
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Household cleaner or disinfectant
Additional Supplies when Evacuating
- Change of clothes and sturdy shoes (per person)
- Communication tools, if needed
- Medical equipment, if needed
- Personal hygiene items
- Sleeping bag or blanket (per person)
In-Area Contact Info
- Name:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Rallying Place Near Home, but outside our neighborhood
Out of Area Contact Info
- Name:
- Phone:
- Email:
- Rallying Place away from home
Create Your Emergency Action Plan
Make a contact list for everyone living in your home. Include work, school, and cell phone numbers.
- Pick a relative or friend who lives near you as your family’s local contacts.
- Pick another to be your family’s out-of-state contact
- Make an evacuation plan and pick a meeting place for your family near your home and another outside your neighborhood.
- Find out how your children’s schools will handle emergencies. Ask where students will go if evacuated, how the school will notify you, and how you will meet your child.
-Turn on emergency alerts on your phones and devices.
- Review your town/city emergency preparedness plan.
- Start an emergency supply kit. Add to it as needed.
Important Family Information
Holidays
- The Town Hall is closed on Monday, December 26, 2022 (Christmas Holiday celebrated).
- The Town Hall is closed on Monday, January 2, 2023 (New Year’s Holiday celebrated).
- The DPW responds to emergency calls and inclement weather regardless of holidays.
- The Hinsdale Police and Fire Departments are always on duty, 24/7/365.
Click Here to view the Town Of Hinsdale Newsletter - December 2022
