As of Sunday, February 23, 2020 drivers in Massachusetts cannot use an electronic device unless it is being used in hands-free mode. Drivers will receive warnings until March 31; starting April 1, police will be ticketing violators. Punishment for violating the new law includes a $100 fine for a first violation, a $250 fine for a second offense, and a $500 fine for a third or subsequent offense. Additional requirements for completion of an educational program apply to second and subsequent offenses; third or subsequent offenses are surchargeable incidents. Additional details about the law are available on the South Hadley website and at: www.mass.gov/service-details/hands-free-law.
2020 U.S. Census
In mid-March, homes across the country will begin receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census, and residents will be able to respond for their homes online, by phone, or by mail. Census data will determine congressional representation and inform federal funding over the next decade for schools, infrastructure, grant funding, and services for families, older adults, and children. Visit 2020census.gov to learn more.
In January, Town residents also should have received an annual South Hadley Street Listing form, which is separate from the U.S. Census, and used to confirm residence and voter registration. If you haven’t yet returned your form, please be sure to do so. For questions about the annual street listing, contact the Town Clerk’s office at 413.538.5017.
Town Elections on March 3, 2020
This year’s South Hadley local elections will be held in conjunction with the Massachusetts Presidential Primary on March 3, 2020. Town Meeting has approved moving the 2020 Annual Town Election to March 3 to coincide with the “Super Tuesday” Massachusetts Presidential Primary. Fire District 1 and 2 Annual Elections will also be held on March 3.
Sample Town Election ballots for each Precinct (Shadowbrook is Precinct A), Presidential Primaries, and other voting information can be viewed at:
https://www.southhadley.org/620/Elections
A sample ballot for Fire District 1 is available at:
https://www.shdistrict1.org
VOTING ON MARCH 3, 2020
All voting takes place at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton Street, South Hadley, and all town residents vote at that location. Election hours are 7:00am to 8:00pm. Five days of EARLY VOTING will be available in Room M11 (Town Clerk’s Office) at Town Hall, 116 Main Street, from 8am to 5pm on February 24, 24, 26 and 28; and from 7am to 6pm on February 27 (there are no weekend hours available).
Shadowbrook is in Precinct A and Fire/Water District 1.
LOCAL CANDIDATES FORUM on FEBRUARY 27
Candidates for Town and Fire District offices will be featured in a Candidates Forum at Town Hall auditorium, 116 Main Street, at 7:00pm on Thursday, February 27, 2020. The event is hosted by Know Your Town, a local organization that works to inform residents about town affairs. The Forum will also air on South Hadley’s Channel 15 (www.shctv15.com). For more information, visit: www.knowyourtown.org.
VOTER REGISTRATION and ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 is the last day to register to vote in the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary and Annual Town Elections. You may check or update your status, or register online at:
Massachusetts Online Voter Registration (OVR) System
To download an Absentee Ballot online, visit: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf. For more information about voter registration and absentee voting visit: www.southhadley.org/620/Elections, or contact Carlene Hamelin, Town Clerk, 413.538.5017 x115.
South Hadley Fibersonic 101 Workshop on March 10
A free workshop on South Hadley’s currently-under-construction fiberoptic service is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2020 in the Community Room at South Hadley Public Library. The event begins at 5:00pm with a meet and greet, followed by a Question and Answer session at 5:30pm, and a streaming demo at 6:30pm. Residents are encouraged to come to learn more about the Fibersonic service, get answers to questions, and share any concerns.
Fibersonic is a South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD) project to connect residents of South Hadley. In recent months, SHELD began a buildout of its home-grown GIG Speed internet service. The service is expected to be faster and more reliable, at a projected cost $74.95 a month. Home phone service will begin to be available toward the end of the second quarter of 2020, with packages that include call forwarding, caller ID, and voicemail, ranging from $19.99 for one local line to $24.99 for unlimited local/domestic calling.
If you would be interested in internet services provided by our local utility, the first step is to go to the project website for more information and add your name and address to express interest. There is no obligation, but showing interest helps SHELD to identify interest levels in geographic areas of the town. For details, visit: www.fibersonic.com
Solid Waste and Recycling Forum on February 8
The Town of South Hadley will hold a forum at 10:00am on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Town Hall Auditorium to provide information to help inform citizen understanding of issues and challenges. South Hadley, along with other communities, is facing significant changes in the recycling market which may result in increases of as much as 60% in communities across the Commonwealth. At the same time the Town’s municipal trash hauler contract with Republic ends on June 30, 2020. As the present rate schedule and Green bag program will likely need adjustment, all residents are invited to attend the program to learn more about the concerns and provide input on how best to structure the system to create a fair, cost-effective, and multi-year strategy for meeting these challenges.
Rep. Dan Carey Office Hours in South Hadley on Feb. 8
State Rep. Dan Carey, who represents South Hadley in the 2nd Hampshire District, will hold February Office Hours from 9:30 to 10:30am on Saturday, February 8 at at the South Hadley Public Library, located at 2 Canal Street.
Changes Coming to Highway Exit Numbers
A planned MassDOT project will convert all freeway exit numbers from a sequential to a milepost-based number system consistent with Federal Highway Administration requirements. Construction is scheduled to begin in late Summer 2020 and will affect exit numbers on our nearby highways I-90 and I-90; exits on I-291 and I-391, however, will not change as these are shorter routes. MassPike Exit 5 for for Route 33/Chicopee will be changed to Exit 49. For project details, visit www.NewMassExits.com.
FAC Owners Forum
The Financial Advisory Committee conducted an Owners Forum on September 22, which was attended by 22 people representing 19 units. The most recent reserve study in 2015 was based on IRS depreciation schedules rather than industry asset life estimates, and the FAC is hopeful that a new reserve study will be conducted in 2020. Information was also shared about the 2019 budget and reserve fund. The meeting concluded with a brainstorming session to identify and prioritize needs.
Items identified by participants, in order of preference, were:
–Increase annual contributions to the reserve fund
–Keep condo fee increases to no more than 5% for the next 3 years
–Create gathering area(s) in common space
–More exterior lighting in dark areas
–Replace older wooden (brown) decks
–Improve handicapped access with curb cuts to sidewalks
–New reserve study
–Roof replacements, units 6-9
–Explore solar panels/renewable energy for owners
–Maintenance schedule published in advance
–Improve landscaping, trim pear trees
–Make website more useful and user-friendly
–Yearly evaluation of management company
Two items were noted for which owners may be responsible:
–Bay window replacement
–Clean outside skylights
Automated Condo Fee Payments
Automated Condo Fee Payments
A direct withdrawal option for condo fee payments is now available, with fees processed on the 10th of the month. Contact NAI Plotkin to request a sign-up form.
Parking Reminders
Overnight street parking is not permitted at any time; owners and their guests must park vehicles in designated parking spaces, driveways, garages, or visitor spaces. As specified in the Master Deed, only two vehicles per unit may be parked at Shadowbrook, and this includes units with their own driveways. Units with two car garages and private driveways that do not intersect with another drive may apply for permission to park a third vehicle in the driveway; contact NAI Plotkin for a Vehicle Request Form. Please see the Shadowbrook Rules and Regulations for additional details about parking.