Country Journal: Town collaboration effort

02 Aug 2017

Selectboard members from Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery and Russell have authorized designated community members to represent them in the Hilltowns Collaborative–a group working to study the possibilities of municipal budgetary cost-savings, and economic opportunities, through town-to-town collaboration.

 Collaborative members will be working with the six towns, as well as the Mass Division of Local Services, MassDevelopment, community development consulting firm Elan, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), in an effort to respond to declining populations, shrinking property tax bases, and increasing municipal service costs. 

“We look forward to being a part of the newly formed Hilltown Collaborative and expect that with the dedicated efforts of its members, and the help from the Governor’s office, our six towns will benefit not only in taxpayer savings and cost effective efficiency, but will bring a positive and much needed boost to the economic future of our communities as well,” said Chester’s Patricia Carlino. 

Collaborative members took MassDevelopment, Elan and PVPC personnel on a tour of the six communities last Thursday to both highlight the positive attributes of the region they hope to emphasize moving forward, as well as enumerating some of the challenges now faced in the Hilltowns.

Read full Country Journal story here