Hatfield Select Board Approves I-91 Mutual Aid Pact With Whately Fire

HATFIELD — March 15, 2021 — Hatfield Select Board unanimously approved a mutual aid fire agreement with Whately covering difficult-to-reach stretches of Interstate 91. Fire Chief Flaherty told the board that existing ramp configurations force Hatfield crews to travel as far as Deerfield to reverse direction for I-91 southbound calls, while Whately faces a similar detour for a six-tenths-of-a-mile northbound stretch — a problem Whately Fire Chief Hannah called one he couldn't believe went unaddressed for so long. The board also voted to shift all annual municipal appointments from the current cycle to June going forward, to better align with the town election and annual town meeting calendar. Cannabis manufacturer Tree Works of Mass received authorization to hold a virtual community outreach meeting required by the state in connection with a license expansion application. Scott Pomeroy was reappointed both as Inspector of Animals, effective May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022, and as Animal Control Officer. The board entered executive session at the close of the meeting to discuss the Treasurer-Collector employment agreement.