Middlefield, MA

Select Board

The Select Board will hold a dangerous dog hearing, receive updates on solar and battery storage and the 250th town celebration, and vote on early voting hours for the September 1 state primary. Other items include an administrative specialist job posting, a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes update, and approval of prior meeting minutes.

• Dangerous dog hearing
• Administrative Specialist job description and posting
• Payment in Lieu of Taxes update
• Solar and Battery Storage update
• Vote to approve Early Voting for State Primary: Saturday, August 22, 2026 (9-11 AM and 2-4 PM) and Monday, August 24, 2026 (1-6 PM)

Board of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will meet to sign preliminary tax commitments for personal and real estate, discuss software conversion updates, plan field reviews, and review new growth and FY27 property values including Eversource.

• Sign preliminary tax commitments for personal and real estate
• Review FY27 values for personal property and Eversource
• Discuss new growth and value changes
• Approve past meeting minutes

Library Trustee

The Board of Trustees will meet to determine the total amount of grant funding to request and identify grant opportunities. The board will also review the monthly budget and discuss library programming and community engagement.

• Grant writing and funding request amounts
• Monthly budget review and expense identification
• Planning for library workshops, classes, and events
• Review of trustee meeting frequency
• Review and filing of financial paperwork

Finance Committee

Capital Planning Committee

The Capital Planning Committee is meeting to review its worksheet and policy. The body will discuss aligning the worksheet with policy and determine how to present information to the Select board.

• Review of worksheet and needed information
• Review of Policy
• Alignment of worksheet with policy
• Discussion on presentation to Select board

Conservation Commission

The Middlefield Conservation Commission will review mail, approve July 8th meeting minutes, and discuss a new business item regarding a driveway violation. No old business is listed.

• Discuss driveway violation

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee will elect a chair and secretary, assign member responsibilities, and discuss budget development policies including financial team management, excess spending, year-end closing, and forecasting. The meeting also includes a public comment period and introductions for new member Eric Main.

• Election of Chair and Secretary and assignment of member responsibilities
• Policy discussion on spending in Excess of Appropriations
• Policy discussion on Year-End Closing Policy
• Policy discussion on Forecasting
• Select Board has two year-end transfers following this meeting

Select Board

The Joint Selectboard and Finance Committee will review and potentially approve several financial policies including procurement conflict of interest, reconciliation, tax enforcement, travel reimbursement, year-end closing, and tax recap. They will also take action on a change order for the playground at 169 Skyline Trail and on carry-over of unused vacation time for eligible employees.

• Change order on the playground at 169 Skyline Trail
• Review and possible approval of six proposed financial policies
• Action on carry-over of unused vacation time for those who receive it
• Review and sign-off on End of Year Transfers
• Update on Senior Center Project

Planning Board

The Middlefield Planning Board will meet to discuss and potentially advance several bylaws, including accessory dwelling units, camping regulations, and a future clean energy bylaw. The meeting also includes routine items like welcoming new members and approving prior minutes.

• Update on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw status
• Continued discussion of camping bylaw
• Discussion of future clean energy bylaw

Finance Committee

The Capital Planning Committee is meeting to review an updated information grid and discuss the timing and format of a presentation to the Selectboard. No decisions or votes are scheduled; the agenda consists of discussion items only.

• Review updated grid of information
• Discuss when and how to present to Selectboard
• Any unforeseen business in the last 24 hours

Capital Planning Committee

The Capital Planning Committee will review an updated grid of capital project information and discuss when and how to present it to the Selectboard. No substantive decisions are listed on this procedural agenda.

Conservation Commission

The Middlefield Conservation Commission will review a wetland violation involving a driveway on Town Hill Road. The meeting will also cover procedural items such as checking mail and reading minutes.

• Discuss wetland violation on driveway at 0 Town Hill Rd.

Council on Aging

The Council on Aging is discussing a proposed Middlefield Memories DVD to be shown at the DumpRunCafe, and a suggestion to begin showing a DVD on the fourth Wednesday after lunch starting in August. The board will also review the treasurer's report and confirm end-of-fiscal-year balances.

• Proposal to create a Middlefield Memories DVD for showing at DumpRunCafe on July 12
• Discussion of staffing food, coffee, and DVD playback at DumpRunCafe
• Suggestion to show a DVD on the 4th Wednesday after lunch beginning in August
• Confirm ending COA balances as of June 30 (end of fiscal year)

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee will elect a chair and secretary, welcome new members, and finalize closing actions from FY 2026. They will also set upcoming meetings to review financial policies. The agenda is largely procedural with no specific financial decisions or dollar amounts listed.

• Election of Chair and Secretary
• Welcome of new members Eric & Barry and outgoing members Brent & Judy
• Approval of past minutes and other closing actions from FY 2026
• Next meeting on July 15 to review first 5 financial policies

Select Board

The Select Board and Finance Committee will meet jointly to review proposed financial policies including grant management, forecasting, and spending in excess of appropriation. They will also consider carry-over of unused vacation time and vote to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board from three applicants.

• Review and vote on proposed Financial Policies: Grant Management, Financial Management Team, Forecasting, Overlay, Spending in Excess of Appropriation, Revenue Turnover
• Take action on carry-over of unused vacation time for eligible employees
• Review letters of interest for Planning Board position from Donald Trask, Raymond Schneller, and Irene Rodriguez-Martin and vote to fill vacancy
• Presentation from Gary Roux of Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on Scenic Byway designation
• Approve minutes of June 17, 2026 Select Board meeting

The joint Select Board and Finance Committee meeting heard a presentation on designating Skyline Trail as a scenic byway, with further discussion to follow. The board approved end-of-year transfers to fund police compensation, snow removal, and the disposal area. Irene Rodriguez was appointed to the Planning Board until the next annual election in May 2027, with a 2-0 vote and one abstention. Several proposed financial policies were accepted, tabled, or referred for further review.

• Appointed Irene Rodriguez to Planning Board until May 2027 (2-0, one abstention)
• Approved end-of-year transfers for Police Officer Compensation, Snow Removal, and Disposal Area
• Accepted Forecasting Policy with revisions (removed priority order section, changed five years to three years)
• Accepted Spending in Excess of Appropriation Policy as presented
• Tabled Grant Management Policy until next meeting
• Tabled Financial Management Team Policy for now
• Directed Overlay Policy to Board of Assessors for review
• Tabled carry-over of unused vacation time until further researched

Planning Board

The Middlefield Planning Board is deciding on meeting minutes and discussing bylaws for Accessory Dwelling Units, camping, and clean energy. The agenda is mostly discussion-based with no major decisions or concrete items listed. The meeting will also cover any new business not previously announced.

• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw
• camping bylaw
• clean energy bylaw

The Planning Board discussed updates to the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw, noting that additional information requested by the Attorney General's office has been submitted. The board also finalized a new camping bylaw, which is ready to be sent to Evan Kenney for administration review before being forwarded to Town Counsel. A company hired to clean up town bylaws will begin work after July 1. The board reviewed renewable energy bylaws from Plainfield and materials from Town Counsel Michael D'Ortnizio regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and solar panels, prioritizing the adoption of a local bylaw.

• Approved minutes from June 8, 2026 meeting.
• Decided to send the new camping bylaw to Evan Kenney for administration review before Town Counsel review.
• Prioritized having a town bylaw for BESS and solar panels in place soon.

Select Board

The Middlefield Select Board will meet on June 17, 2026, to discuss proposed financial policies, potential increases to transfer station fees, and updates on town projects like the playground at 168 Skyline Trail and Town Hall repairs. The board will also review salary funds for the Town Administrator and consider a request from Baystate Books to place a book donation container at the Transfer Station.

• Review proposed Financial Policies (Disbursement, Debt Affordability, Debt Management, Capital Planning, Anti-Fraud, Financial Reserve)
• Discussion on increasing Transfer Station Fees
• Update on playground at 168 Skyline Trail
• Review and discuss extra salary funds for Town Administrator
• Consider Baystate Books request for book donation container at Transfer Station

The Selectboard approved five financial policies for adoption: Disbursement, Debt Affordability (within current contract), Debt Management, Anti-Fraud, and Financial Reserve. The Capital Planning Policy was tabled for further review. A motion to pay the Town Administrator $880 per the FY 2026 Annual Town Warrant was approved. No action was taken on increasing Transfer Station fees; the item was discussed but not decided.

• Approved Disbursement Policy, effective July 1, 2026
• Approved Debt Affordability Policy (within current contract scope), effective July 1, 2026
• Approved Debt Management Policy, effective July 1, 2026
• Approved Anti-Fraud Policy, effective July 1, 2026
• Approved Financial Reserve Policy, effective July 1, 2026
• Approved payment of $880 to Town Administrator per FY 2026 Annual Town Warrant
• Tabled Capital Planning Policy for further review
• Tabled carry-over of unused vacation time until next meeting

Capital Planning Committee

The Capital Planning Committee will review minutes from two prior meetings, discuss new information on a grid template from liaisons, and plan next steps including a presentation to the Selectboard. The agenda is largely procedural with no specific capital projects, dollar amounts, or public hearings listed.

• Review of minutes from May 6 and May 24, 2026 meetings
• Review of new information on grid template from liaisons
• Discussion of next steps and presentation to Selectboard
• Setting of new meeting dates

The committee adjusted cost projections for fire and police department equipment. Members also agreed to seek a roof appraisal for Town Hall and added maintenance items to the planning grid.

• Approved increasing fire department engine cost high-end point to $1 million
• Approved police vehicle price adjustments to $85,000 low-end and $100,000 high-end
• Decided against adding additional hand-held radios to the grid
• Approved request for Select Board to obtain an appraisal of the Town Hall roof
• Approved adding Fire Department roof maintenance as a line item for 2029
• Approved adding Gateway roof and boiler repair to the grid
• Approved minutes from 5/6/2026

Finance Committee

The Middlefield Finance Committee will discuss several items including Town Hall cameras, a transfer station proposal, and draft financial policies. They will also review meeting minutes from May 27th and financial reports dated June 4th. No votes or decisions are listed on the agenda.

• Discussion of Town Hall cameras
• Transfer Station Proposal
• Capital Planning Committee / Finance Committee representative
• Draft Financial Policies
• Town Bylaws updates/amendments

Council on Aging

The Middlefield Council on Aging will meet on June 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Senior Center. The agenda includes discussion of spending $3,000 or more by July 1st, scheduling the DumpRunCafe, and planning a June 25 golf and lunch event. The meeting will also cover the Treasurer's Report, Director's Report, and regular weekly activities.

• Discussion of spending $3,000+ by July 1st
• June 25 Golf & Lunch event
• DumpRunCafe schedule discussion
• Comfort Kitchen lunch location decision
• Play Middlefield Memories DVD at DumpRunCafe

The Council on Aging approved the minutes from March, April, and May meetings. They discussed the June 7 Dump Run Cafe and planned a July 12 event. The council agreed to cover transportation, a tour at High Lawn Farms, and dinner at the 54 Park Restaurant in Lee for a June 26 field trip, with the invoice due by June 30. Discussion was held on Farmer's Market coupon distribution and future agenda items including the 250th birthday celebration and FRTA trips.

• Approved minutes of March 15, April 8, and May 13 (unanimous)
• Approved COA covering field trip costs: transportation, High Lawn Farms tour, and dinner at 54 Park Restaurant in Lee on June 26 (invoice due June 30)

Planning Board

The Middlefield Planning Board will review and approve prior meeting minutes, discuss current mail, and review the town website for corrections. The main business includes continued discussions on the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw and camping bylaw, as well as a new discussion on a future clean energy bylaw.

• Continued discussion of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw
• Continued discussion of camping bylaw
• Discussion of future clean energy bylaw
• Review and approve minutes from May 18, 2026

The board approved the minutes from May 18 and reviewed mail. They finalized a camping bylaw application, which will be sent to the town attorney before a public hearing. Discussion on solar and battery storage regulations continued, with a priority to adopt a town bylaw soon; the board will review Plainfield's MIT-partnered bylaw before the next meeting.

• Approved minutes from May 18, 2026
• Finalized camping bylaw application for town attorney review
• Discussed solar and battery storage regulations, including potential collaboration with other hilltowns
• Will review Plainfield's MIT-partnered bylaw before next meeting

Conservation Commission

The Middlefield Conservation Commission will meet on June 3, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Town Hall. The agenda lists only procedural items with no new business or decisions scheduled.

Select Board

The Middlefield Select Board and Finance Committee will meet jointly to discuss the town's Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, review draft financial policies, and begin looking at end-of-year transfers. The board will also consider a Planning Board vacancy and approve prior meeting minutes.

• Discussion on Middlefield's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan
• Review of draft Financial Policies
• Begin looking at end-of-year transfers
• Planning Board vacancy
• Approve minutes of April 29, 2026 meeting

The Selectboard and Finance Committee jointly approved allowing the Town Administrator to finalize a contract with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. A town committee will be formed as part of the plan. The board also approved end-of-year transfers and accepted the April 29 meeting minutes as written.

• Approved Town Administrator to negotiate ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan contract with PVPC
• Approved April 29, 2026 Selectboard minutes as written
• Approved end-of-year transfers as read
• Announced Planning Board vacancy due to passing of Cam McNeill; accepting letters of interest until July 1, 2026

Finance Committee

The Middlefield Finance Committee is meeting to discuss feedback from the May 2nd Annual Town Meeting, review financial reports, and appoint a member to the Capital Planning Committee. The meeting will also cover transitional items including the chair position and financial report templates. No remote participation is available.

• Appointment of a Capital Planning Committee member by the Finance Committee
• Discussion of feedback from the May 2nd Annual Town Meeting
• Review of financial reports sent April 30th and May 21st
• Transitional items including chair position and templates

The Finance Committee reviewed minutes from April 29th and accepted them as written. Discussion focused on feedback from the May 2nd Annual Town Meeting, including legal fees, the camera initiative, the Senior Center generator proposal, and bylaw updates. Financial reports from April 30th and May 21st were discussed with no objections. The committee also considered appointing a member to the Capital Planning Committee and began planning for the upcoming chair transition, with Ken Murray expressing interest in the role. No formal votes or decisions were recorded.

• Accepted minutes from April 29th meeting as written
• Discussed but took no action on feedback from May 2nd Annual Town Meeting
• Discussed financial reports with no objections
• Discussed potential appointment of a Finance Committee member to the Capital Planning Committee
• Discussed chair transition; Ken Murray expressed interest in the position

Planning Board

The Middlefield Planning Board will meet to discuss the current status of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw and continue discussion of a camping bylaw. The board will also review and approve minutes from the March 10, 2026 meeting and address any current mail or new business.

• Discussion of current status of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw
• Continued discussion of camping bylaw
• Review and approve minutes from March 10, 2026

The board approved minutes from March 10, 2026, and reviewed mail. No votes were taken on the ADU, camping, or clean energy bylaws; these items were discussed only. The camping bylaw application was presented to the Selectboard for discussion, and the board noted comments for its refinement.

• Approved minutes from March 10, 2026 meeting
• Discussed ADU bylaw; awaiting state AG follow-up
• Discussed camping bylaw application; comments noted for clarity and enforcement
• Discussed clean energy bylaw; Plainfield collaborating with MIT on draft

Council on Aging

The Council on Aging will discuss grant project progress, decide on a DVD to screen at the DumpRunCafe on June 7, and review the cafe schedule. Routine reports from the treasurer and director are also on the agenda.

• Curt to speak about grant project progress
• Decide which DVD to play at DumpRunCafe on June 7
• DumpRunCafe schedule review
• Treasurer report and director report

The Council on Aging meeting focused on a $100,000 state grant for the Senior Center Building Plan. The project includes electrical upgrades, a lift, new doors, windows, and a sump pump. The Department of Agriculture has approved the plans, and construction is expected from June to September 2026. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational.

• Reviewed $100,000 state grant for senior center improvements
• Discussed $750,000 total project cost ($150,000 town, $90,000 architectural fees)
• Noted Department of Agriculture approval of plans
• Construction timeline: June to September 2026

Conservation Commission

The Middlefield Conservation Commission met on May 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Town Hall. The meeting followed procedural items with no new business submitted within the required 48-hour notice period.

Council on Aging

The Council on Aging reviewed a town account balance of $3,728 and discussed spending it on a new printer and a year-end dinner. They will research printer costs and check with Comfort Kitchen in Huntington for a private lunch. A bus will be arranged for the dinner and mini-golf events on June 16 and 19. Final decisions will be made at the senior lunch.

• Town account balance of $3,728 discussed for spending
• New printer to be purchased before FY 2027
• End-of-year dinner at Comfort Kitchen in Huntington being explored
• Bus scheduled for dinner and mini-golf on June 16 and 19
• Next dump run on June 7, 2026, with a Middlefield Memory DVD featuring Priscilla Suriner

The Council on Aging discussed using the remaining $3,728 town account balance to purchase a new printer before FY 2027 and to hold an end-of-year dinner. They also planned a dump run for June 7 and a Middlefield Memory DVD event. No formal votes were recorded.

• Discussed purchasing a new printer with remaining $3,728 balance
• Discussed end-of-year dinner and FRTA bus scheduling for June 16 and 19
• Scheduled next dump run for June 7, 2026, 10:00-12:00
• Judy Hoag will host a Middlefield Memory DVD featuring Priscilla Suriner

Historical Commission

The Historical Commission will meet to review and approve prior meeting minutes, discuss by-laws, receive an update on the 250th celebration, address conflict of interest, approve a shelving purchase, and review museum priorities.

• Review and approve prior meeting minutes
• Discussion of Historical Commission by-laws
• Update on 250th celebration (Louise & Cheryl)
• Conflict of interest discussion (Howard)
• Approve shelving purchase (Louise)

Capital Planning Committee

The Capital Planning Committee will review qualitative and quantitative data, discuss a timeline for presenting information to the Selectboard, and set future meeting dates. The agenda is procedural with no specific capital projects or funding decisions listed.

• Review of qualitative and quantitative data
• Discussion of timeline for Selectboard presentation
• Setting future meeting dates
• Any new unforeseen business within 48 hours

The Capital Planning Committee discussed and agreed to revise its capital project tracking grid to include maintenance needs, a year-by-year expense timeline, and a narrative section for each department. Members also noted that Senior Center bids exceeded available funds, with projects including a generator, water purification, and bathroom renovations. A presentation to the Select Board was tabled.

• Agreed to restructure capital grid with separate department pages, narrative sections, and a year-by-year expense timeline
• Tabled plan to submit capital planning info to Select Board
• Scheduled next meetings: May 24 and June 14 at 10:00am

Town Meeting

The Middlefield Annual Town Meeting will vote on the FY2027 operating budget, including salaries, general government, highways, public safety, and school assessments. Voters will also consider a new bylaw to codify revolving funds for inspection fees. The Select Board sponsors all articles.

• FY27 budget totals include $658,454 for highways, $116,863 for police and fire, and $349,385 for Gateway Regional School District
• New revolving fund bylaw would allow departments to use inspection fees for salaries and operations
• Town Counsel budget proposed at $25,000, up from $15,000 in FY26
• Health insurance for highway department proposed at $52,000, up from $35,000
• Old dump testing proposed at $4,500

Town Meeting

This is the warrant for the Middlefield Annual Town Election on May 2, 2026. Voters will elect candidates for several town offices, including Selectboard, School Committee, Planning Board, and others. The agenda is purely procedural and contains no policy decisions or financial items.

• Election for Selectboard (3-year term)
• Election for School Committee (3-year term)
• Election for Planning Board (2 seats, 3-year term)
• Election for Finance Committee (3-year and 1-year terms)
• Election for Town Moderator (1-year term)

Planning Board

The Planning Board will attend the Selectboard meeting to discuss a proposed camping permit application and its administration under the board's draft camping bylaw.

Select Board

The Middlefield Select Board will meet on April 29, 2026, to discuss items including a cemetery lawn-mowing advertisement, a proposed camping bylaw from the Planning Board, and a potential scenic byway designation for Skyline Trail. The board will also review minutes from prior meetings and allow public input.

• Cemetery Commission to place ad for cemetery lawn mowing
• Planning Board to present proposed Camping By-Law
• Discussion on designating Skyline Trail as a Scenic Byway

The Select Board reviewed a draft camping by-law and application, with further revisions to be made by the Planning Board before sending to Town Counsel and scheduling a public hearing. The board discussed allocating $3,000 each from free cash to Hinsdale, Becket, and Dalton ambulance services after Hilltown Ambulance announced it will stop serving Middlefield as of April 30, 2026. The board also agreed to have Town Administrator Evan Kenney look into hiring a contractor for cemetery mowing, which would require a bid process and liability insurance. No formal votes were taken on these items; they remain under discussion.

• Reviewed draft camping by-law and application; Planning Board to revise before sending to Town Counsel
• Discussed allocating $3,000 each from free cash to Hinsdale, Becket, and Dalton ambulance services
• Agreed to have Town Administrator explore hiring a contractor for cemetery mowing
• Approved minutes of All-Boards Meeting (March 21) and Joint Selectboard-Finance Committee meetings (April 1 and April 15)