Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/3/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW –Town Clerk Jeanne Quaglietti informed the East Longmeadow Town Council that an extra voting precinct had been added to the town due to changes in the 2020 Federal Census.
Quaglietti explained at the Oct. 26 council meeting that the state tries to keep precincts under 4,000 residents each. With more than 16,000 residents, a fifth precinct was required. Voters who have been reassigned to a district will receive a message in the mail. All votes will continue to be cast at Birchland Park Middle School.
Quaglietti said the town would need to purchase more voting machines to serve the new precinct, “probably from free cash.” Councilor Thomas O’Connor commented that Quaglietti would have her hands full and needs to hire roughly eight more poll workers, but the clerk explained that she had added to her staff during the pandemic and had plenty of workers to address the new precinct.
Town Manager Mary McNally reported that the recent Civic Fair at the Pleasant View Senior Center was a mixed bag. While the low turnout was “a bit of a disappointment,” she said those who expressed interest were “very encouraging.”
Director of Planning and Community Development Bethany Yeo was nominated for “Emerging Rising Planner of the Year,” by Ken Comia of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). McNally said that she wrote a letter of support lauding Yeo’s creativity, her initiative and her ability to deal with, not only her colleagues but third-party professionals in the planning world.”
McNally put forth Rebecca Torcia’s name to fill the last empty seat on the Board of Health. Torcia teaches medical technology and trade operations. The council approved her nomination by waiving the time they have to veto the choice.
Several town government department heads sent a letter to the Town Council in support of McNally, who recently tendered her resignation. The department heads said that McNally had created a climate of “positivity, collaboration and optimism,” and that she was “approachable, candid and supportive.” The town employees ended the letter, stating that they hoped her replacement would carry on the positive working environment McNally had created.
The council discussed the process of choosing an acting town manager. Town Council President Michael Kane asked anyone who was interested to send a resume and letter of interest to the town’s Human Resources Department or to Quaglietti. From there, he suggested that candidates be questioned by the entire council.
Kane noted that an acting town manager could serve for up to one year, but Councilors Connor O’Shea and Marilyn Richards urged the council to begin the search for a permanent replacement sooner rather than later to limit disruptions to the town departments and staff.
Kane thanked Donald Anderson for stepping in to fill the seat left vacant by R. Patrick Henry’s resignation in September. Kane also thanked Henry for his work throughout his time on the council. Anderson, who sat on the council himself until recently, will serve until the next town election in the spring.