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Date: 10/26/2021
SOUTH HADLEY – The South Hadley Selectboard met to discuss joint committee appointments, host tri-annual interviews and say farewell to Town Administrator Michael Sullivan on Oct. 19.
The South Hadley School Committee is currently looking for a new member to add to their board. According to Chair Ali Schlacter, the School Committee had to cancel a recent meeting due to a lack of members.
“I can tell you that we are feeling the pressure of being down a member. There was a meeting that we had to cancel because of lack of quorum. So we are ready to move on this as soon as possible,” she said.
The School Committee currently has one applicant looking to join. The Selectboard announced that they will be hosting a special meeting Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. to discuss filling the School Committee seat.
The South Hadley Electric Light Board has one vacancy right now and will have another as of Oct. 30. They are advertising to fill these seats and the Selectboard will host a joint meeting to appoint new candidates at the beginning of November.
The meeting also hosted tri-annual interviews for Eleanor Small and Mary Anne Myers. Small is interested in joining the Canal Park Committee or the Historic District Study Committee. She said that she has done a lot of volunteering already with the Historic Committee and that she also wants to get involved with promoting the history of Canal Park.
Myers is looking to join the Cultural Council. She said that she came to the Pioneer Valley in 2016 and has lived in South Hadley for two years. She is interested in literature, the performing arts, public humanities and said that she wants to be involved with her community.
“I think in terms of getting involved in my community of the past two years and the foreseeable future, this would be a good place for me to start,” said Myers.
The Oct. 19 meeting was also incumbent Town Administrator Michael Sullivan’s last meeting.
Sullivan became the Town Administrator for South Hadley in 2013. He previously served as mayor of Holyoke and Maynard’s town administrator. He will depart office officially on Oct. 31.
Chair of the Selectboard Jeff Cyr made it a point to thank Sullivan for his service to the town. “I guess this is the point where I can say thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for this great community and all the hard work you’ve done over the years and all the connections you’ve made. You’ll be missed,” said Cyr.
On Nov. 1, Lisa Wong will take over the role as town administrator.
Sullivan expressed his gratitude for the position and emphasized his excitement for Wong.
“It really has been an honor. I am trying to hold it together, but I am really sad that my time here has come and each and every one of you have been so wonderful to work with,” said Sullivan. “I am leaving you in incredibly capable hands. Passing the baton to Town Administrator Lisa Wong is just going to make the race that much better. She’s incredibly talented, she is really going to bring a vision to this community and at every place she’s been a success.”
To wrap up the meeting, Sullivan gave his last COVID-19 update. He said that for the past two to three weeks the city has plateaued in COVID-19 cases. He said that the town is still working with Curative for COVID-19 testing every Saturday morning between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in front of Town Hall. He encouraged residents to take advantage of this if needed.
Those interested in viewing the South Hadley Selectboard Meeting in its entirety are encouraged to visit the South Hadley Community Television page.