EASTHAMPTON — Amid the transitions that will come from the 2025 City Council elections, the Easthampton City Council met on Nov. 5 to approve funding for several Community Preservation Act projects.
In the largest appropriation, the council voted unanimously to use $200,000 in CPA funds to support 90 affordable housing units on Ferry Street.
This is the last of three appropriations over the last several years, totaling $500,000 for this project. The funds will be released after the property has received the affordable housing deed restriction.
The council also approved $78,020 for rebuilding a retaining wall and fishing access point at Nashawannuck Pond. The improvements will use stone instead of the current wood, which Councilor Thomas Peake, chair of the Finance Committee, explained should allow the improvements to last for at least a generation.
Eva Gristle, the city’s conservation agent, and Beth Tiffany, who sits on the steering committee for the pond, added that this will provide safer fishing access and will decrease erosion into the pond.
The final supplemental appropriation approved will provide $75,000 for an assessment and restoration design of the town clock, located on the Congregational Church in downtown Easthampton. Although the church is private property, the clock itself is owned by the city.
Mayor Salem Derby updated the council on his office’s attempts to counteract the loss of SNAP benefits from the government shutdown. Derby explained that the city will use the interest from American Rescue Plan Act funds to enter a $2,000 month-long contract with the Northampton Community Center to provide 4,000 meals. He expects everything to be in place early the week of Nov. 10. He explained that he hopes that this will “mitigate some of the impact” of the losses, but that he is also looking at other ways to help those in need.
Councilor Brad Riley praised Derby’s efforts and noted that, as someone who faced food insecurity in his childhood, this hits close to home. He then said he would be donating his $432 city councilor stipend for the month to the efforts and encouraged other city councilors to do the same.
City Council President James “JP” Kwiecinski noted that the loss of SNAP benefits was “unconscionable,” and he encouraged everyone to work together.
That spirit of the community was seen throughout the meeting, with Derby and others praising candidates for their campaign work and for the effort they put into making Easthampton a strong, giving community.
Councilor Peg Conniff, who rejoined the council in February, taking over the spot left by Owen Zaret’s resignation, spoke briefly at the beginning of her last meeting. Conniff, who had previously served on the council for six years, offered “a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Easthampton” and noted the helpful and dedicated spirit of its residents.
“You have hard work ahead of you,” Conniff said to her fellow councilors. “Democracy is indeed messy, but it is alive and well in Easthampton.”
Conniff’s successor, Jonathan Schmidt, will be sworn in at its Nov. 19 meeting.
