Civics Corner Weekly Update
The Heat, NYC Mayoral Primaries, and What’s Happening in Williamstown
Hey Everyone,
We’ve been moving a little slow this week—blame the heat (and maybe also our distraction following the NYC Mayoral Primaries). No matter your political leanings, it was a great reminder of how powerful hyperlocal politics can be. If you’re curious, Amanda’s Mild Takes offers a sharp and funny summary of why this race came down to local dynamics above all else:
What We Missed Covering Last Week
June 16th: DIRE Retreat
DIRE let us crash their retreat at The Barn—okay, maybe crash isn’t quite right since it was open to the public (thanks, Open Meeting Law), but it was meant as more of an internal regrouping session. Still, they welcomed us in, let us listen, and even join the conversation.
The committee reviewed what they’ve accomplished over the past few years and reflected on how they want to grow.
The big takeaway?
They’re still looking to fill one vacant seat.
And more importantly, they’re aiming to shift from a reactive stance to more strategic, solutions-focused work moving forward.
It was a thoughtful, open meeting—and we’re grateful they let us sit at the table. If you have ideas or want to get involved, you can attend their next meeting. It is July 7th at 5:30 to 7:30 PM. You can attend in person at Town Hall (31 North Street).
What We Missed (But Are Catching Up On!)
June 23rd: Select Board
We weren’t able to attend (and the WilliNet video isn’t up yet), but here’s what we know:
Police Report was presented and includes data on crashes, arrests, warrants, and calls.📄 Read it here
644 calls to dispatch were logged between 6/5 and 6/20.
Hearing rumors about parking tickets on Spring Street? Here are the actual numbers:→ 15 tickets in the Spring Street parking lot→ 5 tickets on Spring Street itself
New Appointments were made to town boards and committees—thank you to those who are serving!📄 Full list here
Other Meetings – June 18 Highlights
Housing Authority worked on their annual plan
Woodlands Partnership discussed their budget and need for legal/accounting guidance
Fire District & Affordable Housing Trust reviewed updates on the Habitat for Humanity project and discussed bigger-picture strategies like land trusts, land purchases, and seeking funds beyond CPA
Coming Up Next Week (June 30–July 4)
June 30:Select Board Meeting
So far, the only item on the agenda is appropriating funds for the July 4th fireworks.
July 1: Fire District Meeting
We’ll be tracking both and will update you next week.
Looking to the Future
We’re hoping to join an upcoming tour of the Hoosac Water Quality District (HWQD) in early July to get a closer look at how the facility operates—and to follow up on questions around PFAS contamination and sewage sludge disposal.
We’ll keep you posted on what we learn.
That’s All Folks
In the meantime, if you—like us—have been BAKING this week, please take care of yourselves. The Milne Library has beautiful air conditioning, welcoming staff, and a great coffee cart. If you’re looking for other places to cool down, 413cares.org has a searchable list of cooling centers by zip code.
Remember: it’s easy to overheat and dehydrate. Drink water, rest, and cool down before it becomes an emergency. Here is our Cat Tax, to remind you to stay cool this week:
Until next time,
—Civics Corner