CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town recently received a grant that will help with water infrastructure on South Street.

Town Administrator Jennifer Morse last week informed the Select Board that the town has received $1,159,200 through the Housing Works Infrastructure Program for the South Street Water Main Project to upgrade the existing infrastructure to improve water reliability, quality and fire department needs for the town.

Department of Public Works Director Corey McGrath said it is a big win for the town, as it is a necessary project to help keep that portion of the road safe. 

"This is absolutely amazing and huge for the town. That section from the lights to Lanesborough Road is bottlenecked. We have sections 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch. So, although the static pressure down on Lanesborough Road and Route 8 is fine, as long as you don't use it, once we use it, that drops down. We see it with the Fire Department with the hydrants, so it's huge," he said. 

"We have four businesses, two mobile home parks, multiple residents, a fire department, a commercial business, a commercial lot that could be a business at some time. So to not have the hydrants is risky. We have eight hydrants on that line. None of them are sufficient to fight a structure fire. So it's a big price tag, but we have a river that we have to go under, so that's what brings it up. So I can't express how important this is," he said.

The project was described as especially important because Route 8 is expected to be resurfaced in 2028 or later. Morse said he was told that after resurfacing, the town will be limited to emergency repairs for at least five years.

Select Board Vice Chairman Shawn McGrath thanked Morse for bringing more than $5 million in grants to the town since she was hired, leading to applause from the room.

"I don't think citizens realize how much money has been brought into the town since we went for the full-time administrator. So it's a huge job and a job well done," he said.

The board also hired new Police Officer Mitch Malloy, who is currently employed at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Malloy was previously in the Navy and already has been through the police academy, so Police Chief Matthew Wright went before the board to ask if they would approve his hiring.

"[He] comes with that full-time academy training, which is invaluable to be able to have a candidate to be able to come in right off the bat, ready to hit the ground running. Interviewing him, I think he's going to be a great fit. I know he's going to be a great fit for our community, for our team that we're building at the police department," Wright said.

The board welcomed Malloy to the team.

The board also adopted a new town-issued cell phone policy and and a Cannabis Social Equity Policy. The board accepted phone policy unanimously and the social equity policy with one member abstaining and another denying. Morse said the social equity policy was necessary because the Cannabis Control Commission said the town was not in compliance.

The board members also spoke again with Town Clerk Whitney Flynn about the vault containing older documents of the town that are still at the former town hall. Chair Michelle Francesconi said it is not fireproof or waterproof, and that water issues had affected the surrounding area, expressing that something does need to be done and for Flynn to gather measurements and information on what she needs and about possible funding, including grant opportunities.

She also asked if a member of the board would act as a liaison with Flynn to help report back their findings, for which member Raymond Killeen volunteered. Flynn said more work will be done once the election is finished as it is a very busy time for her.