CHESHIRE, Mass. — Voters wishing to cast ballots in next week's primary and the general election should check their voting status: the town clerk's office reported about 900 inactive voters in July.

 

Town Clerk Whitney Flynn last week was announcing the state primary election date, Tuesday, Sept. 1 with early voting being: 

She told the Selectmen that her office would be doing voter testing on Saturday, which was open for residents to observe.

 

In June, during the annual town meeting, Flynn reported there were more than 2,500 registered voters and on Tuesday, said more than a third have become inactive. The town's voting list is updated annually and those who have not responded to the annual town census are placed on "inactive" status. And those who don't vote in two consecutive state/federal elections while inactive are removed from the voter list. 

 

"I encourage everyone to check their voter registration status. Nine hundred people were made inactive on the voter list," said Flynn. "It doesn't mean they can't come to vote. It just means that if they didn't fill out that continuous and concurrent residency form by signature that I sent out all those postcards for."

 

Residents can contact her or return the inactive voter cards she sent out by mail back in July to become active again or remove their name from the list. After the inactive postcards went out, Flynn said she received many back but still has around 500 inactive.

 

She urged voters to check their status online as some census cards were not verifiable. If you are inactive you can still vote, just be sure to have a document with your name and current residency when you arrive at the polls. 

 

Flynn also added she is always looking for more poll workers.

 

In other news, the town is looking to replace the Fire Department's signage as the current digital sign needs to be replaced. The sign was acquired through a grant nearly 20 years ago and no longer functioning because the computer can't operate on Windows 11. While board member Ronald DeAngelis gave Town Administrator Jennifer Morse several company contacts, it was difficult to get a quote until they came up with new dimensions and a preferred location.

 

The board mulled several different options including keeping it where it is, raising it, or putting it across the street. Most of the conversation was about moving it across the street near the current "Welcome to Cheshire" sign but there were concerns it is too low and small and that a digital sign underneath would get buried in snow and be too small for people to appreciate.

 

The welcome sign was donated by the Lions Club. Morse suggested the welcome sign move to the Adams line and add another welcome sign on the Lanesborough line since they don't have signage for when you enter the town.

 

Department of Public Works Director Corey McGrath will get dimensions for the current sign and see the possibility of running underground power across the street. If the sign is bigger than 25 inches by 25 inches, it will have to go through the Planning Board.

 

McGrath also brought forth a proposal for crack sealing roads to get ahead of deterioration. He had a proposal for: East Main Street, Notch Road, Stafford Hill Road, Savoy Road/Route 116, Henry Wood Road, Ingalls Road, Berkshire Drive, Wilshire Drive, Hampshire Drive, Yorkshire Drive, Devonshire Drive, Hutchinson Lane, Depot and Railroad streets, West Mountain Road, and Curran Road. 

 

Resident Bruce Richardson asked the board in public comment what is going on with the Old Country Charm on Route 8. He said a person is living there but without occupancy and asked how it was allowed to fill with blacktop. 

 

The board could not comment but mentioned it put it on the next agenda.

 

The board also appointed Kathleen Richards as an alternate to the Council on Aging.