Pioneer Valley Planning Commission presents data to Amherst boards on pandemic’s economic impact
Updated Jan 21, 2021;
AMHERST – A Pioneer Valley Planning Commission manager and data analyst shared findings with the Town Council and Planning Board during a Wednesday meeting assessing economic impacts since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March.
Douglas Hall, the PVPC data manager said “I’ve spent most of my time at PVPC in covid-mode; I’ve been keeping track of various economic indicators,” with goal of helping the region “to get through this very bleak period.”
Hall, an Amherst resident, was hired last year by the PVPC.
Lisa Redmond
GRAFTON After months of screening resumes, completing background checks and hours of interviews, the three finalists for the town administrator’s job are the town administrators in Monson and Blandford and the chief financial officer in New Bedford.
Out of an initial pool of 33 applicants, the town administrator screening committee, with help from consultants Community Paradigm Associates, presented the select board on Tuesday, Dec. 29, with three finalists, one of which will be Grafton’s next town adminstrator.
The finalists are: Evan P. Brassard, town administrator in Monson; Joshua A. Garcia, town administrator in Blandford; and Ari J. Sky, chief financial officer in New Bedford.
Marcos Marrero named to Holyoke Gas and Electric Commission
Updated Dec 31, 2020;
Posted Dec 31, 2020
Marcos Marrero, director of the Holyoke Department of Planning and Economic Development in 2012, plans to step down and join the board of Holyoke Gas & Electric. (The Republican file photo)Staff-Shot
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Marrero replaces Commissioner Robert Griffin, whose term expired June 30.
In November, Marrero announced he would resign his post in the Planning Department effective Jan. 22. Outgoing state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, was named Marrero’s replacement shortly after that.
Vega’s fourth and final term ends in the coming days. Patricia Duffy, Vega’s legislative aide, easily won the 5th Hamden District House seat during the September Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the November general election.
State Rep.-elect Duffy taps ‘friend, ally’ as legislative aide
Holyoke Ward 6 City Councilor Juan C. Anderson-Burgos attends the first meeting of the new year in the council chambers following an inaugural ceremony held upstairs in the Holyoke City Hall auditorium on Jan. 6, 2020. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Modified: 12/18/2020 6:49:41 AM
HOLYOKE The city’s state representative-elect has named her first legislative aide a new hire, but hardly a new name for Holyokers.
Patricia Duffy announced this week that Ward 6 City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos will become her aide when she is sworn in on Jan. 6. Currently herself the legislative aide for state Rep. Aaron Vega, Duffy said that Anderson-Burgos is both a friend and ally.
ValleyBike will remain open all winter; rental service cites bus cutbacks during COVID-19
Updated Dec 10, 2020;
ValleyBike, the Pioneer Valley’s short-term bicycle rental program, will remain open all winter instead of closing as it usually does until spring.
The reason, said spokeswoman Shannon Bliven, is that ValleyBike users are riding the bikes to commute to work because bus service in many areas is cut back due to COVID-19.
Bliven said there is also evidence of lots of round-trip bicycle rentals.
“That’s people just taking the bike out for an afternoon as recreation,” she said. “That’s important, too.”
ValleyBike will offer a winter pass good for four months for $35, from now until the end of January. Information is available at www.valleybike.org.