Council on Aging Backs Birch Drive Plowing Petition

Council on Aging · Meeting of October 21, 2026

SHUTESBURY — The Shutesbury Council on Aging voted to join a resident petition opposing the town's halt to plowing on lower Birch Drive. Resident Ron told the council a Freedom of Information request for road accident and damage records dating to 1989 turned up nothing, calling the town's January 1 decision "arbitrary and capricious." The committee, acting through a member identified as Martha, voted unanimously to add its name alongside the Lake Wyola Association and five Birch Drive residents before the association's October 24 roadwork day. Separately, members approved $1,500 now and $1,500 in spring 2027 for library-run senior fitness classes, drawing on a state grant fund that stood at $8,392.07.

The council also reported 28 of 50 emergency lockboxes installed and confirmed it now holds a seat on the town's emergency management planning committee.

In the full story:

• Birch Drive Plowing Petition
• Financial Report
• Library Fitness Class Donation
• Ice Cream Social and Outreach
• Newsletter Update
• Lockbox Program and Emergency Preparedness
• Eye Health Presentation Proposal
• Regular Events and Scheduling
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,661 words

Source: the Council on Aging meeting of October 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.