Page 18 - BusinessWest June 9, 2021

Community Spotlight
South Hadley Businesses Show Plenty of Life
By Mark Morris
For Mike Sullivan, the past 15 months have been a learning experience on many levels.
As town administrator in South Hadley, Sul- livan has learned just how essential online pay- ment systems and Zoom meetings have become for residents who need to do business with the town.
“The good news is that people are looking to hire, and they are in a position to bring people back into the workforce.”
“As we make more access points available to the public, we’ve seen participation in govern- ment increase,” Sullivan said, adding that, while many people are looking forward to meeting in person again, Zoom is also here to stay.
The pandemic also taught him about the effi- ciencies of running Town Hall. By limiting in-per- son visits to appointment only, staff have been able to more efficiently get business done. Going
forward, he looks to follow a model other towns have adopted of limiting hours or closing to the public one day a week.
“There are multiple ways to take care of busi- ness,” Sullivan said. “I appreciate that some people have complicated business they need to conduct in person, and we will accommodate them. When residents use online platforms or even ‘snail mail’ instead of visiting Town Hall, it saves money for the town and for everyone’s indi- vidual taxes.”
Sullivan made plenty of adjustments to keep South Hadley moving forward during the pan- demic. Attendees to last year’s town meeting, for example, never left their cars.
“People tuned into the discussion over their car radios, just like an old drive-in movie,” he said. A similar drive-in town meeting is planned for this year, but there will also be a seating area for those who feel safe enough to leave their cars. “We’re looking forward to getting back to some semblance of normalcy.”
Michelle Theroux, president of the South Had- ley and Granby Chamber of Commerce, said one indication of a return to normalcy is the “we’re hiring” signs around town. She acknowledges there are many factors why people are not imme- diately returning to work, but even with recruit-
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18 JUNE 9, 2021
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
South Hadley
at a Glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1775
POPULATION: 17,791
AREA: 18.4 square miles
COUNTY: Hampshire
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $19.46 (Fire District 1); $19.80 (Fire District 2)
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $46,678 MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $58,693 TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Town meeting
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Mount Holyoke College; the Loomis Communities; Coveris Advanced Coatings; Big Y
* Latest information available
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