Page 10 - BusinessWest March 31, 2021

Community Spotlight
East Longmeadow Focuses on Improvements
By Mark Morris
When Mary McNally reflects on 2020, it’s with no small amount of gratitude for how well her town has weathered the pandemic up to this point.
“To state the obvious,” she said, “it’s been one heck of a year.”
As East Longmeadow’s town manager, she credits all the municipal staff, in particular the Health Department, for its efforts to advise and inform the public on COVID-19 matters, as well as the town’s emergency manager, Fire Chief Paul
calls.
“We had staff, including department heads,
who met people in the parking lot of Town Hall
if they needed access to a particular department for a document or other item,” she said. “It was like they were carhops at the old A&W.” Without committing to any specific timeline, she is hope- ful Town Hall will reopen to the public in the next 90 to 120 days.
Though she has been the full-time town manager for only 16 months, McNally has been working on a master plan for East Longmeadow to better prioritize important projects. The town recently received a grant from the Pioneer Val- ley Planning Commission to hire a consultant to develop the plan. McNally said a recent Zoom session to plot out the vision of the master plan drew great participation from residents. Part of the grant requires the master plan to be complet- ed by June, and she is confident about meeting that deadline.
Back in December, the town council changed a zoning bylaw that has a direct impact on the site of the former Package Machinery. Once zoned only as industrial, the change allows for
East Longmeadow
Continued on page 13
“To state the obvious, it’s been one heck of a year.”
Morrissette.
“The pandemic gave
people the chance to see how dedicated and committed municipal public workers are to the mission that is their vocation,” McNally said. “Their willingness to
do what has to be done and go wherever they are needed is something people are aware of and appreciate. I certainly
do.”
Though Town Hall has been closed since
March 16 of last year, staffers have been able to meet the community’s demand for services through online meetings, e-mails, and phone
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10 MARCH 31, 2021
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
E. Longmeadow at a Glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1894
POPULATION: 15,720
AREA: 13.0 square miles
COUNTY: Hampden
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $21.06
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $21.06
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $62,680
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $70,571
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Town Council, Town Manager
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Lenox; Cartamundi; CareOne at Redstone; East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation
* Latest information available
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