Short-Term-Rental-Tax Listening Session and Verizon Woes
The Session
On Wednesday, September 16, at 7 p.m. the Selectboard and members of the Finance Committee will hear from the public about the possibility of levying a small tax on short-term rentals in Hawley.
As you may know, a few years back, as services like Airbnb and VRBO started to proliferate, the state began charging a 5.7-percent tax on rentals of fewer than 30 days. It also authorized communities to charge their own taxes on these rentals.
Until now, Hawley’s Selectmen have been reluctant to do this. Recently, however, in light of mounting expenses and shrinking population, they decided to consider a tax. They want to hear from the pubic about this issue. So please come express your opinion. The meeting shouldn’t last long, and I will try to bring a nibble for those present.
Verizon
Those of you with traditional landlines may have received (or may be about to receive) a letter from Verizon talking about upcoming “improvements” to our telephone network. Verizon is planning to move Hawley from traditional copper wires to fiber or wireless service. The Selectmen are aware of this situation and plan to discuss it at their next meeting. It’s possible we may be powerless to resist the change, but we are certainly going to try. I hope to have more information soon.
Aloe Available!
Town Clerk Ellie Van iderstine recently divided some aloe plants and brought baby aloes to the Town Office for people to adopt. A number of the plants went home with voters at the primary election, but there are still quite a few available. As someone who is a terrible gardener but hasn’t managed to kill her aloe, I can assure you that these plants are easy to take care of … and they do come in handy when you burn yourself. Stop by during my Tuesday afternoon office hours (noon to 4 p.m.) to pick out a plant.
An Anniversary
Remembrances of September 11, 2001, are everywhere today. Most adults (and most Hawleyites are adults!) recall where they were and what they felt on that life-changing date.
I was working in New York at the time. As I rode the train into Manhattan from my mother’s house in New Jersey, I recall the train conductor’s voice saying, “If you’ll look out your window, you’ll see that a fire has broken out at the World Trade Center.” We gawked. Of course, we had no idea what was happening. I went to the office via my usual route, on a subway starting at the World Trade Center … probably one of the last such subways to travel for a long time.
As the day progressed, I was impressed by the calm of New Yorkers and the spirit of cooperation that ensued. Everyone wanted to contribute to the relief efforts, and most people did, if only in small ways. Everyone wanted to show that our citizens could band together, comfort each other, and survive. It didn’t matter whether we identified as Republicans, Democrats, or members of some other political party. It only mattered that we were Americans and citizens of a world we wanted to improve.
We rightly remember that day by thinking of those we knew and didn’t know who died or lost loved ones on September 11. I hope we can also remember it by trying to emulate the caring nation we were in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
Say a prayer today if you’re a praying person. And then reach out to your neighbors to express compassion, friendship, and solidarity.
That’s it for now. I hope to see many of you next Wednesday…
Warmly,
Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley
413-339-5518 office/413-339-4747 home
