Pelham officials, faced with financial problems, raised the prospect of merging with or outsourcing services to another town. (Sorry, I can't link to the Gazettenet story, maybe it will appear in today's Bulletin.) Pelham's looking at yet another override vote -- this time to replace aging equipment.
This isn't the first time Pelham's been in this fix. In 1854, faced with a declining population and high poverty rates, the town asked the legislature to give up its charter -- opening up the prospect of a merger with Amherst or Belchertown. Taking over Pelham didn't appear to be an appealing prospect for the surrounding towns so the legislature refused. Apparently Pelham kept up the petition until 1870. Who said history doesn't repeat itself but it does rhyme?
Sustainability is a real issue that we'll hear more and more of. Small may be beautiful but it can be expensive and inefficient.
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