Greenfield Tax Relief Fund Votes to Seek CPA Law Change, Holds Just $3,289

Other Committee · Meeting of June 4, 2026

Greenfield's Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund Committee voted unanimously to pursue a state legislative change that would allow Community Preservation Act money to fund the program, even as the account holds just $3,289.70 ahead of a planned September launch. Committee Chair Patty Williams, a former lobbyist, moved to bring a request to the Greenfield City Council asking the council to urge Senator Jo Comerford and district House members to file a narrow bill adding the fund to the CPA's list of permitted uses; the motion cleared 3-0 with members Jim Geisman and Treasurer Mandy Whitten in favor. Geisman noted that only roughly two dozen of Massachusetts' 351 municipalities operate an elderly and disabled tax fund, potentially limiting the bill's legislative appeal, but said he would not stand in the way.

The committee also reported that real-estate and personal-property tax bills going out at the end of June will carry a fund donation checkbox for the first time, with an application-assistance workshop set for August 21 at the John Zahn Center. A discussion of whether the committee should coordinate formally with other local social-service organizations was tabled without a set return date.

In the full story:

• Opening and Roll Call
• Fundraising Review, Corporate and Institutional Contacts
• Public Outreach, Tax Bills, Media, and the August Workshop
• Legislative Proposal, Amending the Community Preservation Act
• Related City Council Items, Tax-Title Reform
• Coordination with Other Local Services, Tabled
• The complete report, 2,662 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of June 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.