Southwick Select Board Executes WGI Tax Deal, Hears Master Plan Year-One Report

SOUTHWICK -- June 22, 2026, Southwick Select Board executes WGI tax increment financing deal and clears eight votes at June 22 meeting. The board formally executed the tax increment financing agreement with WGI, approved at the May 19 town meeting, locking in job-creation commitments and percentage schedules negotiated with the company. Master Plan Implementation Committee representative Norm Cheever reported that 17 of 20 committed year-one action items have been approved, with two more pending at a Wednesday committee meeting, putting the town on track to close roughly 14 percent of its 142 total action items. The board accepted a $1,103.22 library grant from Shirlee Children's Services, a $1,000 animal control donation from M. Grosso, and approved a Pioneer Valley Planning Commission invoice of $3,629.24 for Community Development Block Grant management. A debate over restoring purchase order requirements below the existing $3,000 threshold was tabled to July 6 after board member Joseph Deeney pushed for greater fiscal accountability and town accountant Nadine Signoni argued the current system keeps departments more efficient.