Plainfield Board Hears Regionalization Pitch, Agrees to Preliminary Hilltown Talks

PLAINFIELD — December 9, 2025 — Plainfield Select Board agrees to early talks on a possible six-town regional emergency services district. Tom Garter of Ashfield appeared before the board December 9 to propose a shared police and fire district among Plainfield and five neighboring Hilltowns, presenting a spreadsheet showing the combined assessed valuation of the six communities at roughly $1.616 billion, with Plainfield contributing about 9 percent. Garter argued that hiring two shared full-time police officers would add only 16 cents to each town's tax rate rather than 65 cents if any one town acted alone. Plainfield's fire chief pushed back sharply, saying departments already cooperate monthly on grants, training, and mutual aid, and warning that regionalization "is not a cost savings measure." The Board of Assessors, represented by Donna Christensen, separately recommended the town retain a single property tax classification rate, arguing a commercial split rate would apply unequally across businesses. The board renewed liquor and Victualer licenses for a Jones Avenue business and approved used-car dealer licenses for AP Automotive and a second dealer, all unanimously.