SOUTHWICK – The Town’s senior tax work off program began on July 17 and, according to Southwick Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan, progress has been made since its inception. Sullivan said she was able to fill nine of the 10 available slots for the program.
The nine participants have been working at the Southwick Town Beach, the boat ramps for Congamond Lake, the Council on Aging center, the DPW, the public library, and within the school system.
Sullivan said that the relationship between the departments and the senior working for them has been a positive partnership thus far.
“The departments really like having people, their (seniors) working really hard,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan even noted that some of the departments have asked the senior if they wanted an actual job there next year or encouraged them to be a part of the tax work off program next year to help them again if they qualify.
Donna Charron and Pat Talbot, were two of the nine seniors who took part in the program. Charron just started working at Woodland School. Her first day was Monday Sept. 11.
Pat Talbot (left) and Donna Charron (right) took part in the newly created senior tax work off program. (Photo courtesy of Southwick Council on Aging)
While Charron has only spent a couple of days at the school, she has already been involved in numerous tasks in the main office. Her responsibilities include filing papers, making copies of documents, cutting out news articles to post on the office’s bulletin board, and putting mail in teacher’s mailboxes.
Charron is pleased with the way her experience has gone with the tax work off program at Woodland School.
“It was fantastic, I can’t wait to go back,” said Charron. “They’re (Woodland School staff) all so pleasant, they make you feel very important.”
Talbot is at a different point than Charron in the program as she has completed her hours by working at the Southwick Town Beach this past summer. Talbot worked at the beach from when the program started in July to the end of August.
Having the task of making sure the beach was run properly, Talbot would take money at the gate from customers, clean up the walk ways, and pick up trash in the parking lot among other duties.
“I enjoyed it immensely,” said Talbot. “It was really nice.”
One of Talbot’s favorite aspects of working at the beach was the constant friendly interactions she would have with families and other people at the beach.
First reported by The Westfield News on May 18 when it was announced the program was official, seniors in the program have the opportunity to get a tax reduction of up to $1,500 once they complete the full 136 hours of volunteer work. Seniors have until Feb. 28, which is when the program ends, to complete the requisite hours.
Looking forward, Sullivan said that the senior tax work off program will be back again starting next summer. For any further questions about the program, contact Sullivan at 413-569-5498.
