Mayor's Office


GREETINGS 

Welcome to the City of Greenfield! As Mayor, I have the distinct honor of serving as the chief executive officer of the only Franklin County city, which boasts 17,700 residents, and serves an important regional role in providing services to the 25 towns in the county. This website reflects my administration’s commitment to providing excellent customer service and access to information, making our local government responsive and accountable. It was designed to answer your specific questions through the “How Can I?” query, as well as direct you to community news, government activity, our boards and commissions, city-sponsored events, and timely emergency notifications. 

Greenfield is an inclusive, family-oriented city that welcomes all who seek a manageable, affordable, “rurban" (rural+urban) lifestyle. Located just north of the confluence of the Green, Deerfield, and Connecticut rivers, the downtown area is bounded to the south and west by the Green and Deerfield rivers and by Poet’s Seat Ridge to the east. Historically, the rivers were a means of transportation, as well as a power source for manufacturing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Presently, rail lines and highways (MA Route 2 and Interstate 91) intersect in Greenfield, solidifying the City’s importance as a trade and transportation center. It is home to many family farms that feed a new farm-to-table entrepreneurial food production and distribution pipeline. Much of Greenfield’s historic commercial core exists today as a walkable, central downtown with a mix of storefronts, offices, single-family residences, and emerging market rate residential condos and apartments. At the conveniently located John Olver Transit Center downtown, you can catch the Valley Flyer to New York City, Vermont, Montreal, and connect to Boston. By car, Boston is a two-hour drive (Boston traffic not withstanding).

Greenfield’s location, its entrepreneurial legacy, and its embrace of technology, from its early reputation as the tool-and-die manufacturing capital of America to its current advanced manufacturing sectors and embrace of city-owned high-speed broadband access, make it an appealing place to work. Our connectivity has made Greenfield a welcome home to people who want to escape the big city to live affordably and work from home or from one of our several co-work spaces. The Greenfield Industrial Park is home to food production and advanced manufacturing industries and is currently planning an expansion to be completed in the near future. 

Visiting Greenfield? What’s your pleasure? What’s your season? In Greenfield or nearby, nature abounds for hiking, bicycling, skiing, snow shoeing or just plain relaxing with a cold local beer or hard cider and a view. Take the Brewery Trail: 15 craft breweries within five miles. Wander the “Napa Valley of Hard Cider” with 10 cider makers within 10 miles. Greenfield covets its national Park City recognition, with many parks available for relaxation and recreation. Its crown jewel is the scenic Green River Swimming & Recreation Area offering an hour of respite or a day of swimming, picnicking, play structures, and snacks from the concession stand. Take a hike or a nature walk in Highland Park/Temple Woods, a mere half mile from the east end of Main Street, or climb to Sachem’s Head for a 180-degree, 30-mile view of the Pioneer Valley then continue your hike to the Rocky Ridge to Poet’s Seat Tower. Catch a movie at the historic Garden Theatre, one of the last independent movie theaters in America. Rock out to music at the Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, the Energy Park, or the internationally known Green River Festival.  Take in the fall leaves and enjoy the Franklin County Fair in September.

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

Mayor Virginia "Ginny" Desorgher serves as the chief executive officer as described in Section 3 of the 2002 Greenfield Charter Commission Final Report. In 2003, the office of the mayor replaced the former board of selectmen/town manager as the administrative and executive arm of municipal government.

According to the charter, the executive powers of the city are solely vested in the mayor. The mayor is responsible for supervision, direction, and efficient administration of all city activities and functions placed under the office's control by the general law, charter, bylaw, or custom. This includes enforcement of city bylaws and all other functions logical to the office's mission.

By virtue of office, the mayor is an ex-officio member of every multiple-member city body and a voting member of the Greenfield School Committee. The mayor also makes appointments to all city boards/commissions and may declare states of emergency.

Additionally, the mayor may exercise review and veto authority over proposed legislation, subject to the charter. The term of office is four years and is a non-partisan position.