SOUTH HADLEY – Town Meeting Members will vote on 22 articles on a variety of topics next month during a Special Town Meeting.

The first eight articles address various financial situations and would allow the appropriation or transfer of funds from Unreserved Free Cash or other funds. Projects on the list include improvements to Bicentennial Canal Park, the purchase of police cruiser and unexpected repairs and comp time buyouts for retiring police officers. 

Speaking to the Select Board at its Dec. 6 meeting, Town Administrator Mike Sullivan explained Article 4 which addresses the need for $38,000 for public building repair and maintenance.

“It just seems to keep on coming,” Sullivan said.

A significant water leak on the second floor destroyed ceiling tiles and had water streaming down the ceiling, an oil change over at the police department and elevator repairs are all included in that amount, according to Sullivan. 

“The question has been asked, can we skip this? We probably could but given what you have for free cash – it would be wrong,” Sullivan said. “If this money isn’t recaptured, we won’t be able to do those projects.”

Also included are articles to accept changes to town General and Zoning bylaws.

In Article 21, voters will be asked to decide whether to ban the use of plastic bags, “the ones that grow on trees,” Sullivan joked to the board.

If approved, the ban would take effect on July 1, 2018. It was brought forth by a joint effort from the town’s Department of Health and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee chairperson as well as the Select Board.

“We haven’t gotten any really push back,” Sullivan said Tuesday. “I think we’ve given ample time for retail establishments to run out their stock.”

The ban does not include thin-film plastic bags used to contain dry cleaning, newspapers, produce, meat, bulk foods nor does it include any flexible transparent covering for uncooked or raw meat, poultry, raw fish, hard cheese, cold cuts, fruit and vegetables products, baked goods or bread.

The full town meeting warrant can found on the town’s website at www.southhadley.org.

Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.