BELCHERTOWN – Following a months long dispute over the effectiveness of the Hampshire Council of Governments, voters in Belchertown will be asked whether the town should withdraw from the quasi-governmental agency at Monday’s annual Town Meeting.
In addition, voters in Belchertown will address multiple citizen petitions amongst the 50 articles on the Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting warrants.
The Special Town Meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Belchertown High School. The annual Town Meeting will follow at 7:30. Polls will be open for the annual town election from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 15.
Town Administrator Gary Brougham and Select Board Chairman George “Archie” Archible have been vocal proponents of the withdrawal from HCOG. On numerous occasions, the two have argued that HCOG’s municipal bulk purchasing and electricity are not cost effective and have raised concerns over Director Todd Ford’s salary and bonuses in light of HCOG’s failed municipal aggregation plan and what they cite as high employee turn over in that organization.
Selectman William Barnett, who also serves as the chairman of the Hampshire Council of Governments’ board, has argued against those points. In the past, he has touted the council’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program, which links volunteers with opportunities to serve in their communities as well as the benefits of the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust.
The town has voted on the topic of HCOG membership four times in the last 12 years. Twice – in 2006 and 2010 – the town voted to continue membership at a lower membership cost. On two other occaision, in 2005 and 2014, the town voted to take no action on motions to withdraw.
Three of the 47 annual town meeting articles were brought forth by citizen petition, including an article that would require the School Department to post monthly budget summaries on their website. The article states that if approved, the budget summary “would show how the School Department is actually spending taxpayer supplied funding” and would allow for more informed future budget debates.
Another article brought by citizen petition would establish a capital improvement planning program that would begin in fiscal year 2019 with the first report being submitted for review by the Select Board and the Finance Committee for the fiscal year 2020 budget. A third article by citizen petition asks voters if the town should move to make the “circle on Center Street” a one-way for safety reasons.
One article asks voters to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire 86 acres known as the Mader Town Forest by purchase, gift, or eminent domain for conservation and passive recreation purposes.
In addition, voters will be asked to vote on a compensation plan for town employees, a new by-law for illicit connections and discharges to the municipal storm drainage system, several zoning by-law amendments, and nearly a dozen Community Preservation Act funding requests, among many other articles.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.