HADLEY — Voters have already agreed to raise their property tax bills by $95 a year to pay for a new senior center, a new library and a new fire substation in North Hadley.
But at a special Town Meeting Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m. at Hopkins Academy, they will be asked to again vote on each of these projects to provide additional money for the senior center and substation buildings, and to formally provide the match for the library project after the town was awarded a provisional $3.9 million construction grant by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Each of the projects has supporters who will make their case for the spending, as town officials work to ensure that the average tax bill will not rise by more than $95 in any given year.
Town Administrator David Nixon said options being discussed include keeping the added $95 on the bill for a longer period, which would mean less capacity for other future capital projects, or postponing one of the projects, with the possibility that the substation can be put off.
In addition to the buildings, voters will be asked to purchase land where the substation could be built, possibly at a reduced cost. A total of $405,000 would buy the 9 acres currently in the chapter 61A program at the corner of River Drive and Stockbridge Street.
Jane Nevinsmith, chairwoman of the Senior Center Building Committee, said the additional $1.8 million being sought for the senior center, on top of the $5.3 million already appropriated, is to ensure that the building meets the needs of town elders.
“‘Build it right the first time,’ is what we’re saying,” Nevinsmith said.
This would allow a 12,000-square-foot center to break ground next spring, and have the building ready to occupy by summer 2019, and keep the library project on schedule, Nevinsmith said. The library will then be built on the site of the Hooker School, some of which is used as the senior center.
Nevinsmith said there is a growing population of seniors in Hadley who will use the center so they can age in place by having social activities, education, exercise and food and community.
“All seniors I’ve talked to are really excited about this,” Nevinsmith said.
Senior Center Director Suzanne Travisano said Hadley has nearly 1,800 people 60 and over, and the project is an investment in the well-being of a significant population.
EDM of Connecticut and Lifespan Design of Ohio have provided information that even cutting out 2,500 square feet would leave the project $900,000 over the $5.3 million budget, Nevinsmith said.
“If this is not accepted by the town, then we will have to go back,” Nevinsmith said.
Going back, though, means slowing the library project.
Library Trustees Chairwoman Jo-ann Konieczny said the $3.9 million from MBLC will be matched by 46 percent from the town, or around $3.8 million. An additional $300,000 will come from ongoing fundraising.
State officials, she said, are aware that the senior center needs to move forward first. In fact, the money to demolish Hooker School is in the library building budget.
“When we applied for the grant we were very upfront with the MBLC about the Senior Center project,” Konieczny said.
The library project will meet many needs that the 1902 Goodwin Library doesn’t, including providing space for a town with 5,000 residents, being fully handicapped accessible and providing more parking.
The design for the inside of the building, which includes meeting space, is complete, but the exterior could change.
Konieczny said the architects will go through all channels, including review by the Historical Commission, to make the building fit in the town center.
While the senior center and library have support from the Select Board, the elected officials are asking to put a pause on the substation.
The board is, though, recommending the purchase of land that could be the site of the substation.
That site could be less expensive than the ballfield next to North Hadley Hall, and may be reflected in revised figures that could be brought to Town Meeting, said Fire Chief Michael Spanknebel.
The warrant includes $810,000 that would be added to the $2.9 million already approved.
Spanknebel said staffing is always a priority, and there will be additional money included in the operating budget in October, but the town shouldn’t eliminate the new north substation, which he calls a critical part of operations as more full-time staff is added.
“We need to have the ability to park trucks up there,” Spanknebel said.
The department still has two trucks parked in the station at North Hadley Hall, but the bays are too small for modern trucks. A rescue pumper that would be moved there won’t fit in the existing building.
If the building projects are approved Tuesday by two-thirds votes, they would go to a ballot vote Nov. 14.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
