HATFIELD — As part of a continued effort to address financial issues that have plagued the town, residents agreed with recommendations from officials to place more than $200,000 in a town savings account at a special Town Meeting Wednesday.
With the state’s Department of Revenue this week certifying $348,000 in free cash, Finance Committee Chairman Darryl Williams told residents that the good news is that they weren’t again being asked to use stabilization money, but instead were being advised to replenish it.
“We’re excited about that,” Williams said.
At a January special Town Meeting, residents approved the transfer of $265,876 from the town and Town Hall stabilization accounts to cover operating deficits in the fiscal 2017 budget identified by the DOR.
Williams said the top priority remains fixing the town’s budget issues. The $215,903 moved from free cash to stabilization, he said, ensures there will be enough money in that account in the unlikely event that any issues are identified with the current year’s budget.
Voters were able to OK the free cash transfer after the Select Board and Finance Committee strategically recommended to use free cash only for priority items. These included $40,000 to reimburse the ambulance surplus fund, $10,000 for the 350th anniversary special fund and $13,000 to lease paramedic equipment
Several potential spending items were deferred, including $48,000 for replacing Jaws of Life extrication equipment, which Select Board member Cindy Doty said could wait until fall due to the current financial situation, $46,564 to fund a Department of Public Works infiltration and inflow project, and $46,000 to reimburse the Community Preservation Act fund.
Also at the meeting, voters unanimously agreed to seek a home-rule petition through the state Legislature that, if approved, would allow the Select Board to grant an additional off-premise alcoholic beverages license to a Hatfield store.
Residents also agreed to seek a utility easement related to the construction of a new field hockey field at Smith Academy.
David Keir, the athletic director at Smith Acdemy, said the easement would help get electricity and water to the field. “It’s just to bring utilities out to that area,” he said.
Voters approved a series of other spending articles, including $30,587 to cover a deficit in the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School tuition and transportation budget, $20,000 to cover a deficit in the health insurance budget, $15,000 to pay for services provided by private financial consultant Baystate Municipal Accounting Group of Maynard, and $3,510 to cover an actuarial study for Other Post Employment Benefits, or OPEB,
The meeting got under way nearly 30 minutes late as the requisite 75 residents were not in attendance when a quorum count was made by Christopher Smith of Prospect Street.
Moderator Joe Lavallee said he instituted a rule about 15 years ago to have bars stop serving alcohol until Town Meeting commenced and concluded.
Lavallee explained the urgency of dealing with the financial matters before the fiscal year ends June 30. “If you know of anyone to call, please do,” Lavallee said.
Upon each person entering the elementary school auditorium during the delay, applause erupted, before Lavallee finally was able to open the session, which lasted only about 20 minutes.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
