HADLEY — In a typical year, both incumbents and newcomers to town government are elected and then sworn into their positions about a month before annual Town Meeting takes place.
Beginning in 2022, though, the annual election could follow the annual meeting, with residents having an opportunity to make that decision at this year’s Town Meeting on June 18.
A warrant article that would set the election date for the first Tuesday after Town Meeting is being supported by both the Select Board and Finance Committee, which proposed the idea to better align elections with the budget process.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Amy Fyden told the Select Board Wednesday that the upside of making the change would be to allow purchases through Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion overrides and other spending that needs follow-up votes to be on the same ballot with candidates, rather than scheduling a separate election.
“This will actually help with some costs so we wouldn’t have to have another election,” Fyden said.
The Select Board voted 3-2 in favor of the proposal, with member Christian Stanley joined by Chairman David J. Fill II and Jane Nevinsmith voting to support the initiative.
Stanley said having the election later could help with ensuring all elected participants in Town Meeting are familiar with the warrant and budget.
“You’re not brand new coming into basically the biggest event of the year,” Stanley said.
But Select Board members John Waskiewicz and Joyce Chunglo voted against recommending the article.
Waskiewicz said he has mixed feelings, but leans against the change because candidates for office are already doing homework in learning about town affairs.
“I don’t think it’s the right time now,” Waskiewicz said.
Chunglo agreed that things should be left as they are. “I don’t see the point in changing it at this time.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
