HADLEY — Hadley voters will not be deciding any contested races when they go to the polls Tuesday, but they will have a chance to offer an opinion on whether town elections should be held later in the spring.
Polls at the Hadley Senior Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and all elected positions will be filled by either incumbents or newcomers running unopposed
Incumbents on the ballot include Joyce Chunglo for a three-year seat on the Select Board, Michael P. Sarsynski, Jr. for a five-year term on the Planning Board, Humera M. Fasihuddin and Paul Phifer for three-year seats on the School Committee, Randall E. Izer for a one-year term as moderator, Alison Donta-Venman for a three-year seat as Library trustee, Jeffrey Mish for a three-year term on the Board of Assessors, Sheila Konieczny for a one-year term as Elector under the Oliver Smith Will and Steven N. Higgins for a three-year seat on the Park Commission.
Newcomers on the ballot are Amy Parsons for a three-year seat on the Select Board, and Jessica Kem for a three-year term as library trustee.
At a recent online candidates night sponsored by Hadley Mothers Club, Chunglo said she is looking forward to continuing her 33 years of service to Hadley, including the past 18 on the Select Board.
She cited the completion of the North Fire Station and new library and senior center as recent town accomplishments. “We are very proud of the buildings we have put up,” Chunglo said.
The sale of the North Hadley Village Hall and upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure are challenges that will need to be addressed, she said.
Parsons said her focus will be on fiscal responsibility “That’s something that’s going to maintain Hadley and continue its prosperity,” Parsons said.
A write-in candidate is seeking a three-year term on the Board of Health.
Margaret Mastrangelo has worked in health care for almost 30 years and praised the current board for its response to COVID-19.
“Like them, I commit to working on behalf of our residents and our businesses to ensure the health and safety for our community through decisions that are strongly rooted in evidence-based health practices,” Mastrangelo said.
Also on the ballot will be the nonbinding question to move the annual election from the second Tuesday in April to the third Thursday in May, so it follows Town Meeting.
Select Board member Jane Nevinsmith said the reasons to support the question include being able to hold a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion vote at the same time, allowing current board members to remain on committees to speak to warrant articles and to get larger voter turnout, while concerns with the question are that change can be difficult, elected officials will have to work a month longer if the change happens and a later election could interfere with vacations.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
