HATFIELD — Decisions related to completing the Route 5 water and sewer infrastructure project, rezoning a parcel on North Hatfield Road to light industrial and changing the name of the top policy board so it is gender neutral could be made by residents at annual Town Meeting Tuesday.
The meeting, and its 29-article warrant, is to be called to order at 6 p.m. at the Lions Club pavilion on Billings Way, with people encouraged to bring hand sanitizer and bug spray.
The warrant includes an $11.38 million operating budget that is $44,546 less than this year’s $11.42 million spending plan, but provides for level services for the town and schools, as well as 2.3% salary adjustments for employees beyond a 2% cost of living adjustment.
Hatfield schools will see a budget increase to $4.79 million, up $107,656 from the $4.68 million spent this year.
Competing articles are on the warrant for the $3.6 million project to extend sewer service on Route 5 from Linseed to Rocks roads, and water service for 2,200 feet along Route 5 south of Rocks Road, through a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant.
Voters approved in November a permanent easement of 1,100 square feet at 34 West St. and a temporary construction easement of 250 square feet at the same site, but there is dispute about whether the town had a quorum and a Hampshire Superior Court lawsuit is challenging that. Passing the article again would ratify the earlier decision
Resident Susan Berry has brought a petition to rescind the fall vote, with the idea that a sewage pumping station could be moved away from her properties at 32-34 West St. and not impact the Waxing Cafe restaurant’s operations.
Meantime, a zoning petition is seeking to take just under 10 acres of rural residential land on North Hatfield Road and make it light industrial property. This has a neutral recommendation from the Planning Board. No project is proposed for the site and any plans would be reviewed by the Planning Board.
The change in the name of the Board of Selectmen to Select Board is being recommended by the Planning Board.
Outside of the operating budget, residents will consider borrowing $265,000 for communications equipment for the police and fire departments.
A total of $944,103 in free cash is also being used for spending. This includes $150,000 for a self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters; $13,720 for the final payment for rental of paramedic equipment; $95,000 to remove and replace the underground fuel tank at the highway garage; $40,000 to replace eight fire hydrants; $51,000 to replace 1,000 feet of water main on Elm Court; $40,500 to buy a walk-in freezer for Smith Academy; and $50,000 to install new floors and windows at the public library.
Only one spending item is coming from the Community Preservation Act account, that being $9,862 for preserving and restoring historic town vital records held by the town clerk.
Other articles ask voters to rescind the $1.6 million vote from last June for the water and sewer extensions, which was later approved by voters approving a borrowing article, and the May 8, 2018 Town Meeting vote to authorize spending $32,094 for building a new hiking trail that will create a lookout at Horse Mountain, money that was reimbursed by a Recreation Trails Grant from the state.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
