HADLEY — Even with over one-third of its land area permanently protected and wide expanses of farmland preserved in perpetuity, significant possibilities exist for enhancing Hadley’s tax base, while at the same time maintaining the character of the community.
That’s the take from new Town Administrator Nate Malloy’s vantage point. As Malloy settles into the job — in May he became the first person to hold the position on a permanent basis in nearly two years — he is examining ways to stabilize and strengthen municipal finances, preserve existing town services and continue the forward momentum enjoyed by the public schools.
“How do you keep what exists and grow and adapt? How do you maintain Hadley as a small town?” Malloy said. “I think there are a lot of opportunities.”
Speaking from a meeting room at Town Hall alongside Assistant Town Administrator Jennifer Sanders James, Malloy said a priority will be having consistent and transparent communication with the public, as the administrators aim to bring renewed stability to town operations.
New leadership, stabilized finances
Since September 2024, Police Chief Michael Mason had been the interim town administrator, following the retirement of Carolyn Brennan as town administrator after four years. Now, Malloy and Sanders James are handling the day-to-day work of executing goals from the Select Board and have a running list of things that they and other town staff will be getting done.
A voter-approved Proposition 2½ tax-cap override in the spring, after a similar initiative failed last September, has provided relief, Sanders James said, observing that it would have been difficult to make more cuts to an already streamlined town government, where many departments only have one full-time person.
“The override helps the current budget, but looking forward, we have to still be penny-wise to make sure the out years work,” Malloy said.
Growth along Route 9
Malloy, who came to Hadley after working for 18 years in the Amherst Planning Department, said one of the initiatives he is paying close attention to is the study of a Chapter 40R smart growth district.
If residents support such a zoning change, Malloy said infill development on the Route 9 corridor could be spurred, strengthening the commercial core by allowing mixed-use development in a place where 100,000 cars pass through each day.
“40R is important as a growth strategy,” Malloy said. “It’s affordable housing, but there’s also a land-use piece. It doesn’t compel anyone to do anything, but developments could bring in tax revenue.”
“Route 9 is a great spot because it’s already developed,” Malloy added. “It’s a great place to continue to look for readaptive use, if possible.”
While smart growth comes with potential for new residential units of varying types, some affordable and others market rate, there have been concerns in the past about an influx of new K-12 students. But there may be room for the public schools to grow at this time, Malloy said, and community surveys completed when the town revised its master plan show that people want more smaller stores and walkable areas.
Malloy said he also takes inspiration from recent projects, completed by students at the University of Massachusetts, examining how the Hampshire Mall site could be reenvisioned and reinvigorated through mixed-use development.
The town could also build on the connections to the Norwottuck Rail Trail, which passes through Hadley, and enhance social and cultural tourism. “There are a lot of amenities in Hadley to build on,” Malloy said.
Seeking more from state land
With about 1,500 acres of land held by the state, Malloy participated in a recent hearing of the Commission on PILOT for State-Owned Land, testifying that the $100 per acre for payment in lieu of taxes average in western Massachusetts should be adjusted upward.
“That would be a huge benefit to Hadley,” Malloy said. “We know it’s worth more.”
Buildings and infrastructure
Malloy wants to get back to looking at the former Russell School building in town center, which remains vacant. Sanders James notes that officials hope do something with the building, though it is in no danger. “It’s stable and steady,” Sanders James said.
Another project that has been on hold is building a new $22 million Department of Public Works headquarters. The hope is to give residents an update on this at fall Town Meeting.
The town already has a new north fire station, library and senior center, but upgrades will be needed to Hopkins Academy and Hadley Elementary School.
“We’re in a better place now with the override,” Sanders James said.
Rebuilding town staff
The town is rebuilding staffing, advertising for both a building commissioner and a conservation agent, and will need administrative support for human resources, a sewer operator and a highway laborer. The fire department is also getting staffing back.
“Hopefully we’ll bring in some good people for the town,” Sanders James said.
Malloy would like to do more in applying for grants and identify where there are weaknesses when rejected. “Sometimes there are three strikes, but we’re going to still go for four,” Malloy said.
New revenue ideas
Regulations for food trucks, already a regular presence at events like this year’s Asparagus Days, could be modified and help to increase programming that bring people into town, such as activities on the West Street Town Common. Other revenue could come from solar arrays on the landfill and permitting of other solar projects.
Another looming expense is the dike that protects Hadley center from flooding. The town has been working closely with Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Homar Gomez and the federal delegation on potential funding.
Since starting, Malloy has been having conversations with Hatfield officials about the challenges facing a similarly sized town, and with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission about resiliency along the river and mitigating impacts of flooding and managing stormwater.
Regional partnerships
UMass, too, is important for its strategic partnership. Sanders James said Hadley will have a presence that will be in the UMass Student Internship Fair. “On many different levels we’re coordinating with UMass,” she said.
Both Malloy and DPW Director Scott McCarthy are having conversations with Amherst about water and sewer capacity, and a potential tie into the Amherst Wastewater Treatment Plant needs to be studied, which is likely to be necessary should more development come to Route 9.
Malloy is also looped in on MassDevelopment’s examination of the Hampshire College campus. Malloy said Hadley is a partner and wants to share ideas, but there is limited infrastructure in town and the town’s role might be more to support future development in Amherst.
In a town where saving farmland is critical, Sanders James said three more farmers are moving through the process of getting their land into the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program. This is different from Amherst, Malloy said, where officials do a lot of the pre-application work, while in Hadley it’s mostly done independent of Town Hall, with requests for some matching funding going to the Community Preservation Act Committee.
That volunteering is essential to the town’s success, and Sanders James said the second season of a citizens academy that will take place this fall will be a chance for 17 residents, over 10 weeks, to experience all aspects of town. She called last year’s “wildly successful,” and two graduates have since been elected to Select Board and Park Commission.
Malloy is still learning about the town and Town Hall operations. Recently he had to find the residential permit provided for those who want to access the reservoir on Bay Road, locating it in a neighboring office.
While updating policies and procedures and the employee handbook, Malloy said his days since coming to Hadley are already busy, whether focused on the daily business of running the town or confronting longer term challenges.
Malloy and Sanders James are also having monthly events called “The Morning Show” where people can drop in at a location for conversation. Outside of those times, Malloy said the doors to his office are always open.
“To me, it’s all part of the job, and it’s been really fun,” Malloy said.
