HADLEY — Significant investments in the town’s water and sewer infrastructure and additional money that will go toward improving roads are among $2.25 million in spending approved by voters at special Town Meeting Thursday.
In a session that lasted less than 90 minutes, residents also agreed to spend $181,500 from the Community Preservation Act fund to move forward with designs for new multiuse paths on Middle and East streets and issued an advisory for the Select Board to pursue installing solar-powered beacons where the Norwottuck Rail Trail passes over Middle, East and West streets and Crosspath Road.
The 100-voter quorum at the Hopkins Academy Cafetorium was not reached until about nine minutes after the scheduled 7 p.m. start. Once underway, voters moved quickly through a warrant where almost all of the money came from either free cash transfers, water and sewer reserves or borrowing from those reserves, or within the limits of Proposition 2½, meaning no impacts on the tax rate.
One article that generated discussion was the CPA appropriation for designing the multiuse paths in town center, near both the elementary school and the public safety complex.
Town Administrator Nate Malloy said this would be a wise investment to prepare bid-ready specifications, allowing the town to access state funding outside Chapter 90 funds. Malloy said the hope is to get grants from the Complete Streets program for both this design work and up to $1.5 million for actual construction.
But Dan Dudkiewicz of Hockanum Road said he is skeptical of using town money to leverage state money. “I’m dead set against this,” Dudkiewicz said.
Residents who spoke in favor, like Nancy Bandman, of High Meadow Road, said that it’s important to build sidewalks for all and improve accessibility, while Select Board member David J. Fill II said this could help create an official school zone, and that the town should always try to secure state money.
Department of Public Works Director Scott McCarthy said a preliminary design was done using MassTrails money. McCarthy said he supported seeking Complete Streets money and that having a multiuse path on East Street would help slow down traffic.
Meanwhile, the advisory for putting in flashing lights at rail trail crossings, brought forward as a petition spearheaded by Linda LaDuc of Kimberly Lane, received widespread support. LaDuc said there are dangers for bicyclists, walkers and skateboarders and she worries for drivers after a recent incident in which she nearly saw people on scooters hit by a vehicle.
“I think this is overdue, I’m glad it was brought up and I think the Select Board should look into this,” said Adam Bourgault of Russell Street.
“I love this,” added Jessica Kem, of West Street, observing that crossing Middle Street, in particular, can be dicey for people.
Andy Morris-Friedman of Roosevelt Street, though, said the town should put pressure on the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, which oversees the rail trail, to make improvements.
Another question arose over whether it would be a smart investment to spend $75,000, including $52,500 in free cash, to demolish a home at 234 Middle St. Voters at annual Town Meeting in 2024 agreed to acquire the 1.26-acre property for $325,000 for a potential rebuilding of the neighboring DPW headquarters.
Dudkiewicz suggested that the town could save money by having the Fire Department use the deteriorating dwelling for training. Interim Fire Chief Robert Flaherty, though, said that between paperwork and permits, that would likely increase the costs to the town.
For infrastructure work, voters agreed to borrow $750,000 from sewer reserves and $350,000 from water reserves to begin improving pipes and mains and a backlog of repairs identified in a recent Tighe & Bond report.
Paul Mokrzecki, who chairs the Capital Planning Committee, said this would be “scratching the surface” of what needs to be done, with more work likely to be proposed in the coming years.
Town Meeting approved $200,000 in borrowing to supplement Chapter 90 transportation funding from the state, allowing more roads to be resurfaced and rebuilt.
Select Board member Randy Izer said this request was reduced from $750,000, adding that the town never has enough for roadwork.
Another $200,000 in borrowing will go toward the Russellville Brook Bridge on Route 47. This will provide a local match for the culvert and bridge work there and make the town more competitive for grants and state money.
An additional $40,000 in CPA funding will be used to scan and digitize maps for five town cemeteries and $30,000 in CPA funding will pay for a consultant to update the Open Space and Recreation Plan.
For vehicles, $95,000 in free cash will buy a new replacement police cruiser, $90,000 in borrowing will buy a new fire administrative vehicle, $90,000 from water reserves will buy a new DPW pickup truck and $30,000 in free cash will make repairs to two DPW trucks.
For building improvements, $150,000 in water reserves will replace a so-called backpulse tank, $60,000 in free cash will install a new exhaust system at the public safety complex that complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, $45,000 in sewer reserves will pay for a pump replacement, $16,000, of which $10,000 is drawn from free cash, will replace a broken waste oil heater at the DPW, and $11,000 in free cash will install new carpets at the Senior Center and painting and the Hadley Library and police department.
For equipment, $50,030 in free cash will go toward buying computers, in bulk, for several departments, while $5,000 from Hadley Media’s reserves will be used to purchase supplies.
Voters also gave the Select Board authority to reach payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with farmers who have installed solar on their properties, made a series of transfers that Select Board Chairwoman Amy Parsons described as “best business practice” for the town and allowed the moderator to dispense with formal vote counting when there is a clear two-thirds majority.
