HAMPDEN — On May 12, the town of Hampden will conduct its spring Town Meeting at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of the former Thornton W. Burgess School. Voters will weigh in on the budget, capital expenses for the school district and funding related to moving the town offices to the former Thornton W. Burgess School at 85 Wilbraham Rd. There are also articles to renovate the Senior Center and fire station.
Article 7 will present the budget for fiscal year 2026 at $17.78 million, 7.17% higher than FY25. The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District assessment makes up $8.85 million of the town’s operating budget.
There are several capital requests from the school district, three of which would fund improvements to Green Meadows School. Article 20 would replace $35,000 worth of flooring at the school, Article 21 asks for $35,000 to repave the parking lot and Article 22 seeks $92,500 to replace IT switches.
Upgrades to Minnechaug Regional High School are also on the warrant. The financial responsibility for capital costs for the high school is split in keeping with each town’s percentage of enrollment. About 18% of the students at Minnechaug live in Hampden. Based on this, the school district is asking for $72,016 for upgrades to the camera system in Article 25. Article 24 requests $2,141 for a radio repeater at the school, the $6,812 in Article 23 would pay for mini splits for classrooms in with students whose Individualized Education Plan calls for temperature control and Article 26 would buy a Kubota RTV for the school, at a cost of $8,622.
Under state law, veterans can apply for an exemption from some or all of their property tax, and the money is reimbursed to the town by the state. Article 12 asks if the town should opt into the provision of the 2024 Hero Act, which allows municipalities to increase property tax exemptions for veterans by as much as 100%. This additional savings to the veteran would be borne by the town and not eligible for reimbursement.
The town recently exited a lease agreement with the school district for the property at 85 Wilbraham Rd., with the intention of relocating the town offices to that building. Three articles need to pass at Town Meeting to follow through on this plan. Article 13 would change the purpose of the property from a school to municipal offices. Article 14 asks for $80,000 to fund the cost of moving the town departments and the library to the new site. An additional $75,000 is requested in Article 15 to repair the building.
Two other buildings in town also require renovation. Article 18 would use $230,000 to renovate and repair the Senior Center. Meanwhile, the town is seeking a debt authorization in Article 19, so that $8.3 million can be borrowed to repair, renovate and expand the existing fire station at 19 North Rd.
Article 28 seeks authorization to purchase a 2.32-acre property on North Road. The funds were previously appropriated for the land. Article 29 would use $27,500 in community preservation funding to design, engineer and construct a new trailhead on the land purchased in the previous article. There is also a request for $22,000 in community preservation funding for shade structures at the town’s spray park.
The state passed the Affordable Homes Act in summer 2024. Under the legislation, cities and towns are required to allow “accessory dwelling units,” including tiny homes and in-law apartments. The units cannot be rejected; however, reasonable restrictions can be placed on them through zoning laws. Article 31 would adopt restrictions that limit the units’ size, parking accommodations and placement on a lot.
