The Hampden Selectboard hears a proposal from Dave Dussault to open a motorcycle sales business, Big Dave’s Power Sports, during its Sept. 22 meeting.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
HAMPDEN — Town Administrator Brian Domina presented the Selectboard with a lengthy list of upgrades and fixes needed at the new town hall, 85 Wilbraham Road, before the town offices can move into the building.
As Domina explained at the Selectboard’s Sept. 22 meeting, the 1967 building, formerly Thornton W. Burgess Middle School, has asbestos floor tiles.
Abide Environmental Contracting and Services is in the process of removing the tiles, which Domina estimated will take about a week, since they are “coming up on their own,” he said.
The drop ceiling tiles must also be replaced because they have been painted, ruining their fire rating. Painting and lighting updates must also be done. Information technology upgrades are in the works. Domina said he has requested internet connectivity be installed by Spectrum. Aside from this, a dumpster and fire extinguishers have been ordered for the property. An exterior sign will also need to be installed at the site.
The most expensive upgrade for the building will be electronic locks for the doors and security cameras. Domina said the town was supposed to receive an $80,000 earmark from the fiscal year 2026 state budget to cover these items, but the funding has yet to be released.
To save money, he said, the town could construct temporary walls to limit access to parts of the building. Both options are being considered, he said.
While the list of items is long, Selectboard Chair John Flynn said the return on investment will make it worthwhile. He pointed out that constructing a town hall from scratch would cost between $12 million and $20 million. The town is spending just $2 million to upgrade the former school.
The new town hall will also need a new HVAC system, estimated to cost at least $100,000, and that is not the only building in town with such a need. The Senior Center’s HVAC system is expected to cost at least $250,000. Funding for both HVAC systems is included on the Oct. 27 Town Meeting warrant.
The warrant also includes requests for a new police cruiser, a loader for the Highway Department and a $20,000 pickup truck for the Parks Department. The town plans to request $12,500 to wire a shed and install a new sign at the Transfer Station. Also, the Cemetery Commission is seeking funding to create a turnaround cul-de-sac at the Old Hampden Cemetery.
“We’re talking almost $750,000 at the Special Town Meeting,” Selectboard member Donald Davenport said. Since work on the Senior Center roof is on hold until the HVAC system is replaced, he proposed transferring $10,000 set aside from that project to cover a shortfall in the Council on Aging budget. The shortfall is the result of state funding being eliminated after the town’s FY25 budget was passed. He also suggested using $10,000 of unneeded funding from the Hampden Country Regional Retirement System line item to pay for other projects.
Reminder Publishing will examine the fall Town Meeting warrant more fully in a future issue.
