Capital Planning Committee Chair Nicholas Manolakis presents capital projects to voters at Town Meeting.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
WILBRAHAM — Wilbraham voters considered the town’s budget, bylaws and citizen petition articles at its May 12 Town Meeting. While most items passed, it was not without debate.
Voters approved the town’s $55.83 million budget for fiscal year 2026, including a $30.51 million assessment for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. Tim Collins, a member of the School Committee, said he was “disappointed” that no additional money was added to the budget to address the overcrowding at the middle school. He said a study was needed to determine a solution.
Finance Committee Chair Todd Schneider said the body had not been approached with a dollar amount for such a study for inclusion in the budget. Meanwhile, resident Michael Dane commented that the overcrowded middle school was due to the School Committee’s decision to close Hampden’s Thornton W. Burgess School in 2018.
Capital expenses
The town’s capital project’s list totaled $1.77 million, including $1.14 million for the Highway Department. Capital Planning Committee Chair Nicholas Manolakis explained that replacing three dump trucks in FY26 will save the town a significant amount of money as the price for each is expected to increase from $296,500 to $435,000 in FY27.
Manolakis said there are “very large costs coming down the pipeline.” Next year, he expects $6.49 million in projects between the town and town-owned schools. In FY28, Wilbraham is slated to have $1.3 million in capital expenses, while Wilbraham’s portion of the school district’s projects will be $14.48 million. For some of those projects, the district is pursuing a funding agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which typically reimburses more than 50% of project costs, he explained.
Resident Matt Villamaino pointed out that the town approved $300,000 for pickleball courts at Memorial School, this year it was being asked for funding for roof repairs and next year a new roof will be needed for a different portion of the building.
“I think the town needs to come to a conclusion on what we do with Memorial School,” Villamaino said. Manolakis pointed out that even if the town sells the building, the roof work will fetch a higher asking price.
Because the cost of capital projects at Minnechaug Regional High School is split between the towns based on enrollment, Wilbraham pays roughly 80% of the price tag. All four projects at the high school, totaling $369,408, were approved.
ADU bylaw
Planning Board Chair James Rooney presented a bylaw regarding accessory dwelling units, which are separate housing accommodations from a primary residence and include tiny homes or in-law apartments. In summer 2024, the state passed the Affordable Housing Act, which made these units “as by right,” meaning the Planning Board cannot deny them if they adhere to the law. It can, however, impose restrictions.
The bylaw limited the size of the units to 900 square feet, attached to a home or as a separate structure. Only one unit is allowed per lot, and they cannot be used for short-term rentals. The main point of the bylaw was that the units would be subject to a site plan review, however, Rooney said if the bylaw fails, any unit that fits the state law would be allowed with a building permit.
Residents had various opinions. One person said the units could “change the character” of the town and urged voters to vote it down. Karen Romano said she has an elderly parent and a child with special needs, and the units could provide an alternative to group homes for them. Planning Board member Bradley Gregory said half of renters and a quarter of homeowners in town were cost burdened, paying more than 30% of their income for housing. The bylaw was passed.
Speed limit
It took a recount, but the town adopted a speed limit of 25 mph in thickly settled areas without an existing posted speed limit, reduced from a townwide 30 mph. Police Chief Edward Lennon told voters that the change would mostly affect side roads in residential neighborhoods.
A resident said speeding on side roads was not much of a problem in town, but Lennon told him the police receive complaints daily.
Lennon admitted that it would be “difficult for enforcement,” but said if there was a complaint, the police would post a radar speed sign to collect data and station an officer to pull over speeders if needed. Lennon said the change may not lead to people adhering to 25 mph but might lower someone’s speed from 40 mph to 35 mph. Select Board member Michael Squindo said “a reduction in speed limits is a reduction in injuries” to walkers.
A two-thirds vote was needed to pass the change. Moderator Jane Clark declared the vote failed, but when a recount was requested, it passed with a vote of 116-61.
Citizen petitions
There were two citizen petitions on the warrant. The first would have limited flags flown on town property to federal, state and local flags, those of military branches and POW/MIA flags. The article faced strong pushback when petitioner Dave Sanders said it would apply to the inside of schools as well as their grounds.
A middle school teacher said flags from different countries are displayed when students are learning about different places and cultures, and a variety of national flags are hung in the cafeteria. A former teacher decried the inability of a student to wave a flag that reflects their heritage.
Richard Howell said the article is meant to apply to official displays only. He said “political agendas” should not be on flagpoles and that the cultures taught in school were being forced on schoolchildren. His remarks received a loud chorus of booing.
Former Veteran Service Agent Jered Sasen said the town has a policy in place that aligns with the state’s guidelines and requires Select Board approval before flags can be flown on town land. He also noted only government flags can be flown on government buildings. The measure was defeated.
The other citizen’s petition asked the Select Board to apply to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for an additional all-alcohol on-premises license so the Guilty Grape could expand its offerings. Clark declared the article out of order and Town Counsel Brian Winner explained that the action spelled out in the article would not affect the stated purpose, as increasing alcohol licenses can only be done by petitioning the General Court for a Special Act.
Debate erupted around whether an amendment could be made from the floor, which Winner said could not be done in this case, as it was not a minor change, but one to the heart of the article. Romano, who was the petitioner, said she was told there was an issue with the article when filing it, but was not given more details, and said the town should work with petitioners. She was told that as it was not put forward by a town board or department, the town cannot offer legal advice on the matter.
Clark allowed the article to be voted on as a strictly “advisory” measure. It passed.
HERO Act and meals tax
Three articles related to the state’s HERO Act were passed. The law allows municipalities to increase the property tax exemptions for military veterans and adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment. It also provides a tax exemption for parents or guardians of veterans killed in action, commonly known as Gold Star families. The changes are expected to cost about $116,424, but Schneider said the adoption of a proposed .75% town meals tax would help offset that.
However, several restaurant owners and residents spoke against the meals tax. Finance Committee member Mike Mazzuca, speaking as a resident, said Wilbraham is business friendly and one of the reasons is that there is no meals tax. Another resident said he had not spoken to any restauranteurs who were in favor of the tax. Rice’s Fruit Farm Dominic Meloni said Wilbraham is not a tourist attraction, so in effect, “We’re taxing ourselves.”
Despite Select Board Chair Susan Bunnell explaining that the tax is just $0.75 on $100 bill and resident Aurora Pierangelo Frias noting that Wilbraham is one of only a few Hampden County towns without the tax, which would bring in about $40,000 annually, the measure failed.
