South Hadley Town Meeting members approve most articles, including $1.2M for town departments

Town Meeting members vote on Article 22 during Town Meeting on May 13.
Photo credit: SHCTV15

SOUTH HADLEY — Although the precarious budget situation dominated the night, Town Meeting members also approved other crucial articles during the Annual Town Meeting on May 13.

In addition to approving a $61.4 million operating budget, members voted in favor of most of the articles presented, including money for capital items.

After multiple amendments from residents looking to save the town money and decrease certain allocations, specifically in the Police Department, Town Meeting members approved Article 14, which allocates $1.2 million in capital funds for different projects across town departments.

An amendment attempted to decrease the original allocation total by $124,000, including three requests from the Police Department for firearm replacements, technology and one vehicle replacement. That motion, however, failed 66-35.

Six of the approved projects are in the Police Department, four of the projects are in the School Department, three of the projects are at the library, and the remaining six projects are general maintenance, facility and DPW projects.

Each allocation request is for an upgrade of old equipment, aesthetic, preventive maintenance or HVAC system at the schools. There was also a request for the Capital Stabilization Fund to accrue $50,000, but the Selectboard did not recommend that allocation.

Members approved Article 15, which will transfer $625,000 from the Wastewater Treatment Plant enterprise fund to make purchases, repairs and replacements in the wastewater capital budget. Those requests include phase one design services for the Main Street pump station, a grant and various maintenance items.

Article 16 transfers $75,000 from the Ledges Retained Earnings for capital purchases, repairs and replacements. The repairs include a clubhouse phone system, convection oven, restaurant doors and cart path paving, and general repairs and maintenance.

There was no motion for Article 17, which asked the town if they support a $100,000 transfer to the Special Education Stabilization Fund.
Article 18, which was approved, transfers $50,000 from free cash to the South Hadley Falls Redevelopment Fund. These funds will be used to target underutilized properties to engage in pre-development activities.

Article 19 allows the town to transfer $400,000 from free cash to pay for snow and ice bills incurred in fiscal year 2026, and Article 20 repeals and replaces Zoning Bylaw Chapter 255-91 Floodplain Regulations to meet current regulatory standards for floodplains. Planning and Conservation Director Anne Capra said the bylaw brings the town into compliance with new FEMA and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation standards for managing floodplains.

Article 21 is a zoning bylaw amendment that aims to insert new definitions related to types and regulations of signs. Capra said the bylaw brings the town into compliance with a 2015 Supreme Court ruling around regulating content in signs.

“That was found to be a violation of our First Amendment rights, and so since then, towns have been updating their sign bylaws,” Capra stated.

Article 22 was a citizen petition to strike “voting members,” and replace it with “residents of South Hadley,” so that it reads, “Only residents of the Town of South Hadley are entitled to address any Annual or Special Town Meeting, except that others may speak to articles at the discretion of the Town Moderator or upon a majority vote of the voting members.”

An amendment was made to change the wording to “voters of South Hadley,” but that did not pass. Article 22 in its original form did not pass, either.

Members approved Article 1, which allows for a Massachusetts School Building Authority project update for Mosier Elementary School from Diane Mulvaney, who chairs the Mosier School Elementary Building Committee.

Articles 12 and 13, which looked to establish and allocate funds for an override stabilization fund, were tabled because no motion was made at Town Meeting. Town Administrator Lisa Wong explained that the Selectboard decided it would be too confusing to make multiple funds. She said that any additional funds that were approved with an override could go to the General Stabilization Fund.

Articles 2 through 9, consent agenda items, were all approved.

Budget vote

Town Meeting representatives approved Article 10 on the warrant, which was the town’s $61.4 million budget that included using $1.5 million in free cash to prevent cuts in the School Department and fund the library in fiscal year 2027. The budget passed by a 101-6 vote.

The additional free cash will prevent the elimination of administrative positions, the reduction of high school staffing, and the elimination of sports, extracurriculars, and music programs in middle school and high school for the next fiscal year. South Hadley Public Schools were facing a $1.2 million budget deficit, so the allocation will level services and allow them to make some strategic investments.

Town Meeting also approved Article 11 by a 93-12 vote, which means $1.75 million will be raised and appropriated for the General Stabilization Fund, contingent upon the passage of a Proposition 2 ½ override.

On May 5, the Selectboard and town administration announced that they might have a special election on Tuesday, Sept. 1, to see if voters would approve a tax override to help save city services. The proposals from Town Administrator Lisa Wong included a $3.5 million tax override, but the exact amount or date hasn’t been finalized yet.