SOUTH HADLEY — This year’s special Town Meeting will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m., at South Hadley High School, located at 153 Newton St.
The warrant features 11 articles with the final seven articles dealing with general and zoning articles. The Select Board approved the warrant during its Oct. 21 meeting.
The warrant with background information for each article can be found at southhadley.org.
The first article will feature hearing reports from town officers, boards and committees.
Article 2 is to see if the town will approve transferring from unreserved free cash or other available funds the sum of $6,552 for fiscal year 2023, FY24 and FY25 bills.
Article 3 seeks to transfer $800,000 from unreserved free cash or other available funds to health insurance. If approved, the funds would cover a mid-year premium increase of approximately 20% approved by the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust effective Oct. 1, 2025.
The trust implemented this adjustment in response to higher-than-anticipated claims costs across participating communities. This transfer will ensure that South Hadley can meet its employee and retiree health insurance obligations for the remainder of FY26.
Article 4 is a capital transfer that looks to take funds from FY23 with $23,144 from the Queensville Pond project and $19,550 from the library accessibility upgrades project. The $42,694 would be transferred to the Pearl Street culvert project if approved at Town Meeting.
Article 5 is to see if the town will accept the provisions of MGL Chapter 44 Section 54(B) to allow town trust funds to be invested in accordance with MGL Chapter 203C, the so-called “Prudent Investment Rule.”
As explained in the warrant, adoption of this rule would permit greater investment flexibility and diversification than is currently allowed under the Massachusetts Legal List of Investments. It would enable investment managers to utilize diversified mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and other appropriate instruments in accordance with the town’s existing Investment Policy.
Article 6 would establish a special education reserve fund. Superintendent Jennifer Voyik recommended that the School Committee consider the establishment of a Special Education Reserve Fund.
This type of fund is intended to provide school districts with the ability to respond to unanticipated or unbudgeted costs associated with special education placements and services such as an unexpected out-of-district placement, specialized transportation needs or additional support services for a student.
Voyik said these services are both mandated and often substantial, creating financial challenges that are difficult to absorb within an already approved operating budget.
Article 7 is a cryptocurrency ATM bylaw that looks to prohibit such machines. South Hadley is acting upon reports of the South Hadley Police Department, who found that unregulated cryptocurrency Automated Teller Machines pose risks to consumers, including financial fraud, money laundering and lack of recourse for users. The purpose of this article is to prohibit Cryptocurrency ATMs within the town to protect their citizens.
Article 8 is a home rule petition for liquor licenses. If approved, the vote would authorize the Selectboard to petition the General Court for special legislation to grant South Hadley 10 additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises, and five additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on premises.
Article 9 is a zoning bylaw amendment that seeks to amend the Zoning Bylaw Chapter 255 in regard to the creation of two new districts, Residential Core and Residential Mixed Use, by amending.
Article 10 is a zoning map amendment that seeks to change parcels from the Granby town line in the north along Routes 202/Granby Road and Route 33/Willimansett Street to the Chicopee city line in the south, from Residence A-1 and Business A to the Residential Core district, and from Residence A-1, Residence A-2, Business A, Business A-1, and Business C to the Residential Mixed Use district.
The proposed rezoning will eliminate the existing five different zoning districts in the subject area and create two new zoning districts along the subject corridor — Residential Core & Residential Mixed Use — to enable appropriate types of business development and new housing at different scales, and to establish a vibrant downtown corridor.
Article 11 is to see if the town will accept, acquire by gift, purchase, take by eminent domain or otherwise acquire, Ethan Circle as a public way.
This article proposes the acceptance of Ethan Circle as a public way, including any necessary easements. Acceptance would authorize the town to maintain the roadway, while the Homeowners Association remains responsible for stormwater management and other site elements outside the street right-of-way, consistent with subdivision requirements and state law.
