SOUTH HADLEY — The special and annual Town Meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at South Hadley High School, 153 Newton St.
The two warrants feature a combined 23 articles and can be found at Town Hall or online at southhadley.org under the Town Clerk tab.
The special Town Meeting will feature three articles to see if the town will vote to transfer funds for snow and ice bills incurred in fiscal year 2025, pay for special education school transportation for FY25 and transfer funds from the FY19 and FY22 capital budgets.
The snow and ice allocation are for $190,000 and the special education transportation transfer is from free cash for $1.2 million.
The transfers from FY19 and FY22 are for a combined $510,000 and, if approved, will be used for chrome books and trailhead kiosks.
The Town Meeting warrant features 20 articles with the FY25 budget being Article 10.
The Selectboard approved the FY26 budget at its March 18 meeting, which was approximately $58 million, a 2.95% increase from the FY25 budget. At the time, Town Administrator Lisa Wong said that the budget will feature a loss of more than 27 positions with around 20 coming from the School Department.
Articles 10 through 13 are the financial articles.
Article 11 seeks to allocate $1.5 million in capital funds for 12 different projects. Five of the projects are in the School Department, two for the Police Department three for the Department of Public Works, one for the library and one for cable tv.
Each allocation request is for an upgrade of old equipment, a new vehicle or maintenance to Titus Pond or the elevators and HVAC system at the schools.
Article 12 looks to transfer from WWTP enterprise fund receipts the sum of $233,000 to make purchases, repairs and replacements in the wastewater capital budget.
Those requests include a pickup with a plow vehicle, an inflow and infiltration study, a new gate, a water heater and underground tank removal and electrical repairs.
Article 13 includes transferring $150,000 from the Ledges Retained Earnings for capital purchases, repairs and replacements.
Articles 14 though 20 are general articles and citizen petitions.
Article 14, if approved, would allow the Selectboard to establish a speed limit of 25 mph on any roadway inside a thickly settled or business district in the town on any way that is not a state highway.
Article 15 would allow the town to establish the South Hadley Affordable Housing Trust, which would aim to provide for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in South Hadley for the benefit of low- and moderate-income households, to support efforts to improve housing affordability for town and to fund community housing, as defined in General Laws Chapter 44B.
Article 16 seeks to establish an old firehouse museum local historic district. According to the warrant, if approved, the bylaw would help aid in the preservation and protection of the “distinctive characteristics” and architecture of buildings and places significant in the history of the town, the maintenance and improvement of their settings and the encouragement of new building designs compatible with existing architecture.
Article 17 is a proposed zoning map change designation for the parcel of land located on the west side of Old Lyman Road from Business C to Residence A-1.
Article 18 is a zoning bylaw amendment to create a district by interesting a new village district and mixed-use zoning district.
Article 19 is another zoning bylaw amendment that seeks to amend accessory dwelling units.
Article 20 is a citizen petition to adopt a welcoming community trust ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is to affirm that the town is a welcoming community and to promote trust between community members and employees as well as facilitate effective law enforcement and public safety policies.
Article 1 will hear and act upon the report of town officer, board and committees.
Articles 2-9 are consent agenda items.
Article 2 would authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the Selectboard, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of revenue for FY26.
Article 3 would authorize the treasurer to enter into compensating balance agreements with bank offices having their principal offices in Massachusetts during FY26.
Article 4 seeks to authorize the Selectboard to defend against all suits brought against South Hadley.
Article 5 is to authorize the Selectboard to apply for and accept federal or state grants as they become available.
Article 6 would vote to accept Chapter 90 funds which is for highway improvements.
Article 7 would vote to fix the compensation and salary of the town moderator, Selectboard members and assessors.
Article 8 would authorize the total expenditure for the revolving fund to be expended on Buttery Brook Farm for $40,000 and Council on Aging Woodlawn Café for $50,000.
Article 9 would authorize the Selectboard and School Committee to enter into contracts in excess of three years in FY26.
The South Hadley Selectboard approved the warrant on April 29.
