I am writing to clarify and correct certain information that was reported in The Reminder article “Leaders discuss potential town offices move.”
The current Town House (not Thornton Burgess) was gifted to the town of Hampden by Miss Elizabeth Sessions in 1931. The property on which Thornton W. Burgess is built was taken by eminent domain in 1966 (not 1997) for the purpose of a school. A two-thirds vote at our next annual Town Meeting will be required to change the purpose. This vote will be similar to the 1997 vote, which changed the purpose of a portion of the property that was taken in 1966 by eminent domain to construct the Senior Center on Allen Street.
The zone, which is currently Residential 4, would not have to be changed as Hampden Town Bylaws permit town buildings, other than fire station and highway department garages, to be located in Residential 4 districts.
In 2017 and again in 2024, the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School Committee informed the commonwealth and the town of Hampden that Thornton W. Burgess would no longer be needed or used as a school. That action in late 2024 allowed the lease on the building, which has always been owned by the town but leased to the Regional District for $1 a year, to be terminated, returning full control of the building to the town of Hampden.
Obviously, there will be a cost to the relocation, but repurposing Thornton W Burgess to house town offices provides a unique and cost-effective opportunity for Hampden. Moving the town offices to the building would allow the town of Hampden to address a number of longstanding, accessibility, office productivity, meeting space, storage space, parking, building environmental, mechanical and structural issues that have plagued the current Town House for years. The move would provide accessible, efficient town office space for years into the future. In addition, it would consolidate and provide added space for the much-needed expansion of popular community programs for all ages sponsored by Parks and Recreation. And, would provide added space for the Hampden Free Library’s programming, young adult, and children rooms, It would also provide permanent private offices (which are not available now) for other services such as Veterans Services and the Public Health Nurse. The building would also serve as a community emergency shelter should the need arise.
The Selectboard thanks The Reminder for their continuing coverage of this and other important town issues and encourage residents to offer their thoughts and comments and attend the Town Meeting in May.
Don Davenport
Hampden
Editor’s note: Reminder Publishing has made appropriate updates and corrections to this story on its website and regrets the errors and any resultant confusion.
