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Date: 3/7/2023
HADLEY — The Select Board approved a three-year plan of rate increases for both water and sewer starting with the next fiscal year. Water rates would increase the first year, 12 percent, the second year, 6 percent and the third year, 6 percent. Sewage rates would increase 20 percent the first year, 10 percent the second year and 5 percent the third year.
Part of the reason for the increase in sewer rates is due to the doubling of the cost of processing sludge.
One of the tiers in water consumption, the low use tier, was eliminated to raise revenues.
Town Collector Susan Glowatsky warned that the rates in years two and three of the plan are projections. “People should be aware this could change,” she noted.
Among the variables in the rate plans are a wet summer, which could cut down on water use and affect revenues as well as unexpected repairs to the water system.
Select Board member Molly Keegan said the town has waited too long to raise the rates. Glowatsky said, “We need to revisit rates every year.”
In other action, the board decided to postpone its approval on the Green Community application until its next meeting on March 15. Resident Jack Czajkowski and Mimi Kaplan, senior planner for the Pioneer Valley Planning Authority, explained the application was in the late phase and almost ready to file. It must be filed by March 31 with the commonwealth.
The School Committee has already approved the plan, they said. Members of the Select Board wanted to see some updates to the draft plan.
Kaplan explained that if approved the town would receive $130,000 that could be used for a variety of energy saving projects in town buildings. Once approved, the town could then be eligible to apply for competing grants to fund more projects.
Department of Public Works Director Scott McCarthy explained how his department must address the conditions of Rocky Hill Road as well as part of Bay Road. “I don’t want to pave roads that need pipe work, but this one [Rocky Hill] can’t wait.” He added the work on the road would start in April or May.
The board approved the transfer of a Class One Auto Dealer’s License from Steve Lewis Subaru to Jeb Balise, who is buying the dealership and property. The board was told the intent would be to create a “new and modern dealership” on the location.
Town Clerk Jessica Spanknebel came before the board to seek approval for a trial of a new early voting plan. Under the new plan early voting would not take place by mail but would be conducted for the next election in person in the clerk’s office. The dates would be May 8 through May 12. The board approved the plan and Spanknebel said, “This will be a good testing ground to see where we go from here.”
A lengthy discussion took place about the recommendations of the Russell School Building Committee. Courtney Meyer and Dan Regish of the committee sought the board’s approval for $1.236 million in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to stabilize the former school building. Regish said the roof is missing slates and there are active leaks in the building.
Board members noted the proposal with their approval would have to go to Town Meeting for approval and that residents would want more information about what renovations would cost, the potential use of the building and if a buyer would be sought.
Meyer said funding is needed for an assessment of the building’s condition.
The school was opened in 1894 and is not compliant with laws concerning disabled access. Regish said one of the major issues to reuse the building would be an addition of an elevator. It would also need a sprinkler system installed.
The suggestion was made for the town to approach the Architectural Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that would offer five free hours of analysis of the building to better determine renovation options and costs before presenting voters with approving the CPA allocation.
Tim Neyhart of the Municipal Building Committee also spoke about the need to address the Russell School, saying the town has been discussing the building since 2015.
The board also announced it would be moving the location of its meetings at the Hadley Senior Center to a smaller room due to audio issues.
The Select Board also reminded residents of the upcoming Hadley Spring Clean Up Day on March 18 sponsored by the Climate Change Committee. Residents can gather starting at 8:30 a.m. at the west side of the Home Depot parking lot to receive bags and work gloves. The transfer station will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day and will accept roadside trash from anyone who has registered for the event. To register go to http://tinyurl.com/Springcleanupday2023.