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Date: 4/25/2023
SOUTH HADLEY — The South Hadley Selectboard reviewed and approved the upcoming Town Meeting draft warrant, which includes 25 articles, during its April 18 meeting.
The proposed fiscal year 2024 budget for the town is $54,266,925 and would be approved with the passing of Article 9.
Article 10 on this year’s draft warrant will see if the town will transfer $846,700 from the unreserved free cash account to make a variety of capital purchases. For the DPW some of this money will go toward an asbestos abatement, new HVAC, two new garage doors and a mini excavator ($90,000).
The Police Department is also receiving a share of the cash for capital improvements including $135,000 for two new vehicle replacements, and other funding toward the replacement of their water heater with a tankless system.
In the schools each level of the public schools from elementary to high school will be receiving funding from free cash to support improved security, the conversion of a computer lab to another classroom at the high school, a 10-passenger van and the middle school HVAC replacement ($100,000 specifically).
Article 11 looks to see if the town will transfer from the Wastewater Treatment Plant retained earnings the sum of $310,000 to purchase different repairs or replacements. They will receive money to purchase a channel grinder, a thickener room heating system, and to carry out the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan created for the town.
Article 14 will see if the town will vote to transfer $715,000 from free cash to undertake Phase 2 of the improvements program for Buttery Brook Park which is dedicated to active recreational purposes under state law.
There are two related articles of note from the draft warrant with Articles 16 and 17 as they seek to have the town vote to accept a state law statute that allows further appropriation of all or a percentage not less than 25 percent of particular fees, charges or receipts to a stabilization fund established for the money received from the opioid settlements and create an opioid settlement stabilization fund under state law.
South Hadley was one of many communities that received a settlement against large opioid distribution companies and received $96,181 in 2022. According to Mass.gov the lawsuit alleged “unlawful conduct” by distributors and manufacturers of narcotic prescription pain medication under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970.
All the state’s municipalities that sought compensation from the settlement will be paid out over a 15-year period which means South Hadley will be collecting these funds until 2038, thus the proposed creation of a stabilization account for the settlement dollars. Over the next nine years, the town will continue to receive a total of $129,263, divided into smaller sums each year specifically from the well-known pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson.
Two other big items on the draft warrant are coming out of months of work from the Planning Board on exploring options for new bylaws related to Short-Term Rentals, as well as Accessory Dwelling Units.
Articles 20 and 21 look to see if the town will amend the current zoning bylaw in relation to short-term rentals and allow registration and licensing of residential short-term rental units.
Article 22 looks to amend the same zoning bylaw in regard to ADUs by amending and inserting the definition for ADUs. ADUs are described as a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. A use and regulations schedule will also be included to establish which districts an ADU may be permitted in and how they may be permitted, either by right or by site plan review.
Articles 23 and 24 are related to potential zoning changes in town. Article 23 is to see if the town will vote to amend the zoning map changing the designation of a 1.61 acre tract of land consisting of six parcels situated on the southeast corner of the intersection of Granby Road (Route 202) and Willimansett St. (Route 33) from the present zoning designation of Residence A-1 to Business A.
Article 24 looks to amend the zoning map changing the designation of a .69 acre parcel situation on the northeast corner of Amherst Road (Route 47) and the intersection of Pearl Street, from mixed zoning designation of Agricultural and Business B to all Business B.
South Hadley’s Annual Town Meeting will be Wednesday, May 10, at the South Hadley High School auditorium. According to Town Administrator Lisa Wong, there is potential for voting on Town Meeting warrants to go into a second day of deliberation and if so, Town Meeting would resume on Friday, May 12, also at the South Hadley High School auditorium.