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Date: 1/5/2023
HAMPDEN – Town Administrator Bob Markel is looking at the future of Hampden, in 2023 and beyond. “There’s a lot going on in this little town,” Markel told Reminder Publishing.
Fiber optic
“The long-term important project is our fiber optic project to extend internet service to all residents who want it,” Markel said, adding that it would give residents a choice between Spectrum and Whip City Fiber. The “town has an interest in” attracting and “retaining young professionals as residents. It’s important to the future workforce,” he said.
Town House move
A report on the condition of Town Hall will be delivered to the Board of Selectmen by the engineering consultation firm Tighe and Bond in February. The report will explore how much work would be needed to make the building accessible and address any structural issues.
The cost of one item, replacing the building’s windows, will be covered by money from the state government bond bill, Markel noted.
Markel said that once the report is received, the Board of Selectmen will decide whether to ask the town for the funds to repair the building or to move the town offices to another location. He suggested moving the offices to Thornton W. Burgess School, but he said that would have to be negotiated with the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, which currently leases the building.
Markel also tossed out the idea of building a new town hall on the site that was proposed for a self-storage facility in 2021. Because of ongoing litigation, that option would depend on a judge ruling in the town’s favor and the current owner’s willingness to sell the land to Hampden.
Building expansions
Two major town buildings are expected to expand in the new year. The Senior Center Building Committee is “moving quickly,” said Markel, adding that a presentation and funding request might appear on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.
Meanwhile, there are multiple options for the fire station project, ranging from a renovation of the existing footprint to a completely new structure on another site. Tecton Architects, the firm designing the expansion, will meet with residents for feedback on Jan. 17 at the Town House. Markel said he expects an expansion of the existing building will ultimately be the option that is brought before Town Meeting.
Other topics
Markel cited other projects that are on the town’s radar. A $1.3 million earmark from the state’s Transportation Bond Bill will be used to update and continue the sidewalk along Main Street to Somers Road. A design already exists for a sidewalk along Somers Road and Allen Street and Markel said he would seek a grant from the state’s Gaming Commission to fund that project if there was a desire to undertake that project.
Two projects that will shape the town’s future will be worked on in 2023. A government study committee was approved at the 2022 Special Town Meeting. The committee will examine how to streamline the town’s governmental structure and explore everything from adding or eliminating policies to how many members should sit on the Board of Selectmen.
While the government study committee reviews the current government, a $75,000 grant will be used to create a new master plan, a document that would help define the town’s direction over the next five to 10 years. Both reports are due in May 2024.