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Date: 3/30/2018
HAMPDEN – The Town of Hampden hosted a Special Town Meeting on March 28 at Thornton W. Burgess Middle School. By a rough count, over 200 residents turned up to vote on seven Warrant Articles, with four of them being “no action” votes.
On March 21 the School Committee voted unanimously to send a letter asking the Hampden Select Board that no action be taken on Warrant Articles Four, Five, Six, and Seven due to wording concerns.
At the Special Town Meeting, Hampden Town Moderator Robert Howarth explained to residents that they would be taking Warrant Articles four, five, six and seven out of order, as they would be voted on by the Town to take no action.
Warrant Article Four
Warrant Article Four was regarding a proposed amendment to Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District agreement. The Article reads, “To see if the Town will vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, of the Regional Agreement, by adding a new subparagraph providing that “Students in Grades 7 or 8 regardless of their town of residence, may be permanently assigned to schools in either Hampden or Wilbraham, including assignment to Minnechaug Regional High School” or take any other action relative thereto.”
Ultimately, Article Four would have allowed the District to assign seventh or eighth grade students to a school that is outside of their town of residence if deemed necessary due to the closure of one or more schools within the Regional School District. Additionally, it could include assignment of such students to Minnechaug Regional High School.
When Article Four came up, the Advisory Committee suggested there be no action. A motion was made and seconded for the town to take no action. Members of the audience raised their yellow voter cards to take no action on Article Four.
Warrant Article Five
Warrant Article Five was also regarding a proposed amendment to the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District agreement. It read, “To see if the Town will vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, of the Regional Agreement by adding a new subparagraph providing that “Students in Grade 6, regardless of their town or residence, may be permanently assigned to schools in either Hampden or Wilbraham, or take any other action relative thereto.”
If this warrant had been acted upon, it would have allowed the District to assign a sixth grade student to a school that may be outside of their town of residence if necessary due to the closure of one or more schools within the Regional School District.
A motion for no action was made and seconded for Article Five, and all voters raised their voter cards for no action without any opposing votes.
Warrant Article Six
Similar to Warrant Articles Four and Five, Article Six was also a proposed amendment to the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District Agreement. “To see if the Town will vote to amend Section III, Paragraph B, Subparagraph 2, by changing approval of voluntary requests for transfer from the School Committee to the Superintendent of Schools. The revised language would read: “Students may also be accommodated in other schools within the District when approved by the child’s parents and the Superintendent of Schools provided that the Superintendent determines that such an assignment or reassignment is prudent, can be accomplished, and is in the best interest of the student” or take any other action relative thereto.”
In explanation, the article would have given the Superintendent of Schools the power to accept or deny student-transfer requests from school to school based on the criteria mentioned. In addition, this would no longer be the responsibility of the School Committee.
The motion for no action was made and seconded. The majority voted no action on this Warrant Article.
Warrant Article Seven
Much shorter in verbiage than the other Warrants, Article Seven was in regard to transferring funds for law and claims. “To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Assessor’s Overlay Account to Law and Claims #015081 or take any other action relative thereto.”
Again, the Advisory Committee recommended no action on Warrant Article Seven. The Article was moved and seconded, and the majority voted for no action on Article Seven.
Warrant Article One
Moving back to the start, Howarth introduced Warrant Article One, which reads, “To see if the Town will vote to amend the General Bylaws of the Town of Hampden by adding a new Chapter XVI, Prohibition on Marijuana Establishments.” For the formal verbiage of the Zoning Bylaw, go to http://www.hampden.org/ and click on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
Howarth explained that this is a general bylaw, which would require a majority vote. If the majority prevails, they would then move out of order once again to Warrant Article Three, as Warrant Article Two would become moratorium. Howarth also noted that the Attorney General’s Office suggested that both Warrant Article’s One and Three should be in place to protect the town, should the town want that.
The Advisory Committee recommended favorable action to prohibit marijuana establishments in town. Howarth rephrased that a “yes” vote was in favor of the ban. The vote was taken, and majority prevailed in favor of prohibiting marijuana establishments in Hampden. Roughly 15 individuals voted against this Warrant Article.
Warrant Article Three
Again out of order, Warrant Article Three was in place, “To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaws by adding a new Section 6.13 to Prohibit Marijuana Establishments within the Town of Hampden. For the formal language of the amendment to the Zoning Bylaw, go to http://www.hampden.org/ and click on the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
The Advisory Committee recommended a favorable action on Warrant Article Three. In addition, the Planning Board unanimously voted five to zero to recommend this warrant.
Warrant Article Three needed a two-thirds vote in order to prevail. At the time of voting, there was a two-thirds majority with again, roughly only 15 against.
Warrant Article Two
With Warrant Articles One and Three both approved, Howarth reminded voters that this made Warrant Article Two moratorium. The Town then voted to take no action on Article Two, and the majority prevailed.