Town braces for closings

By Sarah M. Corigliano

Assistant Managing Editor

HAMPDEN On June 30, for the first time in 114 years, the Hampden Free Public Library will close its doors until further notice.

On that same day, the Senior Center will close and the Senior Center Director will lose her job. The Recreation Department's director will also be laid off.

In addition, two vacancies in the Police Department will not be filled and, at times, there may be only one officer on duty in the town.

The town's Highway Department will also have to cut back on services, the worst effect of which residents will likely feel in the winter when officials will have to decide where, when and how much to plow, salt and sand.

These cutbacks are the result of the failure of a Proposition 2 1/2 override which Hampden voters defeated at their Annual Town Election last Monday. Prior to the meeting, the Board of Selectmen had warned that, without the override, these services would be cut.

This Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Selectmen will meet with department heads and the public to discuss the procedural side of the impending layoffs, closures and cutbacks that the town will see at the start of the new fiscal year.

The Library

"Our Trustees met last night and decided we will close the doors on June 30 at 6 p.m.," Hampden Library Director Ellen Bump explained to The Reminder last Thursday. "It will be our last day open after 114 years."

Bump explained that the library will stop circulating materials on June 1 because everything needs to be back on the library's shelves before closing.

All summer reading programs have been cancelled, as well as every other library program. All six staff members will be laid off, including Bump.

Three thousand four hundred sixty five town residents are library card holders, and they will have to conduct research, and find other information and resources at other area libraries, assuming they will be allowed to borrow materials there.

"There have been a lot of tears shed by patrons," Bump said. "Little children brought us condolence cards, and they're the saddest ones to see how this is. This is where they learn to read, learn how to share a book and interact with people ... I feel so bad for the seniors [also], that beautiful building and all the effort and energy that went into constructing it. It breaks my heart for them, too."

Bump joined the library as director eight years ago. She said she has seen many changes over that time.

"Our attendance and circulation has increased tremendously," she said. "I think we're a more dynamic place than we used to be."

Throughout the year the library is a central part of the Hampden community. A visitor at various times will notice the sound of toddlers participating in storytime, the Garden Club's festive decorations adorning shelves and windows at holiday time, or the sight of Hampden students using the Homework Center. Bump said attendance at the Homework Center has increased 230 percent over its original turnout.

The current library staff of six includes Children's Librarian Diane Raginer, who has been at the library for almost three years; Cataloger Cindy Rowley, who has been at the library for seven years; Margie Thomsen who became full time at the library about a year ago; Young Adult Librarian Christina Fairman who has been with the library for five years; and Alison Reif, a high school senior and the library's page who has worked there for about a year.

Board of Selectmen Chairman James Smith said the library will be closed, but that the town will allow the materials to remain in the closed library, which is located within the Town Hall.

When asked if she would return to her job if the library reopens, Bump said "in a heartbeat."

The Senior Center

The new Hampden Senior Center, which is a hub of social, educational and recreational programs for Hampden seniors, will also close its doors indefinitely next month. Director Becky Moriarty explained to The Reminder that, save for two programs, senior services in Hampden will end on June 30.

"We are slated to close -- our last day will be June 30," she said.

The two programs which are not funded by the town -- congregate meals and home delivered meals; and the outreach program -- are funded by Greater Springfield Senior Services. They will not end, but they will have to find a new home base.

Moriarty explained that the outreach worker helps Hampden seniors learn about fuel assistance, food stamps and food distribution.

"At this point we're really kind of on hold," Moriarty said. "We have to see how the meeting goes with the Selectmen to see what our chances for the future really are."

She said her establishment has also seen a great deal of disappointment in the last week.

"A lot of people are very upset and a lot of people still think they are going to find the money," she said.

However hopeful residents may be that the town's stabilization fund or more state assistance can bring these services back, Moriarty said the town is tapped.

"The stabilization fund is empty now," she said. "We had to drain it last year ... there's no cushion to fall back on."

All Senior Center employees will receive their layoff notices, and Moriarty said she is currently looking for another job.

"I'm looking, searching for another job," she said. "Hopefully I can stay in elder services. I would like to. I'm very sad at the thought that I would leave here ... of course it's disappointing for everyone."

The Recreation Department

Jay Fenlason will be the sole layoff in the Recreation Department, but he was responsible for the day to day operations of the department.

He explained that, since the Recreation Department's programs are self-supporting, children in town should still be able to participate in the sports and summer recreation programs. But more responsibility is going to fall to the Board of Recreation and the staff member who normally works 10-15 hours in a support capacity in the office.

Fenlason said he has worked in the town's Recreation Department for the last five years, overseeing the coordination of all the sports and activity programs, summer programs, adult programs and trips as well as the day-to-day operations of the office.

"I'm gonna be looking for a job," he said. "It's disappointing that the town chose to go this route. They had the opportunity and this is the path they chose. Hopefully the children who participate will not be affected. [The kids sports and youth programs] are a very important part of the growing up process."

The Police Department

Smith said the town did not plan to fill two vacancies in the Police Department until after the override vote. Those vacancies will now remain, and overall police services in town will be cut as a result of last Monday's override failure.

Smith said that, between the Police and Highway Departments, there will be about $150,000 in cuts. Reserve officers, who are used in the case of staff vacations, illnesses and other staff shortages, could possibly see major cuts. Smith explained that, while it's up to Acting Police Chief Jeff Farnsworth to make final decisions about where to scale back department operations, it's possible that some shifts will only include one police officer.

At Tuesday's meeting, Smith said he, the other Selectmen, and department heads will talk about the technicalities of layoffs and the minimum maintenance of closed buildings.

"We have to keep [the library and senior center] serviceable for the eventual point in time when we hope [they] can be opened," he explained.

In terms of the possible reopening of the Senior Center and Library in the future, Smith said nothing is certain.

"Until we get more revenue -- and the only opportunity to have additional revenue would be at another override," the buildings and services will remain closed. "I cannot speak for the Board, because we have not discussed this collectively, but my feeling is that it would not be appropriate to go back to voters and ask for a revote until next year."

In the next fiscal year, if the need arises for additional police beyond the officer(s) scheduled, Smith said the town will have to make a decision. Calling an off-duty Hampden officer will cost more money. Calling for help from a neighboring town would also be a possibility.

"We don't want to tax the resources of neighboring towns -- we would try to call in our own staff," he explained.

In terms of ambulance service, Smith said Hampden uses American Medical Response.

"They will try to keep [staff] dispatched as close to town as possible, but they can take longer than police," he explained. "Our cruisers have portable defibrillators, and officers are trained in emergency medical response. They're typically on site faster than an ambulance. [The lack of staffing] could really be a detriment."

In addition to layoffs and cutbacks, Smith said remaining town employees will experience a wage freeze for all non-union employees.

"This is a double hit because people went through a wage freeze two years ago when economic problems first started to surface," he said.

The Highway Department's cuts will be seen in lack of maintenance of town grounds, roadside mowing, and lack of spring and summer paving projects, save for any that are funded by the state.

With all these cutbacks, the town's obligations to the regional school district have been met for Fiscal Year 2005-2006.

"The regional school district agreed that, if the override failed, they would reduce the assessment to Hampden by $50,000, which would reduce the assessment in Wilbraham by $150,000," Smith explained. He added that this concession has been made for Wilbraham in the past, as well, when an override there did not pass.

He also said that additional state aid made up for the lower assessments and there should be a neutral impact on the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District.