[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6089813,"mediaKeyId","2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c","parentId",2871825,"title","Hampden Select Board reviews town meeting warrant, prioritizes school security and building upgrades","audioSeconds",2051,"startMs",1372400,"endMs",3423460,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c&start=1372&end=3423","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c/thumbnail_1372400.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089813/Massachusetts/Hampden-Select-Board-reviews-town-meeting-warrant-prioritizes-school-security-and-building-upgrades","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089813-4deacfbf06f12ddb6fa4cebf3c7b9118/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141114&Signature=hl-PlugOHHTe7kRsRujLFPYYDDHk7ADIzpU4TVV8Y05FZxRlWA9LiW7v6Yi2ww9jtbZ53bVuafGn45UGWrdslUZG8aeCQS0jM-82f3Ay6txM529sZdHAF0s9IWipynjZ1kUWj2ROCOi55xDzkWIBiuiJ1LQn3vNCfmKWom8hNNhBwAdQmWrPOdTPbbQ49r8b2RpbqZvRVOKER5jNgoybgGqJY64CITLR91tq3gngr53pldQK-5OCfUQB~lyyZewff25O8hkOIHT-xZ2MCQES3doxjZFAdfiaPi-LCSXYIEmZZfc76lH~AxNf5HslKl2i6G4hit-6m9xkhDlwHdPIbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Hampden, MA","date","2025-04-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Hampden Select Board on April 2 reviewed proposed town meeting warrant articles and the town operating budget, focusing discussion on school capital items, building security upgrades for municipal buildings, and revenue and capital requests tied to town projects.

Why it matters: The Select Board’s advisory and signature roles shape what appears on the town meeting warrant and which items the town will ask voters to approve; several warrant items have direct budgetary and safety implications for residents.

School-related warrant items drew sustained attention. Board members said they want the school committee to prioritize security upgrades—door locks and access control—over a proposed Fire Road parking lot repair. One board member said parents are unlikely to oppose funding to make school doors safer and to speed emergency response, and urged the school committee to consider carving security work into individual warrant articles rather than an omnibus request.

Capital estimates and grant prospects were discussed at length. Select Board members reviewed quotes for access-control hardware and cameras (rough figures cited by staff: cameras roughly $35,000 and access control $50,000+), network switch and wireless upgrades, and security design that would compartmentalize the building so library, parks and recreation, and administrative areas could be controlled separately. Staff noted many components are procured from overseas and cautioned about supply and timeline risks.

The board also reviewed other warrant items: a potential veterans’ property tax exemption increase (estimated impact around $42,000 if implemented at the maximum discussed level), moving costs for municipal records (preliminary moving cost estimates up to about $80,000), and requests for park and senior-center equipment including commercial mowers (ranges cited in discussion: roughly $20,000–$25,000). Community Preservation Act requests for shade structures at the spray park and trail access from North Road were also discussed.

Revenue and reserves: staff reported approximately $1.2–1.3 million in levy/excess capacity and emphasized retaining some capacity to avoid pressure in future years. The town expects solar-lease revenues when a local solar field is fully operational; staff cited a projected annual contribution once fully online. Officials discussed stabilization and reserve funding levels and the schedule for finalizing budget numbers ahead of the warrant posting and public hearings.

Other procedural points: the board agreed to continue advising and to attend school committee budget meetings and public hearings. The Select Board planned to sign the warrant but acknowledged some articles might change before final posting and encouraged further coordination with school committee members before town meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Hampden, MA: Selectboard (April 02, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Hampden Select Board reviewed proposed warrant articles and the town budget on April 2, discussed moving a parking-lot item to prioritize school security door and lock upgrades, reviewed projected revenue from a solar lease, and heard cost estimates for building access control and other capital requests.","taxTitle","Town of Hampden, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",66345,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089818,"Hampden animal control quarantines dogs after small dog bitten; Select Board to send compliance letter",355,1879255,2234930,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c&start=1879&end=2234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c/thumbnail_1879255.jpg","/articles/6089818/Massachusetts/Hampden-animal-control-quarantines-dogs-after-small-dog-bitten-Select-Board-to-send-compliance-letter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089818-ba2b72057e2479f55583cbe656990bfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141114&Signature=TpzRFFPvbwPNiTuB3J8fG4BKgLRr-qiaUuP4MhRtaCGH0GoPvM458wdS2GqfwFqrnTkNvV4Y1P3SIcRsnN1FxwjVdrM3WgRSs0Pvk3fUKJX-9AgjQYC6LZqwpDLv8zMII7UsbEMwmPD0DLJNLaMF-6VmE~YCesbrqjjrYeAZWG9xwP~Npp88BhJipSOAlEcE0EfSKr6yUrjACcy30rk-CiWOlLv5AmkLE3PPZ9PzEplhjf-n9l08uq5L4aZqmZrieKcfEyw-N90YtE3AdMv2s3gp36tGJJmMEtYtTvKno6R7wDgZ~amR7z8nOMxDrAwCbQhrH3svAH~NkoOxq4Azlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hampden Animal Control Officer reported on April 2 that two dogs at 31 Burley Road escaped their yard and attacked a 6-pound dog at 23 Burley Road, resulting in a bite to the smaller animal. The officer said she quarantined both dogs at their home for 10 days and released them after quarantine, and recommended owners use prong collars, muzzles and walk one dog at a time.

Why it matters: The incident involved repeat escapes and previous episodes in which the dogs approached a child and a small dog in the neighborhood, prompting concern about control and public safety.

Animal Control Officer Shelley told the board the owners had been cooperative but had not yet obtained the recommended equipment at the time of quarantine release. \"If it happens again, it's not gonna be good,\" she said, and the board agreed to draft a formal letter outlining required steps: keep dogs muzzled when outside the yard, walk them on secure leashes, and reimburse the injured dog owner for veterinary expenses if a bill is presented.

The Select Board instructed staff to prepare the letter for review and emphasized monitoring compliance; the officer said future complaints may prompt a hearing if control does not improve.

No formal enforcement hearing was scheduled at the meeting; the board indicated it would pursue further action if the behavior continues.","The Hampden animal control officer reported a small dog was bitten by two neighbor dogs on Burley Road; the dogs were quarantined, released and the board will draft a letter requiring muzzles, prong collars and reimbursement to the injured owner if appropriate.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089823,"Wilbraham, Hampden officials debate cost-sharing framework for Minnechaug Middle School upgrades",1516,118920,1635505,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c&start=118&end=1635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2871825-ae3ec3f8d739a772da756655427fc10c/thumbnail_118920.jpg","/articles/6089823/Massachusetts/Wilbraham-Hampden-officials-debate-cost-sharing-framework-for-Minnechaug-Middle-School-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089823-f901596ac3b9a5f7b48fde77aa1df8d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141114&Signature=ZNmpuleiT-5jX~WOhraLxBdDQ6fGN2RHWPy3MqXJjIjy2oJqK7BEY6a-hRW7gsNIzS27Wh0Yw6eX~Xskjb-cyLdiQZdJ6CEjPEAu90kHLrn5MrHCntRDG-3Db9xJzHB2Mw9rydGcRXp4GINJNwj8UmbjNwQ08-~w2RvuGpgp0Kg-okQgGeylAeceAIzANj1hYAlexUHdUvwpB1C7B8XkGq67--nB35BMUGhCGOy24e8gXEqhUme8lJ-qODquFI5kr9Wyc2c6CubxqUnMxNd-of16MPjquphgg5RYdgtXM-wgVmAKdFReE4rsKKbicPf4U7179WdG27zEhHR3KX8TEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials from the Town of Wilbraham and the Town of Hampden on April 2 discussed a draft framework for how Hampden could contribute to capital improvements at Minnechaug Middle School while avoiding an ownership stake in the building.

The draft, presented by Brian Bridal, proposes that Hampden pay for capital items up front for a defined useful life and receive a proportional refund if Hampden students stop using the building before that useful life expires. \"Some arrangement where Hampden could contribute to capital improvements to the building with a defined, useful life for a defined term of years,\" Bridal said, describing an example in which a 10-year useful life would be used to calculate any refund.

Why it matters: Hampden and Wilbraham share the regional middle school but have different concerns about investing capital into a jointly owned building. Hampden officials said they want assurance they are not effectively enriching Wilbraham if Wilbraham later sells the building or reapportions value after capital work is completed.

Discussion centered on mechanics and scope. Board members pressed for clarity on which items constitute capital versus maintenance, how depreciation would be handled, and what threshold would trigger capital classification. Participants referenced previous work under the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) that expects occupancy commitments — one participant noted MSBA projects often include a 20-year occupancy expectation — and that some capital items (for example, windows with a multi-decade life) are different from equipment that may have little or no residual value.

Participants offered illustrations to test the draft. Bridal described a hypothetical $1 million upgrade with a $200,000 Hampden contribution and said Hampden’s return would be calculated on the remaining years of useful life, not a claim to ownership. Officials noted complications if work is financed with shared debt rather than paid up front, and several said lawyers would need to craft specific contract language. One Select Board member observed that a simple proportional refund does not account for depreciation and suggested adding depreciation mechanics to the formula.

Board members agreed the draft is a reasonable starting point but asked staff to refine the proposal and return with more precise language and examples. They planned another joint meeting to continue negotiations and to make sure any amendments align with the regional agreement’s amendment procedures, which the participants said generally require bringing proposed changes to town meetings for voter approval.

The Select Boards scheduled follow-up work and asked staff to provide a more formal memo and specific proposed language ahead of the next joint meeting.","Officials from the Town of Wilbraham and the Town of Hampden discussed a draft proposal for how Hampden might contribute to capital improvements at Minnechaug Middle School without taking ownership equity, focusing on refund mechanics tied to useful life and thresholds for capital spending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hampden Select Board reviews town meeting warrant, prioritizes school security and building upgrades

Hampden animal control quarantines dogs after small dog bitten; Select Board to send compliance letter

Wilbraham, Hampden officials debate cost-sharing framework for Minnechaug Middle School upgrades