[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6073308,"mediaKeyId","2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10","parentId",2993952,"title","Hampden schedules June 23 special election after select board resignation; fire-department debt exclusion may follow town meeting","audioSeconds",335,"startMs",322000,"endMs",657000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10&start=322&end=657","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10/thumbnail_322000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6073308/Massachusetts/Hampden-schedules-June-23-special-election-after-select-board-resignation-fire-department-debt-exclusion-may-follow-town-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073308-b4dff8327956b4f21cbd1c9da942a1bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998922&Signature=YeG4KXxXk2RdxuVsnBLfJ2OSLvU4TePy-g8fuXVsedvTEiJxcoY3Q5igZpXJ6TE8yMJGJ1pu~SGg~NN80ujhX7KEM5cKZJtAFmpqJpLFS36~GuCv~5bsvEh1Fs0mFaWRe7FgUErQVGydiwJpy7aHDfnEVmU8T~wid7r7O~C3nqkBYIUqb10S45BdNS47rM-LKedJzrDIPjOxI-POrhNM9UY4yW2rP6BeBy0kpPVuh8WgekVzqXF2dMAjaGJKE-Csc5A0xTH-Kd9O7WHiv3im7EUlEUVEHmryy6dfIF45qOpzekx-JR9hmj4GA4oI9ByvW-Rtq92Bd370ZAIwcLpjoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Hampden, MA","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Town of Hampden Select Board voted Tuesday to call a special election for June 23, 2025, to fill a Select Board seat vacated by Craig Rivers, who submitted a resignation effective May 19.

The special election motion passed after board members and the town clerk confirmed state and local timing requirements: a minimum of 64 days’ notice is needed to schedule a special election from the date the town clerk receives official notice of a vacancy. Select Board members discussed dates in June and settled on June 23 as the practical earliest calendar date that met the statutory notice window.

Board members also discussed whether to place a separate debt-exclusion question for the fire department on the same ballot. The board agreed it could add a debt-exclusion question only if Town Meeting approves the measure first: the town must provide at least 35 days’ public notice after the Town Meeting vote before placing that question on the ballot. Board members said they expect to wait for Town Meeting’s outcome before finalizing any debt-exclusion question for the June 23 ballot.

The board directed staff to notify the town clerk and publish the special-election warrant and to coordinate with the town moderator and clerk about timing around Town Meeting so that, if the town meeting votes to approve a debt exclusion, the question could appear on the June 23 ballot with proper notice.

Board members noted practical concerns about scheduling multiple votes and confirmed intent to hold the special election on June 23 to avoid repeated elections over the summer. Several procedural motions around opening and closing the Town Meeting warrant and revoking a prior ballot question were also made and recorded by the Select Board during the meeting.

No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript; motions were approved by voice vote with members answering “Aye.”

Ending: The board’s action sets in motion the calendar for candidates to file for the vacant seat and for election logistics; whether the fire-department debt-exclusion question will appear on the June 23 ballot depends on the outcome at Town Meeting and the required 35-day notice period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Hampden, MA: Selectboard (April 14, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Town of Hampden Select Board voted to call a special election for June 23, 2025, to fill the Select Board seat vacated by Craig Rivers and discussed the procedural timing for adding a fire-department debt-exclusion question to the same ballot if Town Meeting approves it.","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},6073294,"Votes at a glance: Select Board approves appointments, election date and contracts in voice votes",1813,296000,2109000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10&start=296&end=2109","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6073294/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Select-Board-approves-appointments-election-date-and-contracts-in-voice-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073294-cb0a7412bd83f37da894e69575e5f7a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998922&Signature=CkR3jVq3zQdLgtcuUr3y~3TkuQPPGUOoQEbMEdaoMPy8jLsZvYgbRG3ULrnWJQCeM6pKmXniCAniuBKabmf8phXeoSiXy9VGSms78xOahPX9Hp9c3XtIov~S1MnDNzd2ub-5so2SaPJ2HbfdZjVQkmxLQQsalSgeXXrseZeT411RK1efMcCCDE77p~lkFd~opDkIALSOKQm9KHf00W-wwOGccOFhRDyg29sNF5QeOzX1bqWHDc9hNZ-7BuW6D5KOqvMYNvl1IM7IVCylOkyN3Lo9yAXu8Hb~QOlQrgl8p2-yNg7vj7qsyzLhDvg9-M70Iu88oWKar0xtDdXHEvAo1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Hampden Select Board recorded several formal motions and approvals during its April 14 meeting. Actions were taken by voice vote; the transcript records voice approval (“Aye”) but does not include roll-call vote tallies.

Key outcomes recorded in the meeting:

- Joyce Dunkley — Appointment to the Town of Hampden Historical Commission: The board moved, seconded and approved renewing Joyce Dunkley’s service on the Historical Commission so the commission can reach a quorum.

- Special election: The board moved and approved calling a special election to fill a Select Board vacancy; the board set the date for June 23, 2025, consistent with the town clerk’s notice window.

- Warrant actions for Town Meeting (May 12, 2025): The board moved to open the warrant to delete a ballot question at the end of the warrant, then moved to close and publish the Town Meeting warrant for May 12; the motions passed by voice vote.

- Highway superintendent contract: The board voted to authorize the board to offer a new three-year employment contract to Highway Superintendent Mark Langone and to proceed with execution.

All motions in the meeting transcript were approved by voice vote and recorded as “Aye.” The transcript does not provide recorded roll-call vote tallies or named yes/no lists for any of these motions; the town clerk’s official minutes and filed warrant will contain the formal records and signatures.","The Select Board approved a slate of administrative motions during its April 14 meeting, including a Historical Commission appointment, setting a special election date for June 23 and authorizing a three-year contract for the highway superintendent.",{"_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},6073298,"Select Board reviews proposed $7.9M fire station renovation ahead of Town Meeting; board to present plans and open houses",311,6053000,6364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10&start=6053&end=6364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10/thumbnail_6053000.jpg","/articles/6073298/Massachusetts/Select-Board-reviews-proposed-79M-fire-station-renovation-ahead-of-Town-Meeting-board-to-present-plans-and-open-houses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073298-1ce22b1489d3505e0d4ffdf8936dcbfe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998922&Signature=Cu0hG9NY0G1SAqfGVowAKegMdd0wMbBr3ncEVVXNK7AwcSn9WjXalmzXfzmG~YiUQgJG~kLFSnlS1ID2Vt3muCpyCc3yR0bKQ2X-X1F15WmrDKaAg~eov94kCCX8B9jWMSO3nLMJ3-yrvXiTcwv3Q4JRUt0sjXo8mU4FEPWRIABfCTKGFdp8dy9l9BJ-sLLJshCY9gvnkp4MNoMbuYB3~B5wMuXEslKtAXsw9UkuyI4MCNA-twQmDTiVS6fMJ8DWOdBR7k0oO51GnvlRyUnDBMAF6VaJILK--1JvQkGkvHlkCcT3TtXDrEGFG8-Klj1KtGVofpqBUO2aawHEZEPSGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Select Board and building committee discussed Article 19, a warrant article seeking funding for repairs, renovations and an expansion of the Town of Hampden fire station.

Presenters described a project scope developed after an RFQ and architectural work drawing on a 2020 needs assessment. The construction estimate provided to the board totaled about $7.9 million; that total includes an owner contingency (about 7%) and soft costs (about 15%), plus estimates for required professional services such as an owner’s project manager. Presenters said the estimate reflects current construction prices and noted the project would not start immediately even if voters approve funding; the committee expects to add escalation allowances because bidding and start dates could be a year or more in the future.

Key elements described in the plan include a larger equipment bay to accommodate modern apparatus, separate clean/dirty zones for firefighter turnout gear to reduce contaminant exposures, improved decontamination facilities, upgraded bathrooms, and upgrades to building systems and structural elements. Presenters emphasized prioritizing firefighter health (decontamination and exhaust systems) and spatial deficiencies that affect operations.

Board members asked about contingencies and cost-control measures; presenters said the $7.9 million figure currently includes a 7% owner contingency and a 15% soft-cost allowance but that final numbers will be refined through the design, owner’s project manager and bidding process. The board also discussed outreach: if Town Meeting approves the article the project team plans public information sessions, open houses and presentations to explain plans and timelines to residents.

Ending: The fire-station article will be presented to voters at the May 12 Town Meeting; if approved, the town would proceed to hire an owner’s project manager, finalize drawings and then bid the work. The board said it will provide more detailed drawings, renderings and cost information before Town Meeting and hold public outreach sessions.
","Select Board and building committee reviewed a proposed renovation/expansion of the Hampden fire station estimated at about $7.9 million, including contingencies and soft costs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6073303,"Select Board, advisory review warrant articles to move offices to Thornton Burgess; board seeks funding for moving and renovations",211,5134000,5345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10&start=5134&end=5345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993952-111f853686c6cece7712f16bbad93b10/thumbnail_5134000.jpg","/articles/6073303/Massachusetts/Select-Board-advisory-review-warrant-articles-to-move-offices-to-Thornton-Burgess-board-seeks-funding-for-moving-and-renovations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073303-efe506dc60d83f23dcdcbe38694a32d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998922&Signature=JRwidH891nuoVIBbH1fR8PlMVqPfa~v-VOdoa-EFZcSrNci2C4F3FbFJCvOip30H5W92HsoMclWPEkEmrNyrWsBM06aj8CpODi046PG2yK99hCgdpMlYvFs-nKTW~-OxFG4OPVNhQeDk2364iPEd~-GXicp7-ofdq0xcoz4BAp73II2HWM~Qyh5e7uwW2BNWMciXTVc0MBJsTHUvCX1aWhuLWcdRBFD0MHAoZHOC-rEYUTOR~y3VZDG89kG0dB1obWqMME9Stt1Tj6ipWhd182hrSC4ebNPlrYCH-D1HPAH74yG~iQfrPp6dE2JrPIP0o3zJEgCHA7HephiGg9mSOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During budget-warrant review, the Select Board and the advisory committee debated three related warrant articles concerning the former school property known as Thornton Burgess.

Article 13 would authorize a change of use for the property (acquired originally for educational purposes) to allow town use for municipal functions. Article 14 requests up to $80,000 for moving costs to relocate offices from the Townhouse to Thornton Burgess. Article 15 requests $100,000 for repairs and renovations at Thornton Burgess, including access-control systems, cameras, and remediation work.

Board members and advisory members highlighted several practical points for voters and for planning: moving now while rooms are empty is more efficient, and certain repairs — notably asbestos-containing floor tiles in multiple rooms — will be easier and less expensive if completed before furniture and equipment are moved in. The board cited prior appropriations (roughly $97,000 remaining from an earlier article and $15,000 in school-building funds that will expire on June 30) as potential sources to offset the moving cost request.

Members emphasized the need for controlled access and security camera installation before broader public use; the town has received layouts for access-control and camera placement. The board also discussed scope choices (controlled access and electronic locks as higher priority than cosmetic work), and asked staff to gather contractor quotes and more precise cost estimates for remediation and renovations to present at Town Meeting.

Board members and advisory recommended clarifying in the warrant and the town’s materials what elements will be covered by the moving-article funds versus the renovation article, and confirmed that remediation of asbestos tiles will be addressed early in the work plan.

Ending: The three related articles remain on the warrant for the May 12 Town Meeting; the board signaled it will provide clearer cost breakdowns and contractor estimates to voters before Town Meeting.
","The Select Board discussed three warrant articles tied to Thornton Burgess: a change of use for the property, $80,000 requested to cover moving costs, and $100,000 requested for repairs and renovations. The board and advisory committee discussed timing, asbestos flooring concerns, access control and cameras, and available leftover appropriations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hampden schedules June 23 special election after select board resignation; fire-department debt exclusion may follow town meeting

Votes at a glance: Select Board approves appointments, election date and contracts in voice votes

Select Board reviews proposed $7.9M fire station renovation ahead of Town Meeting; board to present plans and open houses

Select Board, advisory review warrant articles to move offices to Thornton Burgess; board seeks funding for moving and renovations