[{"_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",6232598,"mediaKeyId","3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b","parentId",3425949,"title","Town prepares Thornton Burgess building handover; $15,000 account, masonry work and services flagged","audioSeconds",81,"startMs",5429000,"endMs",5510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b&start=5429&end=5510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b/thumbnail_5429000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6232598/Massachusetts/Town-prepares-Thornton-Burgess-building-handover-15000-account-masonry-work-and-services-flagged","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232598-b0dc4ab969316d447469f9339ef4ba24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674419&Signature=YJ3KCwGvREV5Oh5PSa3-nHs~aZ~rLf~dxx8w30HWc4eyzfcQJVQWKouLMp8hDExOl11-lzUNJqZRcrDZO8~7oPfuckCelvqGDJsW3VKS0vg0xcOsXUB-rp~E3irkjt1yD3r1seFuU~93Es4eDYmAdCCpC08tNf1XAz9nFdppZ6O6~o4zkZ-5kBemCBgcwN1-ORxhgO0F9d5pUq3Sc0WHVX5mOpUKk-uhhWyAE9D-saaIdpAiHksd1qBxyIwjNFshlFxrRliM88Hb~4bTAYe3NFfneaW87o34~dTxKRyIMqQHCZl4D6jIU3JKWJAg3cJdlKLqmn34X0BZU99VeR4BCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Hampden, MA","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Town staff told the Select Board on May 19 they will coordinate the June 30 handover of the Thornton Burgess building (the former school) and use an available $15,000 allocation to cover immediate occupancy needs including repair priorities and custodial services.

The town official said a room‑by‑room assessment of the building was complete and that immediate needs will be finalized in a short report. “If we’re going to use the funding that’s available, the $15,000 that’s available, we’ll need to use that…there’s certainly needs that we can spend it on,” the staff member said. He noted masonry repairs were estimated at about $13,000 and suggested that could be handled from that allocation.

Staff and board members discussed maintaining continued services at the building, confirming fire protection and addressing security and custodial arrangements; some operational details were deferred to a non‑public conversation because of security considerations. Staff also noted network hardware items (switches and wireless access points) are likely town assets to be retained for municipal use and that the organization occupying the building had left Internet service active through town meeting so temporary connectivity is available.

Ending: Staff will finalize the occupancy needs report, decide how to allocate the $15,000 by June 30 and return to the board with a plan for continued services, custodial coverage, and any procurement needed to occupy the facility.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Hampden, MA: Selectboard (May 19, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Town staff reported plans to coordinate the June 30 handover of the Thornton Burgess building, identify immediate custodial, masonry and fire‑protection needs, and use an available $15,000 funding allocation; a $13,000 masonry estimate was discussed as one early use of the funds.","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},6232603,"Select Board leans toward alternate paving list as Chapter 90 increase boosts road funds",777,3824000,4601000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b&start=3824&end=4601","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b/thumbnail_3824000.jpg","/articles/6232603/Massachusetts/Select-Board-leans-toward-alternate-paving-list-as-Chapter-90-increase-boosts-road-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232603-79a81f742589a10d0d1818fd4e2ff8bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674419&Signature=RzYVwJywNADs4Z-Cxi4iqxZAujLK-Pj3jMJ02pbajhUSdQGGCwDh8ObALX1M8A9WeN6kpHSQ8~1oJ4LOQX2iNJfF9aTC6sNhCp-cFgNm5rNV7Ri1UJ67-m5tQpzH~GblSgKFunR87ng9oTzrfhZ17R3qz7FT2f~SpgZsgwaQiV1Bo5mh9hMhnDxYwtVko~K91bjSJEhFL3v4uFeL-gbabbpFAxh7Sz-H3G-SnFgEow~ezx~r2cNVwdy9rjSM0xwrc2pZC3WyghMf2CIskFxZnv9fI3EorX~j4gGfOjNG8KYIFJRsIfeypU~vjbOMJhL8S1rOBnVj6Q3p6o88kb6Q~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Select Board members and highway staff discussed Hampden’s 2025 paving list at the May 19 meeting and signaled support for an alternate set of roads rather than resurfacing Wilbraham Road as the only major main‑road candidate this year.

Highway staff described a projected increase in Chapter 90 funds for the fiscal year that would raise Hampden’s allotment by roughly $200,000 (projected allotment around $429,000 versus the typical ~$250,000). “Reason being is Chapter 90… it appears they’re going to be loading those accounts,” the highway speaker said, explaining the larger budget assumptions in the draft paving plan.

Staff identified Wilbraham Road (from Raymond Drive to First Ave) as a main thoroughfare needing resurfacing but noted recent work and camera inspections on drainage lines along the corridor. The highway representative said some sections had required deep drainage inspection and that a log removed from a conduit had delayed work while the camera could not pass.

Facing higher available funds, the board discussed alternatives and a staff memo proposed an alternate package that would instead cover multiple overdue side streets (e.g., sections off Mill Road, Glendale/Ames segments and smaller jobs such as Redo Ridge Road and Bryant Court). A Select Board member said, “I’d say we’d go with the alternate list,” and other members agreed too, noting the benefit of completing several overdue roads and the strategic advantage of resurfacing main roads to keep utilities from trenching them frequently.

The town also reviewed the Ballard Brook / South Road bridge project. Highway staff said consultants (VHB) plan to put the job out to bid soon and that the town expects to bid in fall or next spring, with construction timing intended to avoid high‑impact winter months; staff emphasized the need to maintain traffic during the project. The Board asked staff to confirm timing and traffic control plans when the project is advertised and to continue seeking possible additional state funding if the project estimate produces a shortfall.

Ending: The board directed highway staff to proceed with the alternate paving list in lieu of Wilbraham Road resurfacing this year, continue pre‑bid coordination for Ballard Brook project and report back with final cost estimates and timing.","Highway staff presented the fiscal year paving plan and said increased Chapter 90 allocations could add roughly $200,000 to Hampden’s pavement budget; after discussion the board indicated support for an alternate list of streets in place of resurfacing Wilbraham Road this year to spread funds across overdue sections and safety‑related work.",{"_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},6232608,"Select Board endorses Mass Audubon memorandum restricting herbicide use near wellhead",1195,5621000,6816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b&start=5621&end=6816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b/thumbnail_5621000.jpg","/articles/6232608/Massachusetts/Select-Board-endorses-Mass-Audubon-memorandum-restricting-herbicide-use-near-wellhead","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232608-615ad7d8c9eb3e040c3b5381f4618dcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674419&Signature=VfHrr5Nt8A5RO8ugiEwv4wkHigbmEcmj7jxcN-YdXVhIr49KvwMNOXsSsKd~Gx45G893-CO6zL3bBNK9m0ogkhBsGJfJR2mjuMKDYHsY3iMtRGJAs6laJnmWA3aQaOyyYdyYPwgaTEtveu9m40y6914Ov1VFxFBXa5RFfgyZJgnvhc9ai86HLy-WeyFXUNwwz2GugLwxycSgUzk94IVPNvB8izxGJTmkoylI8MSHvpHYbdHrvWzzdIKsylWD7Bod3LFjXG~svTsDuB2q5U3sXqvozqnW445TytOxAVpv6kU5SptYl5N8sInvTMvuga0CVowjXpa7Bz6ne0OIwYV2aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Hampden Select Board voted May 19 to endorse a memorandum of agreement with Mass Audubon that prohibits chemical herbicide application on town property, bars herbicide use within Zone 1 wellhead protection areas, and allows only targeted cut‑stem herbicide treatments in the interim wellhead protection area on Audubon land.

Mass Audubon representative Tom (last name not provided) outlined the organization’s restoration plan for a pine‑oak woodland and said negotiations over the memorandum focused on a town request for a 500‑foot offset for herbicide use from the town well. “We’re fine with staying more than 200 feet away…but going out to 500 feet covers that entire swath including the parking lot area,” Tom said, explaining the constraint this would impose on invasive‑plant management in the trailhead and parking lot.

Brian (town staff) and Select Board members discussed protection zones and on‑property limits. The memorandum that the board considered states that Mass Audubon will not use chemical treatments on the town parcel, will not apply chemicals within Zone 1 of the town wells, and will only use cut‑stem herbicide application (no foliar spray) within the interim wellhead protection area; the agreement directs readers to an exhibit map for Zone‑1 and IWPA boundaries.

Select Board discussion emphasized that no herbicide use would occur on town property and that Zone 1 protections are sacrosanct. A consultant explained cut‑stem application as a targeted technique in which an applicator directly applies herbicide to the plant stem immediately after cutting; the board was told these treatments limit off‑target exposure. The Audubon team said their NRCS‑approved plan calls for chemical treatment only every other year in the outer interim zone and that chosen chemicals (e.g., glyphosate or triclopyr formulations) are intended for targeted application and breakdown in soil.

Motion and vote: A board member moved to “endorse the memorandum of agreement as amended with the Audubon Society.” The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor (roll call not recorded in transcript); the chair asked staff to finalize signature logistics.

Why it matters: The agreement defines where chemical tools can and cannot be used near a public water supply and sets practical terms for the Audubon restoration project while protecting the town’s wellhead. Select Board members and Audubon representatives said they will proceed with stewardship planning and a notice of intent to the Conservation Commission was anticipated.

Ending: The Audubon team said it will bring the conservation commission notice of intent and continue stewardship planning; the board directed staff to prepare the final memorandum and arrange signatures.","The Select Board voted to endorse a memorandum of agreement with Mass Audubon that prohibits chemical herbicide use on town property and restricts herbicide application within wellhead protection zones, allowing only cut‑stem treatments in interim zones on Audubon property.",{"_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},6232613,"Hampden hears update on MS4 stormwater program; officials urged to add BMPs, outreach",2213,247000,2460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b&start=247&end=2460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425949-8d2685bc869eed15265f010839badc8b/thumbnail_247000.jpg","/articles/6232613/Massachusetts/Hampden-hears-update-on-MS4-stormwater-program-officials-urged-to-add-BMPs-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232613-eda170d00e0948404b1216d97e33c2d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674419&Signature=Y2q7Qj6IukmbLA~dEfbZCCnSUMAXuzLcGFrf9EFRl-ir3CtSUCmIOWl0FPilRixVFyL2UTkqJEaLKKc1PKYjAlGqGn-pxkNnCtqf9fGZq0smclX7OoTzLq~mldEd4CUNydT7RdltrvzZ0d99n1iyDL0XeJpylxZ6GoJFtHxhdpwje3NKPbx-JA4gRC35BOIdx9YW4vlFawh6hMc3gCAKPjTeMQBMxmYHuF2s0j3RUS~EqW1GHKUfLXlcdWXWERM4V~AlSXYU8aJ8eT14PApo6nl5lDeE349~jRdHP926lr9lyKUokRH6rytDVQ0ZSShGaL6a5JOIMmExHnI1tgI13g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tighe & Bond planners told the Town of Hampden Select Board and Board of Health on May 19 that the town’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is largely in a maintenance phase for permit year 7, but recommended additional outreach and targeted stormwater control measures in a western “urbanized” portion of town after elevated nitrogen and E. coli levels were found at several outfalls.

Consultant Haley Rivers, Planner II at Tighe & Bond, said the town’s MS4 area is the red‑shaded western part of town and that the notice of intent was submitted under the 2016 small MS4 general permit. “We are here to provide an update on Hampden’s ongoing stormwater management program. We’re going to discuss what happened in permit year 7, which is coming to a close in June, and then what’s happening for the next permit year,” Rivers said.

The nut graf: The presentation summarized past sampling, what parameters the town is required to monitor, and proposed changes in a new draft MS4 permit that could increase outreach requirements and ask municipalities to track and upgrade catch basins and install demonstration stormwater control measures (SCMs). The consultants urged the town to prioritize outreach, consider joining a regional stormwater messaging program and to select municipal retrofit sites tied to planned capital work.

Most important facts first: Tighe & Bond reported that permit year 7 sampling found elevated results at seven outfalls concentrated around a horse farm catchment; the only exceedances above permit benchmarks were for E. coli and nitrogen and these were not high enough to trigger formal enforcement actions under the current administratively‑continued permit. Rivers said consultants “sampled every outfall that had dry weather flow” and added that wet‑weather sampling produced the elevated results in that area.

The consultants described the MS4 program’s minimum control measures — public education and outreach; public involvement and participation; illicit discharge detection and elimination (IDDE); construction site runoff control; post‑construction stormwater management; and good housekeeping for permittee‑owned operations — and noted the town already performs many of those activities (twice‑annual street sweeping, quarterly SWPPP inspections at the highway garage and transfer station, catch basin cleaning and system mapping).

Rivers recommended the town consider joining the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission’s (PVPC) Connecticut River stormwater committee for regionally coordinated outreach, saying regional committees provide targeted flyers, mailers and translation services that would help meet proposed new outreach standards. The draft 2024 MS4 permit proposes requiring municipalities to determine the top three non‑English languages in their regulated area and to provide actively engaging, two‑way outreach; consultants highlighted that 1.4% of Hampden’s population speaks Spanish per 2020 census mapping and that the draft would require Spanish translation in the town’s outreach if finalized.

On construction and post‑construction controls the consultants confirmed Hampden already has a local bylaw that addresses new impervious surface and redevelopment. For retrofit work, they recommended town‑owned demonstration SCMs such as rain gardens or detention basins tied to upcoming municipal projects (for example, drainage or paving projects) and suggested the town select up to five properties for future retrofits as the permit and guidance require.

Consultants also summarized proposed changes in the draft 2024 permit: updating the regulated area to 2020 census urbanized boundaries (which showed no change for Hampden), lowering the ammonia benchmark from 0.5 to 0.1 in the IDDE screening, and asking permittees to develop an asset management program with catch basin upgrade prioritization. The draft would ask that within five years 20% of catch basins needing upgrades receive deep sumps and hoods; consultants said that provision has raised concerns as a potential unrealistic financial burden for small towns and that they were submitting comments.

Board members and residents asked several clarifying questions about whether the town’s sampling proves sources originate in Hampden or upstream, why the state does not sample the Scantic River itself more frequently, and what pollutants are tested. Rivers clarified the MS4 program samples what the town discharges at outfalls and that the outfall testing does not alone determine whether the river’s impairment is caused by stormwater versus upstream sources; she listed the analytical parameters the consultants measure under the permit (chlorine, ammonia, surfactants, E. coli, nitrogen, temperature, salinity/conductivity and dissolved oxygen) and confirmed that only E. coli and nitrogen exceeded benchmarks in the one area.

Board member Mark (highway department staff) discussed how paving and culvert projects give opportunities to pair retrofits with roadwork; consultants encouraged the town to flag potential municipal projects in the western urbanized zone for SCM siting. Rivers also reminded the board that Hampden’s permit year 7 annual report is due Sept. 28, 2025, and that the administratively continued permit remains in effect through permit year 10 (June 30, 2028) until a new permit is finalized.

Ending: Consultants said they would keep the town updated on the draft permit timeline and on any changes to proposed requirements; they urged Hampden to continue routine maintenance activities already underway and to consider membership in the regional outreach committee to meet evolving public‑education expectations.","Consultants from Tighe & Bond updated the Town of Hampden Select Board and Board of Health on year‑7 compliance with the 2016 MS4 general permit, reporting limited exceedances at seven outfalls and recommending targeted best management practices, continued sampling and expanded public outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town prepares Thornton Burgess building handover; $15,000 account, masonry work and services flagged

Select Board leans toward alternate paving list as Chapter 90 increase boosts road funds

Select Board endorses Mass Audubon memorandum restricting herbicide use near wellhead

Hampden hears update on MS4 stormwater program; officials urged to add BMPs, outreach