Town Meeting warrants discussed, Davenport wins Republican Caucus nomination

April 17, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

HAMPDEN – The Hampden Select Board met with the Advisory Board on April 16 to review proposed warrant articles for the town meeting on May 13.

While most warrant articles were reviewed without question, some big-ticket items provoked discussion. Specifically, the items considered involved the replacement of a highway truck and a fire department tanker, an addition to the Firehouse to house the tanker, and the lease of a radio system for emergency services. The combined price tag for these items was over $1.4 million.

“Do the building rehab while you're waiting for the tanker to come in,” Selectman John Flynn suggested since the acquisition of the tanker could take up to a year.

While Police Chief Jeff Farnsworth had previously quoted $1.2 million for the replacement of the town’s emergency radio equipment, he said that new technology put the number closer to $380,000. Farnsworth said that he had gotten a quote and called it a “very strong proposal.”

Flynn asked if the radio system replacement could be put off until fall. Farnsworth said if the town experiences more strong winds, the system could fail. While the replacement could wait until fall, Farnsworth said the question was, “Do you feel lucky?”

Farnsworth also said if the system fails they would end up spending much more because they wouldn't have the luxury of shopping around.

"We are on borrowed time,” agreed David Markham of the Hampden Fire Department.

Another issue Farnsworth addressed with the Select Board was ambulance service, saying a provider was up in the air for Fiscal Year 2020. The ambulance service that the town has been using, American Medical Response (AMR), has reorganized. Under the new proposed agreement, the company would charge between $250,000 and $400,000 for the ambulance. They would also collect insurance payments from residents who use the service.

“That’s double dipping,” Selectman Vinnie Villamaino remarked. The Selectmen said that for the past 10 years the town had had a contract with AMR to allow use of an ambulance at zero cost to the town.

Farnsworth said most communities in the area have their own ambulances now, leading companies to charge towns more to make up the difference. He said another company, Alert Ambulance Service, may be willing to contract with the town without a charge for the ambulance.

Flynn asked about contracting with East Longmeadow to use their ambulances. Markham said municipalities don’t have enough of them to contract out. Farnsworth warned that contracting with Alert would only buy the town a year before having to find a more permanent solution.

Farnsworth also spoke to the Board about a policy change, letting officers on light duty split their time between administrative duties at the police station and at the town offices. The request was approved.

Mary E. McNally, the town administrator, asked about a change in policy in which town office employees could use the day off for Good Friday as a floating holiday. Flynn clarified that it would have to be used by the end of the fiscal year in June.

McNally said she had received quotes for seven pieces of IT equipment for the town offices.

The position of fire chief has been vacant since the retirement of the former chief, Mike Gorski, earlier this year. At the end of June, the department's administrative assistant post will also be empty. Markham pressed the Selectmen on filling those posts. Villamaino asked if there was anyone in the department who wanted to be chief.

“We need some form of direction from you,” Markham told the Board.

Villamaino said he recommends restructuring the department to a roster of six firefighters and a fire chief. Flynn estimated a full-time paid fire chief would cost $70,000 to $80,000.

The Board decided to continue the discussion to a later date.

McNally said, in the Town Administrator Report, that the police chief's contract had been worked out but not yet voted on, while the dispatch contract was still under negotiation.

In regards to the water and sewer project, McNally said that she and Jeffery Daley of CJC Development Advisors had met with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which gave them a list of potential fees for water supply

“No commitments have been made,” McNally said. She added that “too much engineering has to be done” for McNally to recommend putting it in a warrant article at this time.

“We need more time to ascertain what the best route is,” for potential water and sewer lines, said McNally.

Republican Caucus

In other Selectmen news, the Hampden Republican caucus was held on April 12 to nominate a candidate for the Board of Selectmen. Republican Chairman Jim Smith said the caucus is usually a sparsely-attended formality with about 20 residents voting. In this case, 31 voters caucused.

The result was an upset in which the incumbent, Vinnie Villamaino, lost to Donald Davenport, who was not on the ballot. A write-in campaign for Davenport proved successful, garnering him 16 votes to Villamaino’s nine, making Davenport the Republican Caucus nominee.

“This was not expected, at least by me,” said Smith. “There was an undercurrent of people pursuing this.”

“It was a pleasant surprise,” said Davenport. “It shows the depth of frustration and the desire for change. I appreciate the confidence those who wrote my name in have that I will bring positive change to the Board.”

Villamaino had no comment but did confirm that he had taken out papers to run independently of the town's Republican party.

The election for the Board of Selectmen will be held May 20.

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