Hampden Select Board Approves $177,927 Loader Purchase Using Chapter 90 Bridge Funds

HAMPDEN -- May 4, 2026, Hampden Select Board unanimously approves $177,927 wheel loader purchase using freed Chapter 90 bridge funds. The board voted Monday to buy the loader for the Highway Department using FY26 Chapter 90 money originally set aside for the South Road Bridge, funds freed after the state increased its small-bridge contribution to cover that project. A $15,730 snow plow attachment was deferred, as Chapter 90 does not cover snow-and-ice equipment. The board also directed Highway Superintendent Mark to investigate a targeted structural repair of the deteriorating Laughingbrook Bridge on Main Street, noting both railings are failing and the south side offers little barrier above the river, and asked whether roughly $53,000 in remaining FY26 Chapter 90 funds could cover a Chapter 85 engineering review needed before a small-bridge program application. The board separately agreed to place a vote on a recreational cannabis home-delivery opt-out waiver on the May 19 agenda, following enactment of H.5350, which strips municipalities of discretion over medical cannabis delivery while allowing towns without retail marijuana sales to seek a two-year waiver on recreational delivery.