Hampden Select Board approves cemetery turnaround and HVAC contracts at April meeting

HAMPDEN — April 27, 2026 — Hampden Select Board awards two contracts and accepts $90,000 state security grant at April 27 meeting. The board voted unanimously to award a cemetery turnaround construction contract to Earthmoving Solutions for up to $27,000 and to authorize Town Administrator Brian Warren to sign an HVAC installation agreement with Advanced Energy Group at a net cost of $197,395.75 — roughly $100,000 under the $300,000 town appropriation, after a $58,800 National Grid and Eversource rebate. State Senator Jake Oliver presented a ceremonial check representing $90,000 secured in the FY26 state budget for security upgrades at the former Thornton Burgess Middle School, now housing town offices, available to Hampden on a reimbursement basis. The board also gave informal backing to the Scantic River Artisans' request for storage space and auditorium access for four art shows annually beginning in 2027, and previewed a joint meeting with Wilbraham on May 5 to address CORE school-building program questions, including a potential requirement that Wilbraham transfer campus ownership to the regional district as a condition of state renovation funding.