Hampden Select Board approves town administrator contract, reviews FY27 department budgets

Select Board · Meeting of February 25, 2026

Hampden Select Board approves town administrator's contract and advances FY27 budget reviews. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to extend Town Administrator Brian's contract for three years and reviewed level-service budgets from the Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation, and the highway department. COA Board Chairperson Becky reported a 25 percent cut to DTA SNAP outreach funding that will reduce personal-needs bag distributions to residents, and asked the board to consider restoring her weekly hours to 40 — a level last seen around 2005 — noting the hours are already being worked.

Highway Superintendent Mark presented three potential warrant articles totaling roughly $489,000 for a loader, a dump truck, and a pickup truck, with the board discussing whether a freed-up $233,000 in Chapter 90 funds — previously earmarked for the South Road bridge, now deferred — could offset the cost. The board also directed Town Administrator Brian to revise a draft Parks and Recreation facilities MOU to replace unilateral amendment authority with a joint-meeting requirement.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.