Selectboard approves police contract, debates library funding at warrant hearing.
Selectboard approves police contract, returns $75K to free cash over library funding. The board unanimously ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with Masscop Local 428 covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, and voted 3-2 to return $75,000 in Ledges Retained Earnings to free
Selectboard · Meeting of May 5, 2026
SOUTH HADLEY — Selectboard approves police contract, returns $75K to free cash over library funding. The board unanimously ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with Masscop Local 428 covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, and voted 3-2 to return $75,000 in Ledges Retained Earnings to free cash rather than earmark it for library operations. Debate centered on whether the $75,000 should bolster school funding ($1.571 million total) or shore up library staffing ahead of a potential decertification.
Town Administrator Lisa Wong said earmarking for library would allow her to maintain minimum certification; DPW or police funding would not fund new hires absent a passed override. The board unanimously approved a revised Article 10 motion allocating $1.825 million to the stabilization fund and library contingent upon either override passage or town meeting's choice to use free cash for library operations. A special election for a second Proposition 2 1/2 Override is set for September 1.
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Source: the Selectboard meeting of May 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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