Hanson Prepares for Contentious October Town Meeting with 29 Articles
MBTA Zoning Vote Expected to Draw Crowds
HANSON - September 30 - The Hanson Select Board methodically worked through recommendations for 29 warrant articles on Tuesday night in preparation for a special town meeting scheduled for Monday, October 6th, with the controversial MBTA Communities zoning overlay district expected to dominate discussion and draw significant public interest.
The Full Story
The Select Board spent the bulk of its September 30th meeting conducting a comprehensive review of the October 6th special town meeting warrant with Town Moderator Sean Kealy, Town Accountant Eric Kinsherf, and Town Clerk Jessica Franceschini. The meeting, which ran through all 29 articles, revealed a town grappling with everything from routine union contracts and equipment purchases to a potentially explosive zoning decision that could determine Hanson’s relationship with the state for years to come.
The town’s financial position appears solid heading into the special town meeting. Kinsherf reported that Hanson has $3,064,123 in certified free cash. If all warrant articles pass, the town will spend $1,101,887, leaving a balance of $1,962,236 in free cash. Additionally, the town has $1,724,870 in stabilization funds and $888,000 in the ambulance fund. “We left a little wiggle room, so we do have enough money in the levy to fund those projects,” Kinsherf assured the board.
The warrant includes five collective bargaining agreements totaling approximately $363,000 for police, fire, highway, and administrative unions, as well as non-union personnel. All five articles received unanimous recommendations from the Select Board. Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett emphasized the importance of these agreements, noting that “we have just finished all of our union negotiations.”
Public safety departments are seeking significant equipment upgrades. The police department is requesting $146,097 for two new cruisers, which Chief Casey will need to explain to voters. “It is self-explanatory, but we will get questions or why aren’t you driving it into the ground,” FitzGerald-Kemmett noted, anticipating the “classic town meeting question.” The fire department is seeking $15,000 as the town’s cost share for a federal radio equipment grant exceeding $200,000, plus $7,500 for two stair chairs and $6,600 for two video laryngoscopes to be funded from the ambulance account.
Technology infrastructure received substantial attention, with two significant articles aimed at modernizing town systems. Article 14 requests $125,000 from free cash to enhance cybersecurity and network design, while Article 15 seeks $68,000 to purchase Microsoft 365. Town Administrator Lisa Green praised IT Director Matt for his work upgrading outdated systems, noting “he’s an excellent negotiator for getting us better prices on software.” The board agreed Matt should present both articles at town meeting.
The Highway Department is seeking $149,000 for a rubber-wheeled excavator and $78,000 for a skid-steer loader. Highway Director Richard Jasmin will need to explain both purchases, as he did at the May town meeting. The Select Board expressed concern about moving these articles forward in time for the May 2026 town meeting and discussed reconvening the Highway Committee to develop a comprehensive plan for a new highway facility.
Rising advertising costs are hitting multiple town departments. The town’s advertising budget needs a $3,500 supplement, and the Board of Health requires an additional $2,000 for legal notices and advertising. The increases stem from the closure of the Whitman-Hanson Express, forcing the town to advertise in the more expensive Enterprise and Patriot Ledger newspapers. “People don’t realize that’s the reason we have to ask for so much more money because it’s so much more expensive because the Whitman-Hanson Express is gone,” Select Board member Joe Weeks explained. The board voted to request that State Representative Sweezey file legislation allowing electronic posting of legal notices as an alternative to newspaper publication.
The library is seeking $21,000 to restore funds cut at the May 2025 town meeting and to restore staffing and operating hours lost in 2010. Library Director Karen Stolfer had requested to make a presentation at town meeting, though FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested the article was “self-explanatory” and expressed hope there wouldn’t be “a lot of pushback on that.”
Camp Kiwanee continues to generate both expenses and revenue for the town. Article 25 proposes to rescind and replace the May 2025 budget vote to operate the camp under provisions allowing it to be self-sufficient through a revolving fund. The camp is also becoming a filming location, with Town Administrator Green announcing that AMC’s “Dead City” season three will film at the location for four days in late October, along with another production called “A Risk of Injury.” Green noted that two days of filming previously would have generated $27,000 in revenue, though the board questioned whether pricing was competitive and requested research into industry standards.
Infrastructure needs include $50,000 to supplement construction costs for the Pratt Place culvert replacement, $40,000 for safety repairs on fences at all athletic fields, and $45,360 for an awning between the Senior Center and Supportive Day Program building. The water department is requesting $40,000 for a new security camera system at the Crystal Spring Wellfield site and water department office, plus $120,000 for an emergency generator at the deep well, both funded from water enterprise receipts.
Buried in the routine business was Article 1, requesting $16,180.11 from free cash to pay unpaid bills from prior fiscal years, which requires a nine-tenths majority vote, and Article 12 seeking $50,000 to supplement the fiscal year 2026 regional public safety communications assessment.
The Select Board saved the most contentious article for last. Article 28 proposes to amend the town’s zoning map and bylaws to include an MBTA Communities Multifamily Overlay District (MCMOD) consisting of 12 specific parcels. The article aims to bring Hanson into compliance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A, Section 3A, which requires communities near MBTA services to zone for multifamily housing.
After significant discussion, Select Board member Joe Weeks made a motion to recommend Article 28, citing positive feedback from informational forums the town has been conducting. “Given what we’ve done with our seminars and the feedback that I’ve gotten, which has been pretty positive, I’m going to say I’d like to recommend that,” Weeks stated. The motion passed unanimously.
FitzGerald-Kemmett outlined an extensive presentation planned for town meeting, featuring herself, Town Planner Tony De Frias, and Town Counsel to explain how the zone was created, the current legal landscape, the town’s failed lawsuit against the state, Milton’s similar legal defeat, the likelihood of proposed legislation passing, and the consequences of continued non-compliance including lost grant funding. “Emotions were so high at that meeting that we literally didn’t present anything,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said of a previous attempt, adding “we are committed to presenting the facts and then people can vote based on the facts.”
The presentation is expected to take approximately 15 minutes and will include overhead projections explaining the complex legal and financial implications. Green confirmed that the school’s audiovisual equipment is ready for the presentation. The town has held two informational forums so far, with a third scheduled for Thursday, October 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at Hanson Middle School. The most recent forum drew approximately 40 attendees who asked “really good” and “very diverse” questions, according to FitzGerald-Kemmett.
If Article 28 fails, Article 29 immediately becomes relevant. It requests $275,000 from free cash for legal fees associated with an enforcement action filed by the Attorney General. However, town officials emphasized this is merely a starting point. “We have no way of knowing what the ultimate legal bill will be,” the chair warned, noting the amount is based on Milton’s experience but that Hanson’s case “could be completely different, could go on for ages and ages.” Town Moderator Kealy suggested amending the motion to specify the enforcement action concerns “the MBTA Communities Act” for clarity. The Select Board voted to defer a recommendation on Article 29 to town meeting.
Earlier in the meeting, members of Scout Troop 68 led the Pledge of Allegiance and received encouragement from Chair FitzGerald-Kemmett to stay involved in local government. “I hope that as you go on your journey as Scouts and as fine young people, that you think about being involved in your local government and for sure, voting. It’s a privilege denied many,” she told the scouts.
In other business, the board appointed Stefan Keniston to a one-year term on the Energy Committee after Select Board member Ed Heal confirmed he had spoken with him and found him “very, very well-versed.” The town approved a six-month natural gas contract with Sprague Energy at 0.923 cents per therm, slightly below the forecasted Eversource winter rate of 0.9832 cents per therm. The board chose the shorter term given energy market volatility.
The Select Board also addressed ongoing concerns about the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District budget. FitzGerald-Kemmett reported a “pretty lengthy conversation” with School Committee Vice-Chair Hillary Kniffen, who explained that money taken from the circuit breaker account was “reimbursable money” for unanticipated special education costs, a standard practice with state reimbursement. The school committee will discuss the matter at their October 8th meeting after their new business manager completes a review of what occurred. The Whitman Town Administrator had not yet had extensive discussions on the issue when contacted.
A potential complication emerged regarding the Whitman-Hanson Regional School Agreement. The chair reported that a Whitman citizen proposed at a recent Whitman Select Board meeting that the town not approve the recently negotiated two-and-a-half-year amendment and instead introduce an alternative funding method in addition to the statutory method. She stated this alternative method would shift additional financial burden to Hanson. “If this is introduced as something that must be in this amendment before it would be presented at Whitman town meeting, then I don’t care if this agreement ever gets amended,” FitzGerald-Kemmett declared. She plans to speak with Whitman Select Board representative Justin Evans to determine if this represents the direction of that board.
The meeting concluded with praise for IT Director Matt, who Town Administrator Green said has been “working very hard to get our systems up to date” after years of neglect, upgrading outdated computers that cannot support the impending Windows 10 sunset while negotiating better prices on software.
Why It Matters
The October 6th special town meeting will be one of the most consequential in recent Hanson history, with the MBTA Communities zoning article representing a crossroads for the community. If Article 28 passes, Hanson will comply with state law, maintain eligibility for state grants that Town Administrator Green indicated the town has already been denied due to non-compliance, and avoid potentially costly litigation with the Attorney General. If it fails, the town faces an uncertain legal battle with the state that could cost far more than the initial $275,000 appropriation and result in court-ordered compliance anyway, based on other communities’ experiences. The 27 other articles, totaling over $1.1 million in spending from various funding sources, will also impact town services, public safety capabilities, and infrastructure for years to come.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 2 (Police Union Contract - $131,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:42:03)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 3 (Fire Union Contract - $112,731). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:42:03)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 4 (Highway Union Contract - $23,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:42:15)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 5 (Administrative Union Contract - $40,300). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:42:28)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 6 (Non-Union Personnel - $56,087). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:42:47)
Motion: Ratify Article 7 placement. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:43:16)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 7 (Pratt Place Culvert - $50,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:43:40)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 8 (Advertising Budget - $3,500). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:43:52)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 11 (Postage - $4,500). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:44:10)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 12 (Regional Public Safety Communications - $50,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:44:24)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 13 (Police Cruisers - $146,097.45). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:44:34)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 14 (Cybersecurity/Technology - $125,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:45:07)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 15 (Microsoft 365 - $68,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:45:08)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 16 (Library Staffing/Hours - $21,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:45:08)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 17 (Athletic Field Fences - $40,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:45:18)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 18 (Rubber Wheeled Excavator - $149,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:45:30)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 19 (Skid Steer Loader - $78,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:46:09)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 22 (Fire Radio Grant Cost Share - $15,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:46:09)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 23 (Senior Center Awning - $45,360). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:46:21)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 24 (Board of Health Advertising - $2,000). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:46:33)
Motion: Recommend approval of Article 28 (MBTA Communities Zoning). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:47:25)
Motion: Defer recommendation on Article 29 (Legal Fees - $275,000) to town meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:47:46)
Motion: Waive Camp Kiwanee Lodge use fee for Hanson Community Christmas December 17-18. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0-1 (Chafe recused). (Timestamp: 0:48:46)
Motion: Appoint Stefan Keniston to Energy Committee for one-year term. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:50:31)
Motion: Approve six-month natural gas contract with Sprague Energy at 0.923 cents per therm. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:52:58)
Motion: Approve PAC 34 request to hold fall picnic October 4 at Plainfields. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:53:23)
Motion: Accept donation to Senior Center in memory of Dorothy Bell. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:53:25)
Motion: Request Representative Sweezey file electronic posting bill. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:55:13)
Motion: Approve liquor license for Ruozzi Christmas Party. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:58:55)
Motion: Adjourn to executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy and ratify police lieutenant contracts; not returning to open session. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous by roll call. (Timestamp: 1:13:52)
Public Comment
No formal public comment period was held during this meeting. Scout Troop 68 attended and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Chafe encouraged the scouts to remain involved in local government and to vote when eligible, calling it “a privilege denied many.”
What’s Next
The Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Hanson Middle School, 111 Liberty Street. A final MBTA Communities Informational Forum will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Hanson Middle School, hosted by the Select Board. The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee will discuss the circuit breaker account issue at their October 8th meeting. The Highway Committee will schedule a meeting in October to continue work on a potential highway facility proposal for the May 2026 town meeting. The trash, refuse, waste, and recycling procurement bids are due October 9th with opening the same day. AMC’s “Dead City” season three will film at Camp Kiwanee for four days in late October. Regular Select Board meetings are scheduled for October 14 and October 28.
Full meeting available via Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television.