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Votes at a glance: Select Board approves minutes, opts out of early voting, authorizes Mass Audubon access and closes warrant
Summary
At its March 3 meeting the Town of Hampden Select Board approved several procedural minutes, endorsed a registrar recommendation to opt out of early in‑person voting for the May town election under state law, granted Mass Audubon permission to conduct its 2025 deer pellet count on specified town property and closed the town meeting warrant with a
The Town of Hampden Select Board recorded several formal actions at its March 3 session. The board approved meeting minutes, voted to accept the registrars’ recommendation to opt out of early in‑person voting for the town’s May municipal election, granted Mass Audubon permission to conduct an annual deer pellet count on town property, and voted to close the town meeting warrant with placeholders for forthcoming capital articles.
Votes at a glance
- Executive session minutes (Jan. 16, Jan. 20 and Jan. 22): The board voted to approve three executive session minutes “without release.” Motion made and seconded; the board recorded approval by voice vote ("Aye").
- Regular session minutes (Feb. 3, 2025): The board voted to approve the Feb. 3 regular session minutes. Motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote.
- Municipal buildings meeting minutes (Feb. 4, 2025): The board voted to approve the municipal buildings meeting minutes; motion made, seconded and approved.
- Opt out of early voting for the May 2025 town election (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, §25B(a)(1)): The board moved to endorse the registrars’ recommendation to not offer early voting for the local town election in May 2025, citing cost and low expected participation; absentee ballots remain available. The motion was moved and seconded; the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.
- Mass Audubon deer pellet count (2025): The board unanimously authorized Mass Audubon to access specified town property to carry out its second annual deer pellet count, repeating a prior accommodation. A motion to recommend access was made and seconded; the board voted in favor.
- Appointment of Andrew Poyen: The board voted to endorse the chief’s recommendation to appoint Andrew Poyen as a full‑time police officer, contingent on a scheduled psychological exam. Motion moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
- Close the warrant for the 2025 town meeting: The board moved and seconded a motion to close the warrant and recorded approval by voice vote. Members discussed placeholders for capital items (including school capital) before closing.
The meeting included a motion into executive session to discuss strategy for collective bargaining and non‑union personnel preparation; that motion was announced under the appropriate Massachusetts open‑meeting exemption but the board gave notice that it would not return to open session within the transcript's end.
