Hinsdale selectmen tentatively approve multiple 2026–27 budget lines; transfer-station cut offset to restore merit pay

The Hinsdale Select Board and Budget Committee met at Hinsdale Town Hall on Feb. 2, 2026, and the board tentatively approved a slate of department and capital budgets for fiscal 2026–27 while the Budget Committee proposed targeted reductions of just over $100,000.

Chairman Steve Diorio opened the meeting. The board approved the manifests for Feb. 2 and the public and non‑public minutes of Jan. 27, 2026; approved a Heritage Park facilities agreement to host Hinsdale High School graduation (June 13, 2026, with June 20 as a backup); and signed a Newfound Title contract. The board also approved fourth‑quarter 2025 water and sewer commitments totaling $122,766.38 and $98,600.75, respectively.

The board moved through tentative approvals on multiple budget lines. Selectman William Hodgman moved (and Selectman Mike Carrier seconded) a string of "t.a." (tentatively approve) actions including Debt Service Capital Outlay ($242,205.10), Executive ($258,053), Town Clerk ($130,582), Finance ($189,187), Tax ($52,341), Planning Board ($107,457), Government Buildings ($112,517), Building Inspection ($22,632), Highway and Parks ($953,077), Transfer Station ($392,376), Community Assistance ($70,677), Municipal Pool ($56,997), Recreation ($12,665) and a Community Center request ($163,371). The board also amended the Water budget to $708,825 and Wastewater to $549,843 for 2026–27.

Budget Chair Dennis Nadeau, speaking during the Budget Committee session that opened at 6:21 p.m., said he identified more than $100,000 in potential reductions "without touching the municipal budget benefits and raises of employees," calling out possible savings in revaluation of property, street lighting, legal expenses, elections, finance and certain facility budgets. He also said he was displeased by an earlier characterization of the committee: "I didn’t appreciate hearing that they don’t know what they are doing," Nadeau said.

Committee members and department staff debated specific targets. Jodie Holmquist reported the Transfer Station had collected $79,547 in revenue in the first six months of operation, roughly 57% of its budgeted revenue; some committee members urged removing as much as $52,000 from that line. Town Administrator Kathryn Lynch said she discovered an error in the materials and warned that two wells at the Transfer Station had failed inspection and could cost about $27,000 to remediate — an unbudgeted expense.

Members of the public and staff raised broader concerns. Josh Green asked whether projected electricity increases (cited by participants as potentially 38–40%) had been included in cost estimates. Lori Howe urged the town to avoid pitting contractual employees against noncontractual staff and called for unity. Bethany Marx, who provided Community Center financial figures, said she was "impressed in her first year" by how department heads handled budgeting.

On motions, the board adopted a compromise: Selectman Hodgman moved to reduce the Transfer Station budget by $27,000 to $365,376; the motion passed with Selectman Bernie Rideout voting no. Hodgman then moved to amend budgets to restore $27,000 so merit increases would remain in place; that motion passed unanimously. The Budget Committee approved its minutes from Jan. 19 and Jan. 21 and adjourned; the Select Board adjourned at 8:04 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows unanimous approval on the initial manifests/minutes, the Heritage Park agreement, the Newfound Title contract, the 4th quarter water and sewer commitments, and most tentative budget actions moved by Hodgman and seconded by Carrier; the Fire Department tentative approval recorded one abstention (Hodgman) while the Transfer Station reduction passed with one dissent (Rideout).