1

Gregory Sheehan

2

CARLENE HAMLIN

SOUTH HADLEY - Carlene Hamlin and Gregory Sheehan are resigning from the Selectboard effective Jan. 18.

Hamlin, who was first elected to the board in 1997, was elected town clerk/treasurer in April's election. She planned to resign to devote her time to her new office, Hamlin said.

"I wasn't going to continue because my allegiance is here now," she said.

Sheehan, who was elected in a June 2007 special election, said he planned to not seek re-election in April so he could have more free time. The Selectboard, as well as several other volunteer positions in which he serves, take a lot of time and work, Sheehan said.

Both Sheehan and Hamlin said the special state senate primary Jan. 18 provides a good stopping point for them and a better beginning point for the next Selectboard members than the April annual town election. There will be no cost to the town for a special election and the people who are elected to the board in January will be able to participate in the annual budget process that begins in January and concludes at the June Town Meeting.

Sheehan said having a newly elected Selectboard member try to digest a budget in a few weeks and then be called on to defend the decisions essentially made by others is not best. "Waiting until April would be a bit selfish on my part," he said.

Hamlin offered the same advantages for electing Selectboard members before April. "This hopefully will give someone time to weigh in and be a decision maker," she said.

Sheehan said another reason he is leaving the board is the most of the reasons he ran for office - to see a landfill expansion begin, decrease the Ledges Golf Course deficit, end the town's ambulance service and begin to replace the Plains School and repair the Senior Center - have been accomplished.

Hamlin said she is proud of being a fiscal watchdog for the town and having helped increase the level of state aid received by the town.

Nomination papers for the two Selectboard seats are now available in the town clerk's office, in Town Hall. They must be returned with the signatures of at least 50 registered voters by Dec. 1.