HATFIELD — A West Street property owner’s continuing efforts to have elements of a water and sewer extension project moved, due to their proximity to and potential impact on two businesses, was rejected by residents at annual Town Meeting Tuesday.
The session, which approved a $12.03 million upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant that will be subject to a ballot vote at next week’s town election and took up a $12.59 million operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, spent considerable time dealing with the ongoing concerns about the $3.6 million project to extend water and sewer lines.
Gathered in the Smith Academy gym for the first time since 2019, Town Meeting began with an article sponsored by the Select Board, and endorsed by the Finance Committee, calling for adding $750,000 to the project so the location of a sewage pumping station could be moved away from the 32 and 34 West St. properties where Rudison & Ruthier Engineering and The Waxwing restaurant are located.
That was rejected by a voice vote, and then a standing tally of 99-53, after more than 30 minutes of discussion, setting the tone for the evening, during which three petition articles aimed at altering the project were brought by resident Susan Berry. The first petition, seeking to move the pumping station 500 feet to the north to the entrance to the nearby town-owned cemetery, was voted down, while the other two were indefinitely postponed.
Berry, who has filed a lawsuit against the town in Hampshire Superior Court, contends the water and sewer extension will have “horrible consequences” for the businesses. Town officials have said the project in its entirety will be largely positive for existing homes, commercial properties and future economic development.
“This project was born from and carried through with the best intention of all people who own property in that area,” said Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal.
“Time to keep moving and get this project over with,” said Select Board member Brian Moriarty, observing that the project is supported with a $2 million MassWorks Infrastructure Grant that the town first sought in 2014.
Kerry Flaherty of Primrose Path made the motion to discuss the added spending at the outset of the meeting, observing the topic has been addressed repeatedly. “I think it’s absolutely insane we’re going to want to spend any more of our money,” Flaherty said.
The $750,000 figure was confirmed by Michael Ohl, an engineer from Comprehensive Environmental Inc. of Marlborough, though disputed by Berry’s representatives, including Bucky Sparkle of The Zengineer of Leeds, who said the pumping station should be nowhere near the site of a restaurant. “It’s like the worst place you could put a pump station,” Sparkle said.
Berry’s first petition received some support, including from resident Jane Yolen Stempel, who said she sympathized with the “appalling” treatment Berry faced, and the effect on Waxwing from possible odors, referring to it as “the best restaurant in the Northampton-Amherst area.”
Moderator Joe Lavallee suggested that the petition article to move the pump station might be out of bounds due to the impact on the burial grounds. “It’s foolhardy to go into the discussion,” Lavallee said.
Michael Cahill of North Street asked that the remaining petitions be postponed indefinitely after Lavallee said Town Meeting might run out of time. “We can’t be here all night for three questions,” Lavallee said.
After the votes, John McLaughlin, an attorney with Green Miles Lipton LLP of Northampton, who represents Berry, said her lawsuit claiming the siting of the pump station is wrong is active and that the town should pay damages for it. The suit also sought a preliminary injunction.
Voters easily passed a $12.03 million upgrade to wastewater treatment plant that will also be on the ballot at next Tuesday’s town election, and depends on a $2 million or so grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The meeting kicked off with Szynal making a phone call to resident Paul Labbee, a longtime town volunteer who has been master of ceremony for the Luminarium for more than 40 years and the Memorial Day parade marshal, letting him know the town report was being dedicated in his honor, and that a police officer would be delivering his copy. “I thank you very much,” Labbee said as he was put on speakerphone.
The report also honors late residents Stanley “Buster” Symanski, the town’s electrical inspector for 30 years, and Bob Bartlett, a U.S. Army veteran who served 42 years on the town’s Planning Board.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
