Board Approves New Highway Foreman, Licenses

Select Board · Meeting of June 17, 2026

Hadley's Select Board heard a lengthy staffing report from outgoing Fire Chief Mike, who said minimum staffing is "insufficient to meet OSHA" and that full-time staffing has fallen 50 percent since March 2025. New Deputy Fire Chief Bob Flaherty, previously chief in Hatfield for six years, could be named acting chief under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148 when the chief retires July 11; the board planned an executive session to discuss the move. Separately, the board unanimously approved Thaddeus Mish as the new highway foreman and signed off on business licenses for Dave's Hot Chicken and a Hampton Inn event.

Members tabled a request to add Valley Bike Share stations, citing cost, and tabled a proposed conservation restriction on South Branch Road pending a review of tax impacts.

In the full story:

• Fire Department State of the Department
• Consent Agenda
• Public Comment
• Valley Bike Share
• Pro-Con Conservation Restriction, South Branch Road
• Food Trucks
• Highway Foreman Appointment
• Professional Development Day
• Town Administrator's Report
• Liaison Updates, Future Agenda Items, and Town Administrator Transition
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,161 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.