Hadley Board of Health votes to penalize food establishments still operating without 2025 permits

HADLEY -- February 13, 2025, Hadley Board of Health votes to penalize food establishments still operating without 2025 permits. The board unanimously approved a motion requiring delinquent food businesses, at least one confirmed large establishment and two or three smaller ones, to renew their permits by February 28 or face the same surcharges imposed last year, with formal closure notices to be issued as well; Health Inspector Ben said he would mail warning letters the following day. Administrative officer Peter Krzywicki separately reported that the board's fiscal year 2026 budget submission of $106,000 was accepted without change by the interim town administrator, but flagged an unanticipated town-wide hit of roughly $400,000 from an 18 percent jump in employee health insurance premiums, the highest year-over-year increase he had seen in his insurance career. Krzywicki noted Amherst is facing a roughly 20 percent increase through the same Hampshire County group purchasing arrangement. The board also advanced a proposed contract with mental health services provider Tapestry, which amended its agreement to extend services to all Hadley residents at no additional cost after the Select Board raised access questions at a prior meeting.