Hadley Select Board Advances $9 Million Water Tank Project, Hears Fire Staffing Crisis

HADLEY -- January 21, 2026, Hadley Select Board hears fire staffing emergency, advances $9 million water tank project. Fire Chief Mike Mason told the board at its January 21 special meeting that the department has been reduced to four active personnel following a resignation over solo-shift safety concerns and an off-duty injury, describing a recent weekend when a single firefighter responded to three simultaneous incidents across town. Mason asked that the hiring freeze, adopted after a failed override vote, be lifted for at least one firefighter position and that the board begin succession planning discussions; formal action was deferred to the February 4 joint session with the Finance Committee, which lacked quorum Wednesday. The board voted unanimously to advance the $9 million water tank replacement project to 90 percent design, with consultants from Tighe and Bond reporting costs remain within the authorized amount despite a site change and narrowed contingency of 15 to 20 percent; a $3 million USDA grant was previously denied because of Hadley's relative wealth. Finance Director Linda reported general fund local receipts running approximately $156,000 below projection at the fiscal year midpoint, partially offset by stronger-than-projected state aid, with expenditures running $133,000 under budget as department heads tighten spending ahead of anticipated fiscal year 2027 cuts.