Select Board Approves Transfers, Names Interim Fire Chief

Select Board · Meeting of July 8, 2026

Hadley Select Board closed out fiscal year 2026 transfers and named an interim fire chief. The board unanimously approved year-end budget transfers including $468,995 shifted from unemployment insurance to workers' compensation and $152,895 drawn from health insurance to cover a snow and ice deficit and fire department overtime overages. Assistant Town Administrator Jennifer Sanders James said the fire overtime shortfall stemmed partly from the elimination of the EMS budget line, which cut available overtime funding in half.

The board also approved a retirement agreement for outgoing Fire Chief Michael after 27 years of service and appointed Deputy Chief Robert Clarity interim fire chief effective July 12, contingent on finalizing an employment contract within 30 days. Member Molly Keegan asked whether Clarity had "indicated whether or not he's interested" in the role; the question went unanswered on the record before the board voted to approve the appointment and moved into executive session to negotiate contract terms.

In the full story:

• Fiscal Year 2026 Year-End Budget Transfers
• Public Comment
• Fire Chief Retirement
• Appointment of Interim Fire Chief
• Announcements
• Executive Session
• Finance Committee Reorganization and Planning
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,891 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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