Hanson Considers Tax Override, Hires Consultant as Transfer Station Faces Sunday Closure

Officials say override critical to avoid 'catastrophic cuts' to town services and schools

HANSON, MA - July 16 - The Hanson Select Board is considering a tax override to address looming financial challenges, hiring a consultant to educate residents about the town's fiscal situation as the Board of Health moves to close the transfer station on Sundays.

The board voted Tuesday to hire Capital Strategic Solutions for $50,000 to develop a public outreach campaign around a potential Proposition 2 1/2 override. The funds will come from federal ARPA money, not the town's operating budget.

"We are at a critical crossroads here, and if this does not happen, we are looking at catastrophic cuts, not just town government, but schools, the whole way across," said Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

Officials stressed the importance of educating residents about Hanson's financial realities, but some board members expressed concerns about the optics of spending money to explain a lack of funds.

"It's counterintuitive to spend more money to tell people we can't afford it," said board member Joseph Weeks. "I see the townspeople coming back and saying, why are we spending money?"

The board requested more specifics from Capital Strategic Solutions on deliverables like the number of community meetings, social media posts, and other outreach efforts included in the $50,000 contract. The consultant agreed to provide a more detailed project plan and timeline.

Meanwhile, the Hanson Board of Health has decided to close the town's transfer station on Sundays due to recent budget cuts, though an effective date is still pending negotiations. Officials plan to inform residents of the change through various communication channels once finalized.

"We will try to get the information out in every way that they can," said Board of Health member Arlene Dias. "It will be on the town website. Hopefully, we'll be able to put it on cable, put it in the newspaper."

Despite the impending closure, transfer station sticker sales have been higher than expected this year. The initial order of stickers sold out within two weeks, prompting officials to place a second order.

Some officials view the strong sticker sales as evidence of the transfer station's value to residents. Select Board member Anne Rein said she would "die on that hill" opposing any efforts to fully close the facility, arguing it would be "exponentially more expensive" for residents to use private trash pickup.

In other business, Town Administrator Lisa Green reported that Hanson's non-compliance with the MBTA Communities zoning law may jeopardize a recent library grant application. Green said state legislators are now voting against funding requests from non-compliant communities, despite the official December 31 deadline. The Planning Board did not vote to revisit it at the fall Town Meeting.

The board also appointed Edward Henderson as the new highway director pending contract negotiations and background checks. Henderson, who has over 20 years of construction industry experience, pledged to bring his knowledge to improve Hanson's infrastructure.