Hampden panel narrows old town hall options to five
Other Committee · Meeting of May 19, 2026
Hampden panel narrows old town hall's future to five options for selectmen. The Old Town Hall Committee voted 5-2 to recommend the Board of Selectmen investigate a public-private partnership for the vacant building, then unanimously backed three more options: a partnership with a possible sale-leaseback, a joint development study with the fire department, and demolition for a park estimated at $750,000 to $800,000. The panel also voted to drop "wait and do nothing" from its public options list.
Much of the debate turned on the fire department's already-approved $8.3 million station project against a roughly $9 million estimate to renovate the old town hall. "What blows my mind is their annual budget is a half a million dollars, yet they're looking for eight million," one member said. The committee plans a joint meeting with selectmen and fire officials June 15.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 851 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of May 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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