Summary

Select Board Advances Town Meeting Proposals

HinghamJan 20, 20263 min read

At a glance

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The Select Board unanimously approved submitting 12 warrant articles to the 2026 Annual Town Meeting, including approximately $2.1 million from a stabilization fund to offset debt-service tax impacts and approximately $1.35 million for a one-year employee health care subsidy.

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Select Board

Topics discussed

LaborBudget & TaxPublic SafetyHousing

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What this means

The approved articles would put several financial, property, housing, public safety, and government-operations proposals before voters at the 2026 Annual Town Meeting. They include potential sale or lease of 86 Central Street, authorization for a real estate transfer fee to support affordable housing if needed, and possible sales of three town properties. The Board also advanced proposals to change Fire and Police hiring rules, temporarily increase the Town’s share of employee health costs to 60%, and authorize up to $100,000 for electronic voting devices if recommended.

Key decisions

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Approved the revised Building Department Revolving Fund warrant article, setting the amount at $265,000.
Approved a warrant article to transfer funds to balance certain capital, grant, and other Town accounts as an accounting deficit cleanup measure.
Approved submitting an article authorizing, but not requiring, the Select Board to seek proposals and sell or lease 86 Central Street if deemed in the Town’s best interest.
Approved submitting a real estate transfer fee article, with proceeds initially intended to support affordable housing if the Town falls below the 10% Subsidized Housing Inventory threshold.
Approved articles allowing potential sale of 8 Short Street, the former DPW barn, and 230 North Street, the former Torrent Fire Station.
Approved a transfer from the Capital Cost and Debt Service Stabilization Fund; the anticipated 2026 allocation is approximately $2.1 million.
Approved submitting articles proposing withdrawal of the Fire Department and Police Department from the state Civil Service program.
Approved a one-year, approximately $1.35 million employee health care subsidy intended to raise the Town’s contribution to 60% for FY27.
Approved an article authorizing up to $100,000 for electronic voting devices if a task force recommends their use and the Select Board approves.
Approved the FY27 departmental budget requests presented at the meeting, including requests with no increases, operating decreases, and targeted additions.
Appointed Linda Luke to the Cultural Council through June 30, 2028, and Jeffrey Kukesh to the Fourth of July Parade Committee through December 31, 2026.
Approved minutes from January 6, January 8, and January 13, 2026.

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