Hatfield Select Board Appoints Officer, Sets Water Rate Hearing for Feb. 18

HATFIELD — February 4, 2020 — Hatfield Select Board appoints part-time officer, sets water rate hearing, and authorizes undisclosed state grant. The board unanimously appointed Thomas Gentile, currently with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, as a part-time Hatfield police officer, and acknowledged the fire department appointments of Melissa Brown and Hana Azan. Chair Luke Longstreeth announced a public hearing on proposed water and sewer rate increases for February 18 at 6 p.m. at Memorial Town Hall, stemming from a Prickett Engineering infrastructure study. The board voted to authorize Town Administrator Marlene to sign documents for a state grant whose size and subject remain embargoed pending a state announcement, drawing a comparison to the town's prior $2 million MassWorks grant. Two Planning Board zoning amendments — covering solar generating systems and a minimum setback for marijuana cultivation — were referred to the Planning Board for hearings around March 5. A Colonial Power enrollment update showed 1,465 of 1,696 eligible accounts, roughly 88 percent, participating in the municipal aggregation program as of January 27.