Hatfield Select Board Reorganizes, Approves ARPA Funds for Comprehensive Plan

HATFIELD -- May 23, 2023, Hatfield Select Board reorganizes after May election, taps ARPA funds for planning grant. The three-member board unanimously re-elected Luke Longstreeth as chair at its May 23 meeting and welcomed newly elected member Greg Gagnon, who filed a financial disclosure with the state Ethics Commission related to his paid traffic-control work for the Police Department. The board voted unanimously to authorize $43,875 in federal ARPA money to cover the town's cash-match obligation for a state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness planning grant totaling $378,525, of which the state contributes $283,900. Members expressed anxiety over news reports that Congress could claw back unspent ARPA reserves as part of debt-ceiling negotiations, with Town Administrator Marlene noting the town accountant "doesn't think it will really happen" but saying the board would monitor the situation. The board also appointed Christy Dyer to fill the Celebration Committee vacancy left by newly elected Town Moderator Robert Betzel, and pressed DPW Director Phil Genovese for a firm start date on the stalled Route 5 and 10 water-sewer project, funded in part by a $1.5 million MassWorks grant.