Hampden voters approve funding for new fire truck

Voter turnout was 13 percent.

John D. Flynn

HAMPDEN – Voters in Monday’s town election approved a debt exclusion override question which will allow the town to exempt the debt from the purchase of a new $360,000 Fire Department tanker truck.

The question was approved by a vote of 288 in favor to 142 opposed.

“The margin was 2 to 1,” Town Clerk Eva A. Wiseman said.

Approval of the question gives the town approval to borrow $360,000 for a new Fire Department tanker truck, but Selectmen Chairman John D. Flynn said there is a good chance the town will not have to borrow the full amount.

It will take 12 to 14 months to have the truck specially made, Flynn said.

He said if there is sufficient funds in the town’s Stabilization Account next year, the town will be asked to transfer some funds from that account and to bond the balance of the purchase for five years.

“We want to keep payments at $50,000 a year,” Flynn said. He said there are $50,000 in bond payments due to be paid off so the purchase of the tanker truck will not affect residential tax bills.

Flynn said he is pleased that voters in town supported the Fire Department purchase. He said the town has a very dedicated, all volunteer Fire Department.

Voter turnout in Monday’s town election was 451 or 13 percent of 3,456 registered voters.

Wiseman had predicted a 30 percent turnout, but Flynn said the low turnout may be a sign of that voters are satisfied with how the town is being run.

Also in the town election, two candidates were elected to the Park Commission.

Elected to the Park Commission seats were Michael Cronin, the Democratic caucus nominee who received 276 votes and Frederick P. Frangie, an unaffiliated candidate who received 216 votes. They defeated James Shannon, the Republican caucus nominee. Shannon received 177 votes.

Also in the election, a write-in candidate was elected to a four-year unexpired term on the Planning Board. James Quackenbush is the winner of the seat, with eight write-in votes, Wiseman said. He defeated Deborah House, who received seven write-in votes.