HAWLEY — Voters will be asked to adopt a $979,550 general operating budget, enact a Stretch Energy Code bylaw, and agree to changes in the Mohawk Trail Regional School District regional agreement at the annual town meeting on Monday, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Town Office.
The largest budget increase this year is in school costs. Although Hawley’s vocational school costs for the coming year will decrease by $25,000, the town’s Hawlemont Regional School Assessment will go up from $212,531 to $244,416, a $32,000 increase. Also the town’s Mohawk assessment will go up from $136,838 to $157,209, a $20,000 increase.
The town will be asked to take $100,000 from its “free cash” reserves to pay down its storm damage loan. Also requested from free cash is $30,000 for the annual payment for the purchase of a used fire pumper and one-ton truck.
Adopting the state Stretch Energy Code Bylaw building standards would help Hawley leverage money for Green Community projects, according to Planning Board Chairman Lloyd Crawford.
“Adopting this measure is required for Hawley to become a Green Community, which would qualify the town for an initial $130,000 grant to make major energy improvements on our town buildings,” he said. “It would also make us eligible for other energy related grants in the future.”
Like other Mohawk towns, Hawley will have its say on three proposed changes to the eight-member towns’ regional district agreement. One amendment includes adding preschool costs to Mohawk’s operating assessments and it cleans up obsolete language. A second amendment would allow Rowe to join the district as a secondary school member (grades 8 through 12). A third proposal would change a requirement that all district changes must be unanimously approved by all towns to a two-thirds majority vote required.