Easthampton Select Board Continues Manhattan Road Pole Hearing to November 26

EASTHAMPTON — October 29, 2024 — Easthampton Select Board continued a scenic-road utility hearing, approved $32,000 in federal ARPA funds for a downsized public safety building design study, and received a sharp critique of the town's long-term investment returns at its October 29 meeting. The board voted unanimously to continue a public hearing on an Eversource and Verizon New England petition to install a utility pole and approximately 940 feet of underground conduit on Manhattan Road — a designated scenic road — to November 26, after noting that a Planning Board hearing is legally required before the Select Board can act. Select Board member Chris Boulter presented a comparative analysis showing that Bartholomew Associates, which has managed approximately $3.6 million in Easthampton trust and stabilization funds for nearly 14 years, has generated an annualized net return of roughly 1.02 percent, against 11.14 percent net for Holyoke's stabilization fund over the same period — a gap Boulter characterized as representing more than $1 million in missed earnings. The board referred the Bartholomew annual report to the Finance Committee for review. On ARPA, the board authorized up to $32,000 to fund HKT Architects' redesign of the public safety building at a smaller scale, after an earlier feasibility study projected costs of $30 million to $40 million. The town also learned it will receive a $96,000 state historic preservation grant for mortar repointing at the old Town Hall, after moving up from first alternate when another finalist withdrew.