Hampden council adopts new rules, approves transfer station electrical work

The Hampden Town Council voted 7-0 to repeal and replace its rules of procedure and approved single-source electrical upgrades for new transfer station compactors, with two related spending votes passing 6-1. The meeting also included public comment on the rules, a Summer Street subdivision dispute, and the town manager's report on retirements and capital projects.

Key points

• Council voted 7-0 to repeal the 2020 rules of procedure and adopt revised rules, including a five-minute public comment limit and a footnote addressing free speech and disruption.
• Council voted 6-1 to let the Public Works director waive the bid process and work directly with Hampden Electric on compactor electrical upgrades; Councilor Eric Jarvi cast the no vote.
• Council voted 6-1 to authorize up to $31,473 from the solid waste reserve account for the same electrical work, with Jarvi again dissenting.
• Resident Ron Hajdu criticized the Planning Board's handling of a Summer Street subdivision proposal, saying neighbors felt "sandbagged" and that a 3-2 vote approved the project without time to review new information; he filed a Freedom of Access request.
• Resident Linda Balcourt and others spoke on the rules change, with Balcourt saying emailed questions should be answered publicly and that she was not attacking anyone by disagreeing.
• Council Chair Matthew LaChance announced he will not seek re-election, saying he wants to focus on family and business while his children finish school at Hampden Academy.

Next steps

• Nomination papers for the November 3, 2026 municipal election are available at the town office and must be returned to the town clerk by close of business September 3, 2026.
• The town manager said a search for a replacement for retiring employee Tammy will begin in October or November, and a search for Victor's replacement will begin within weeks.
• Councilors suggested staff consider shifting from waiving the bid process to a formal sole-source process in the future.
• The town manager invited councilors to an August 28 ceremony at the marina launching a 3D-printed University of Maine vessel.

Read the full transcript