Hamilton Select Board Authorizes Health Insurance Talks, Approves AT&T Cell Permit

Select Board · Meeting of February 2, 2026

Hamilton Select Board unanimously authorized health insurance renegotiations and approved an AT&T small wireless cell facility in the town center at its February 2 meeting. Town Manager Joe Damal received board authorization to enter negotiations with the reconstituted Public Employee Committee under MGL Chapter 32B on possible changes to the town's health insurance plan, including a potential move to the state's Group Insurance Commission. The board also approved a $270-per-year, annually renewable license for an AT&T small wireless antenna on an existing pole adjacent to 15 Walnut Street, which Planning and Land Use Director Mark Connors said was approved unanimously by the Planning Board with no abutter objections.

DPW Director Tim Hakel presented four water rate increase scenarios — the highest a flat 30 percent increase that would generate an estimated $650,000 annual surplus — against a retained earnings balance of $1,987,856 certified in October, but the board took no vote and asked for more household usage data before the first March meeting, when a rate vote is expected ahead of the April meter read. The board also began a contentious discussion of a potential two-article Annual Town Meeting override structure, with a combined town-and-school override figure of approximately $1.5 million on the table, and unanimously appointed renewable energy veteran Jack Whittier to the Hamilton Environmental Impact Committee.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.