Hanson Select Board appoints Building Commissioner, eyes MBTA action plan deadline

HANSON -- January 28, 2025, Hanson Select Board moves toward filing an MBTA Communities action plan and appoints a new Building Commissioner amid a projected $2.6 million FY26 budget shortfall. State Representative Ken Sweezy told the board Tuesday that Hanson is currently in interim MBTA compliance following the SJC's Milton ruling, but that a new action plan deadline falls February 13, two days after the board's next meeting, with a formal vote on authorizing Town Administrator Lisa Green to sign and submit the form planned for February 11. Town Counsel, appearing by video, warned that non-compliance could ultimately result in a court-appointed third party writing the town's zoning bylaws, calling the action plan filing the minimum prudent step. Town Accountant Eric Kinchan presented a preliminary FY26 budget showing revenues roughly flat and spending requests, including a seven percent school assessment placeholder and new positions, outpacing available funds by $2.6 million without use of the town's approximately $2.4 million in free cash or $1.5 million stabilization fund. The board unanimously appointed Michael Christofoley, a 30-year building inspection veteran, as Hanson's new Building Commissioner at a revised salary range of $90,000 to $100,000, and Fire Chief Anthony O'Brien flagged two outstanding grants totaling roughly $1 million whose state contracts remain unexecuted due to earlier compliance disputes.