Hanson Select Board Locks In 36-Month Energy Contract, Approves New Barbecue Restaurant

HANSON — October 28, 2025 — Hanson Select Board approves 36-month Sprague Energy contract and welcomes new barbecue restaurant. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to lock in a 36-month discounted electricity rate for all town buildings through Sprague Energy, choosing the longer term over 12- and 24-month alternatives amid what one member called a "volatile" energy market. The board also unanimously approved a common victualler license for Fetch Barbecue, the final regulatory hurdle for the new Hanson eatery. Highway Superintendent Richard Jasmine warned the board that the main highway department building has a significant roof leak and that a full replacement is likely to cost between $60,000 and $85,000, with firm numbers expected at a future meeting. Town Clerk Jessica announced that vital records copy fees will rise from $5 to $10 effective January 1, 2026 — the first increase since 1988 — under authority granted without a town meeting vote. The board also honored Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television with a proclamation marking its 20th anniversary of local service, as WHCA representatives flagged growing financial pressure from cord-cutting and declining Comcast franchise revenue.