There have been numerous complaints by residents and government officials about the waste operation.
Twelve people, including eight incumbents are running for town meeting representative in the precinct that covers the South Hadley landfill in the April 1 annual town election.
SOUTH HADLEY – Though most incumbents face no opposition in the upcoming municipal election, there is political buzz in the unlikeliest of contests – for town meeting representative in the area proximate to the controversial South Hadley landfill.
Data obtained from the town clerk shows a high level of interest in one of the five town meeting zones, in Precinct E. The eight office holders are being challenged by four town meeting member hopefuls. The deadline to file paperwork was last week.
Precinct E encompasses the southeastern section of town – that includes Industrial Drive – home of the town-owned landfill that is run by a private company, Advanced Disposal.
There have been numerous complaints by residents and government officials about the waste operation. The state has issued a bevy of warnings the past year that have included fines and threats of criminal prosecution should problems there persist. Precinct E also juts into the South Hadley Falls section of town.
The four challengers for the Precinct E seats are: Lori Eldridge, Kenneth Rogers, Bruce Forcier and Robert Flaherty.
The incumbents seeking re-election to a three-year term are: Glenn Archambault, Robert Berwick, Doris Dubois, Kathryn Gallivan, Dennis Hogan, Susan Kelsey, Susan Obremski-Crowther and Mitchell Resnick.
Also, John A. Kelly is challenging the incumbent School Committee members Edward Boiselle and Dale Carey.
Incumbent Selectman Ira Brezinski is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Selectman Robert Judge will resign effective April 1. There is a year remaining on his term of office. Sarah Etelman is running unopposed to succeed Judge. She is chairman of the town administrator search committee.
Town moderator is running unopposed, as is Planning Board member Melissa O’Brien, Municipal Light Board member Cheryl Scott Nickl, Board of Assessor Francis Conti, and Board of Health members Walter Wolf and Suzanne Cordes.
The election is April 1. There are five voting stations all located at the high school
Polling hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. South Hadley has 10,729 registered voters