Frequently Asked Questions

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The Reserve Fund is an account established at Town Meeting that is controlled by the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee votes to transfer funds from the account for extraordinary or unforeseen expenses that are not supported within the budget.

The "green sheets" are the report and recommendation sent out by the Advisory Committee prior to Town Meeting to inform citizens of the proposed budget and the Warrant Articles for consideration at the Meeting.

According to the Town's bylaws, the Advisory Committee must hold a Public Hearing at least seven days before a Town Meeting to review all articles that will be presented at that Meeting. This provides a forum for the Advisory Committee to get input from the citizens regarding each item prior to its formal recommendations at Town Meeting.

If your system or cesspool fails inspection, Title 5 allows up to two years for the completion of repairs or an upgrade. The first thing you should do is contact your local board of health, which needs to approve all upgrades and most repairs, and can tell you what will be required.

Shop around. Get written estimates, check qualifications and references. Remember that you are under no obligation to have the person who inspects your system perform any other work on it. In fact, you may want to hire separate contractors. While most septic system professionals are honest business people, as in any other profession there may be a few "bad apples" who try to take advantage of the consumer. If you ever believe you have been treated unfairly by a system inspector, soil evaluator, engineer, or system installer, call the Massachusetts Environmental Strike Force at 617-556-1000.

• A mortgage is refinanced
• The system was inspected within 3 years before the sale and you have records proving that your system was pumped annually since the inspection
• Title to the house is transferred from one spouse to another or placed in certain family trusts
• The local board of health issued a certificate of compliance within 2 years before the time of transfer or title
• The community has adopted a comprehensive plan approved by DEP requiring periodic inspections and the system was inspected at the most recent time required by the plan
• The homeowner has entered into an enforceable agreement, binding on subsequent buyers, with the board of health requiring an upgrade of the system or connection to the municipal sewer system within the 2 years of transfer or sale

• Title V Inspection - 3 years. You must have records to prove that your system was pumped annually since the inspection.
• Perc Test - No expiration date as long as area tested and surroundings have not been disturbed since the perc test. Contact the Board of Health office if you have any questions.
• Disposal Works Construction Permit - 3 years from date of approval.
• Certificate of Compliance - 2 years

More important information

• Realtors and homeowners may not advertise more than the number of bedrooms that are stated in the Disposal Works Construction Permit.
• Hampden Board of Health will not approve a 2BR design w/o the deed restriction in its hands.
• New Construction: minimum of 1500 gallons for septic tank
• For homes with garbage disposal, minimum size of septic tank is 1500 gallons. It should also have 2 compartments.
• If a 2 BR home is designed for only 2 BR, the homeowner cannot add additional rooms by enlarging the septic system. Homeowner must check with the registry of deeds in Springfield.

The owner of the property is responsible for compliance with TITLE 5. However, the seller, the buyer, and the mortgage lender may decide who will pay for the costs of the repair or upgrade, which can be negotiated as a part of the sales agreement. Mortgage lenders may require any repair or upgrade to be completed before closing, or that funds for the cost of repair be placed in escrow before closing.

Title 5 does not specify who must pay for system inspections, repairs or upgrades. Keep that in mind if you are planning to sell your home. You may find during negotiations that the prospective buyer is willing to assume some or all of the costs. Just be sure to consult with a lawyer or mortgage lender who is familiar with Title 5 before shaking hands on the deal.

• Backups of raw sewage
• Discharges of raw sewage to the ground surface
• System requires pumping 4 or more times per year
• The cesspool or leach field is below high ground water elevation
• System located too close to a drinking water supply, unless the local board of health says the system is adequate to protect public health and the environment
• System has a metal septic tank more than 20 years old

Note: Title 5 imposes stricter requirements on cesspools and privies.

• Within 2 years before the sale of a home or transfer of title (different rules apply for "shared systems" and condominiums), or
• In certain inheritance situations; for example, when a child inherits a house from his or her parent; or
• In certain insolvency proceedings; for example, sometimes in bankruptcy, tax taking or foreclosure, or
• When the use of the home is changed; for example, from residential to commercial use, or
• When the footprint of the house is changed, or
• When the home is expanded and a building or occupancy permit is required: for example, a bedroom is added to your home.
• If weather prevents an inspection at sale or transfer, the inspection must occur as soon as weather permits, but no later than six months after the sale or transfer.

Note: All septic systems and cesspools must meet the TITLE 5 requirements, but they must also comply with local board of health ordinances which can be more stringent than TITLE 5. Even if you sell or transfer title to your home..

The cost of repairs or upgrades will depend on the following:

• The nature of the problem
• The location of the system
• The size of the system
• Soil conditions
• Site restrictions

On average, a simple repair may cost $500; more extensive repairs and upgrades may cost up to $12,000 or more.

Graves cost $900 each.

Yes, there are currently plots available in both cemeteries.

If you already have a C/WMARS library card, it can be used at our library as well. If you need a card, stop by our library and speak with one of our staff. All you need is some form of ID, such as a driver's license, with your current address on it, and a card can usually be issued to you immediately.

There are two ways to learn about library events:

• Stop by the library and check our Library News bulletin board or look for flyers at the desk
• Check the library website for current programs

Registration may be required, so it's worth it to check first!

Two of the key factors that have an affect on your tax payments.

1-Your property assessment may have gone up based on improvements you may have made such as an addition, a deck or porch, a garage, ect, or, changes in market values. 

2- The fiscal year begins July 1^st.The fiscal year tax rate is set based on the new budget which is usually an increase over the previous year. But this calculation doesn’t happen until after the Special Town Meeting, held in late October or early November. By then, the first 2 quarterly tax payments, due August 1^st and November 1^st, have already been issued. For this reason, those first 2 “preliminary” payments are based on the prior year’s tax. The balance of the total fiscal year tax must then be billed and collected with the last 2 quarterly payments, due February 1^st and May 1^st. Obviously, those second two “actual” payments will be more than the first two payments. And because the difference between the 2^nd quarter (November) and 3^rd quarter (February) is actually one half of the additional tax and not just one quarter, it gives the appearance of a greater increase.

This cycle repeats itself annually with the first two payments of the calendar year higher than the last two payments. 

First of all, the Town must attempt to determine who owns the tree. The Tree Warden will visit the site and, based on available information, render an opinion. If it appears to be on Town property, the Tree Warden will take appropriate action, at no cost to the homeowner. If not, the homeowner will be advised that it is his/her responsibility.

Yes. If the Tree Warden determines that the Town's right-of-way is in danger, he has the authority to arrange for removal of the tree at the owner's expense.

The Town will remove the portion of the tree that extends onto the Town right-of-way; however, the portion within the homeowner's property is the responsibility of the homeowner.

Although specific situations are all different, generally the homeowner is responsible.

Copies of vital records such as birth, death or marriage certificates can be requested for a fee of $5 apiece. A mail in request must be accompanied by a check made payable to the Town of Hampden. Please provide sufficient information, ie: full name(s), birth name, date of occurrence, etc, to limit search time. Enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope will help to expedite the process.

Marriages are recorded in the community where the couple filed their intentions to marry. This isn't always the same community where either lived, worked, or where the actual marriage took place.

Birth certificates are recorded in the actual community where the birth took place as well as the community of residence of the parents at the time of birth.

Death certificates are recorded in the actual community where the death took place as well as the community of residence of the decedent at the time of death.

If you're not sure where you filed your marriage intentions, where you were born or where you parents lived at the time of your birth, where a person died or his community of residence at the time, and you cannot locate the record you need, for a reasonable fee, the Registry of Vital Records will do a search of Massachusetts records back as far as 1916.

To request a copy of a vital record (birth, death or marriage) from the visit the Registry of Vital Records website.

Voter lists are kept current by using information provided on the Annual Street List form because it’s our most effective method of verifying and maintaining our records. When a voter has not responded for at least three years, we assume that the individual is no longer a resident of Hampden, and they are notified that they will be removed from the voter list. In cases where a voter moves within the Town, chooses to change party affiliation, changes a name or otherwise makes a change to his or her voter affiliation, it is his or her responsibility to notify the Clerk’s office.

The Town House auditorium is the polling place for all elections. State and federal election dates are well publicized. The annual town election is held the third Monday in May.

Hunting and fishing/trapping licenses are no longer available in the Town Clerk’s office; however, they are available at most Massachusetts Walmart or Dicks Sporting Goods locations or online through the state website at https://massfishhunt.mass.gov/.

Marriage intentions filed in the Clerk’s office can be used in any Massachusetts community. You must be at least 18 years old .Both parties must be present and both are now required to have proper identification. Fees vary by municipality. In Hampden, the $15 fee is due at the time of filing. The license itself isn’t released for three days and it is only valid for 60 days from the original filing date.

• Dog license - Spayed/neutered: 5$
• Dog license - Male / female: 10$
• Dog license - Kennel - Up to 4 dogs: 10$
• Dog license - Kennel - 4 to 10 dogs: 25$
• Dog license - Kennel - More than 10 dogs: 50$
• Attested Copy (birth, death, marriage): 5$
• Marriage License: 15$
• Business Certificate (dba): 20$
• General bylaws: 10$
• Street List: 10$
• Voter's List: 10$
• Voter's List on diskette: 10$
• Voter Registration Card: 5$
• Subdivision Control Law: 7$
• Zoning By-Law: 10$
• Zoning Map: 20$

All 911 calls are answered and dispatched by the Wilbraham Regional Emergency Communications Center. The Central Dispatch personnel have been trained, tested and certified as Emergency Medical Dispatchers. This training enables dispatchers to provide pre-arrival medical instructions to callers with medical emergencies, in some cases starting life-saving procedures prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

This procedure is called ventilation and is utilized to remove heat, smoke and toxic gases from a burning structure to improve visibility and air quality for firefighters. As a fire burns, it moves upward then outward the ventilation of a building during an active fire can reduce the risk of “flashover” (a rapid spread of fire) and “backdraft” (a sudden explosion of fire). The ventilation of a building also aims to limit smoke related property damage.  

To become a member of the Hampden Fire Department you must fill out an application or submit a resume. Applications are available online and resume’s can be emailed through the “Email the Fire Department” link on our site. Once received if the candidate meets the requirements an initial interview will be arranged. Prior to employment the candidate must pass a urine drug screening, CORI check and medical examination. Once all the criteria are meet the candidate will be officially appointed to the Hampden Fire Department by the Board of Selectmen.  For more information on the process please feel free to call 566-3314 M-F 8am – 4pm.

Call members utilize pagers and mobile applications which notify them immediately of the location and nature of a call. The call members then respond promptly to the station retrieve the apparatus and gear needed for the emergency response.  

The Hampden fire station is staffed full time  Monday through Friday 8am - 4pm. Outside if these hours the department operates as a call department. In the event of an emergency 911 calls are dispatched, our on call members are notified and respond promptly to the station.

Yes. Members of the Hampden call fire department are paid employees of the Town of Hampden. 

Repetitive “chirping” of smoke detectors is an indication that the battery is low, or the device is malfunctioning. Replace the battery immediately. If the problem persists then the detector should be replaced immediately. Remember to test your detector once a month and change the battery twice a year when you change your clock for daylight savings time.

Having a fire extinguisher in the home is essential for safety. Extinguishers allow you to quickly control small fires before they spread limiting the damage to property and risk of injury. Some suggested locations for quick access in case of emergency are 

Kitchen – the most common place for fires. The extinguisher should be placed away from the stove, ideally near an exit.

Garage

Laundry Room

Basement / workshop area

Outdoor entertainment areas (grill , fire pit, outdoor kitchen)

For the best protection it is recommended to have a multi- purpose ABC fire extinguisher. The ABC extinguisher can suppress the three most common types of household fires

Class A fires – Common combustibles EX. Wood, paper, plastic, cloth

Class B fires – Combustible liquids and gases EX. Gasoline, cooking oil, alcohol, natural gas, butane, propane

Class C fires – Energized electrical fires EX. dryer, space heaters, damaged / frayed extension cord, faulty household wiring 

There are no regulations mandating the servicing of fire extinguishers placed in single family residences. However, the Fire Department recommends that fire extinguishers be inspected at least once a year. The average lifespan for an extinguisher is 10 years and should be replaced after this duration of time.