Hadley panel hears town fiber internet pitch

Economic Development · Meeting of March 19, 2026

Hadley's Housing and Economic Development Committee weighed a town-run fiber internet network and learned of a zoning funding gap. Hadley media staffer Alex outlined a plan requiring a municipal light plant under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 164, Section 47C, plus a Town Meeting vote and possibly a ballot vote, citing a survey showing residents pay "on average $102 per month" for internet. Planning board member Bill Dwyer said the town's 40R zoning effort near the mall and Railroad Street has "cash flow issues," with grant money running low ahead of an October 26 Fall Town Meeting deadline.

Urban3's Henry Walker also presented a land-value analysis tool comparing tax revenue per acre across Asheville, Annapolis and Springfield, Missouri. No votes were taken on either proposal; the committee only approved its minutes and adjourned.

In the full story:

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• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Hadley's community access TV: Housing and Economic Development Committee meeting, March 19, 2026
• The complete report: 779 words

Source: the Economic Development meeting of March 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.