Hubbardston Select Board Names Alternate Building Inspector, Closes Offices for Storm

HUBBARDSTON -- December 1, 2025, Hubbardston Select Board fills building department gap and adopts First Meeting House rules. The board on Monday unanimously appointed former Building Commissioner Dave Horn as alternate building inspector at $50 per hour through June 2026, providing backup coverage while interim commissioner Robert Duffy undergoes upcoming medical treatment. Members Katie Young and Peter Walker brought the appointment forward after conducting an exit interview with Horn earlier that day. The board also adopted a temporary use policy for the historic First Meeting House, drafted by Young, with a permanent policy targeted for April or May 2026 once the newly formed First Meeting House Committee is organized; members flagged the absence of a posted occupancy limit and directed Young to obtain official capacity numbers from the fire and police chiefs. In a separate vote, the only divided action of the night, the board voted 4-1 to close town offices December 2 due to a forecast snowstorm and allow staff to work remotely, with DPW, fire, and police operations unaffected.