Hampden voters OK charter amendments

HAMPDEN – Three local charter amendments handily won voters’ approval Tuesday, according to town officials.

Town councilors now will serve an extra year with the passage of Article 1, which asked voters to increase council terms from two to three years. The amendment passed by a vote of 2,816 yes to 813 no, according to Town Clerk Denise Hodsdon.

Article 2 clarifies wording in the town charter regarding charter amendments and elections for vacant council seats. Both are voted on during regular municipal elections in November. The article passed by a vote of 3,055 yes to 594 no.

Article 3 reduces the number of signatures residents must gather for nomination petitions for Town Council seats.

Candidates for district councilor now need only 10 signatures instead of 40, and at-large candidates need at least 25 signatures instead of 50. The measure was approved by a vote of 2,852 yes to 808 no.