HADLEY — Costs for clearing snow and ice from the new multi-use paths and sidewalks that run from Hadley center to the shopping malls will be borne by the state’s Department of Transportation, which is also giving the town a new compact track loader that it can use to handle this work.

Outgoing Interim Town Administrator Michael Mason told the Select Board Wednesday that the state has agreed to cover the financial responsibility for what he said are “very wide” sidewalks that have added at least five miles to the town’s current plowing work.

Mason said that recent conversations with MassDOT, which also involved Department of Public Works Director Scott McCarthy, yielded both the promise to pay these costs, including if the town hired a private contractor rather than doing it in house, as well as a $98,000 grant to acquire a brand new Bobcat T66, a compact track loader designed for landscaping, construction and utility work.

Town officials have said that in 2019 MassDOT made a pledge, orally but not in writing, that the state would handle winter maintenance on the new sections of sidewalk and multi-use path.

The expectation is that the town will eventually have a signed contract with MassDOT spelling out the terms of this arrangement, Mason said.

Sidewalks in the historic town center, including those near the public schools, have always been plowed and sanded by the town.

“Everything we previously had been handling will still be ours,” Mason said.

McCarthy had earlier said that the new sidewalks would be “very complex and burdensome” due to the large amounts of snow and ice the state plows onto them, and the town has only had one machine to do this heavy-duty work.

Select Board member Randy Izer praised the responsiveness of the state.

“I think the machine is a home run and the fact that they’re going to be responsible for the new sidewalks is a grand slam, because that’s worth way more money than the machine is in the long run,” Izer said.

As the sidewalks and mult-use path have been constructed during the Route 9 reconstruction project, general contractor Baltazar has been handling the plowing.

MassDOT does clear the sidewalks on and near the Coolidge Bridge, while the Norwottuck Rail Trail is plowed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Other business

In other business, the board reorganized following the election of Jason Kostek, who won an uncontested election for the position held by Jane Nevinsmith for the past six years.

Amy Parsons will serve as chairwoman, a position she also held from 2023-2024, taking over for Izer. David J. Fill II will be the clerk.

The board agreed to sign onto a water and wastewater emergency mutual aid agreement, ensuring Hadley will be able to have someone in place to oversee the water and wastewater treatment operations in a pinch. McCarthy said it’s a good tool to have in hand.

“This is really worth it for us,” McCarthy said.

The agreement is formally known as the Massachusetts Water/ Wastewater Agency Response Network, or WARN.

“We do have good neighbors for material stuff, but not necessarily labor,” McCarthy said.

The board recognized Hadley resident Pfeiffer for earning the Gold Scout Award, to be presented an an upcoming ceremony. Pfeiffer’s project was titled “Get (Sc)Out The Vote!”