Blandford Select Board Approves Liquor License, MassDOT Safety Agreement

BLANDFORD -- December 5, 2022, Blandford Select Board approves liquor license and road safety agreement as fire chief resignation looms. The board voted unanimously at its December 5 meeting to approve a liquor license amendment for the Blandford Country Store and a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for turn chevron and speed signs on Otis Talon Road and Curtis Hall Road. Town Administrator Christopher reported that Blandford and Chester were awarded $178,000 through a state efficiency and regionalization grant for shared water operators, with a planning meeting set for that Thursday. A resident identified as Paul urged the board to reject a proposal, attributed to a selectman referred to as Jeff, to have a private contractor build and lease back a metal fire station, calling it financially unsound over a 50-to-75-year lease horizon. The Highway Department reported a final bill of $1,176,817.39 on the North Lampson Road project, which appears to have come in over budget. The board closed by acknowledging the impending resignation of the fire chief, effective in late January, with members expressing concern that the volunteer fire department's morale may be at risk.