Blandford Select Board Approves March 13 Special Town Meeting Warrant

BLANDFORD — February 27, 2023 — Blandford Select Board approves eight-article Special Town Meeting warrant for March 13, led by a $170,000 final payment for the North Blandford Road project. Town Administrator Dave Waldron told the board the project closed at $1.8 million total — about $98,000 over budget — with more than half funded by a MassWorks grant and another $200,000 from state winter recovery assistance, leaving roughly 10 percent still to be addressed from the capital projects account. The warrant also includes $12,500 in free cash to cover the local match and a community liaison stipend for a $350,000 regional Resilient Dirt Roads grant shared with Chester and Middlefield, with Paula Bilodeau taking the $5,000 liaison role. An article authorizing the town to explore municipal electricity aggregation — bulk purchasing of power supply on behalf of residents — drew discussion, with Waldron noting the program is voluntary and that "a lot of communities have saved money," though savings are not guaranteed. A professional assessment found the town's standby generator adequate but identified a transfer switch need estimated at $160,000, with $40,000 already in hand from a prior grant award.