Blandford Select Board declares Night Brook Road emergency, sets dog fines

BLANDFORD — August 12, 2024 — Blandford Select Board declares road emergency, adopts first-ever dog nuisance fines. The board voted unanimously at its August 12 meeting to accept Highway Superintendent Randy's emergency declaration for Night Brook Road, where a culvert has been undermined 15 to 18 feet and risks collapse in the next significant rainstorm. Repairs are estimated at $10,000 to $11,000 for the culvert, with guardrail replacement adding another $10,000 to $12,000. The board also approved a new dog nuisance fee schedule — $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second, $300 for a third — after a resident described chronic barking and junk dumping problems from a neighboring property on Night Brook Road. Town Administrator Christina reported that the town's accounting firm, Kinder, delivered critical data for a state shared water services grant report only at 3:45 p.m. on the filing deadline, forcing her to submit figures provided by the neighboring town of Chester; roughly $1,800 may appear unspent in that grant account, potentially triggering a repayment demand.