Blandford Select Board Defers Eversource Pole Permit, Pending Conservation Review

BLANDFORD -- September 29, 2025, Blandford Select Board continues Eversource pole hearing after conservation objects to wetlands risk. The board voted unanimously to continue a pole-hearing petition, which calls for installing 10 new poles, removing five, and replacing three along North Blandford Road under Plan No. 199744-01, after Conservation Commission member Colleen argued the project is tied to a substation expansion not yet approved by the state Energy Facilities Siting Board, and that the entire corridor sits in permanent wetlands requiring conservation review. Steve Galsano of Brunton Mac, representing Eversource, said the poles are primarily a grid-reliability upgrade and that a dedicated environmental permitting team is handling all required filings. One board member said plainly, "I would not vote in favor of this until our conservation commission is feeling comfortable," triggering a continuance with no date set. The board also closed out an extended session on municipal finance procedures led by Town Accountant Kelly, and reached a tentative framework for a CDL reimbursement policy, up to $6,000 paid in equal annual installments over three years from the date an employee passes the test, though no vote was taken and the draft goes to legal counsel before adoption.