Blandford Select Board Fills In as Zoning Board After Two Members Resign

BLANDFORD -- January 10, 2023, Blandford Select Board steps in as Zoning Board of Appeals after two members resign in January. The board voted unanimously at its January 10 meeting to accept the immediate resignation of Jim Crownhome and the January 15 resignation of Don Brainerd from the ZBA, leaving the Select Board as the interim zoning authority under Massachusetts state law. Town Administrator Christopher said the town is exploring a paid zoning administrator role to ease future recruitment. The board also accepted a $178,000 Division of Local Services grant, split roughly 50-50 with Chester, to study a shared water operator arrangement, with Blandford's share dedicated to equipment purchases including turbidity meters. Chapter 90 road funding for one project grew to $400,000, and the town secured a grant of more than $25,000 for an electronic sign near the post office; a MassWorks grant application for the Beach Hill Road bridge is being pursued ahead of a February deadline.