Blandford Select Board interviews two town administrator finalists, approves $80,000 IT grant

BLANDFORD -- December 11, 2023, Blandford Select Board interviews two town administrator finalists and approves an $80,000 connectivity grant. The board conducted back-to-back interviews Monday with Mark, a Lanesborough-area environmental attorney with water district and grant-funding experience, and Mike Slausick of Ludlow, an attorney and MBA who has served as town administrator or town manager in Ludlow, Uxbridge, Athol, and Sterling. A third candidate, Jessie, was rescheduled to the following week due to a family emergency. Slausick disclosed he has additional interviews pending in Southampton and Mendon. The board voted unanimously to approve an $80,000 community connectivity IT grant and tabled an $825 insurance valuation invoice for the town hall and post office building pending possible credits. During public comment, resident Lloyd Martin raised repeated threatening confrontations with hunters parking without permission on AT&T-owned land near the state forest; Select Board member Jeff Allen confirmed Police Chief Dubiel had been alerted to the incidents.