Blandford Select Board Restructures Firefighter Stipend as Warrant Article After Two Years of Inaction

BLANDFORD -- April 21, 2026, Blandford Select Board pulls firefighter stipend from FY27 budget, adds it to annual town meeting warrant. At the April 21 budget review, the board approved projected revenues of $5,925,742 against total expenditures of $5,676,663, leaving a surplus of roughly $249,000, inside the board's $225,000-to-$320,000 target. A $20,000 firefighter volunteer stipend line, unspent for two consecutive years because Fire Chief Adam has not produced a required program plan, was removed from the fire operating budget and restructured as a standalone warrant article for the June 1 annual town meeting. Finance Director Kelly explained that paying volunteers requires W-9 enrollment, payroll tracking, and a defined program structure. The board also flagged a deepening water enterprise fund crisis: the department needs a $202,000 draw from retained earnings to close FY27 with a balance of $65.42, $17,000 in delinquent water bills are sitting uncollected because the lien process has not been applied, and the water superintendent position posted at $108,000 remains vacant. The board voted unanimously to accept March minutes and to approve three bundled payment warrants, and reached consensus to establish a new "special events" revolving fund to accept public donations for the town's 250th anniversary celebration, with a spending window through June 30, 2027.