Blandford Select Board Sets March Special Town Meeting for Library Construction Grant

BLANDFORD — January 29, 2024 — Blandford Select Board schedules March 18 special town meeting to pursue a major state library construction grant. The board unanimously agreed Monday to hold the meeting so voters can authorize the town to apply for, accept, and expend funds through the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, which covers up to 75 percent of eligible project costs and comes around only every five to seven years — the last round was 2016. Library Director Nicole told the board circulation has risen 202 percent since 2018, to 9,157 items in 2023, and foot traffic is already on pace to exceed 3,360 visits this fiscal year; a public information session with state grant specialists is set for March 13 at the library. The town's building stabilization fund holds $120,000 toward the required $150,000 local match, with the annual $25,000 free-cash transfer expected to close most of the gap. The board also unanimously approved reducing June 8 local election hours from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. to 10 a.m.–2 p.m., citing a surge in mail-in balloting, and directed staff to draft a formal snow-day pay policy after discovering part-time employees had submitted payroll hours for an unauthorized paid closure day.