Blandford Board Tackles Sprinkler System Repairs and Missing Funds

The Blandford Select Board addressed infrastructure and financial irregularities in their recent meeting. The board’s discussions centered on urgent repairs to the town’s fire department sprinkler system and the investigation into missing bicentennial funds. These issues were at the forefront of a meeting that also spanned topics including union negotiations, the fire department building updates, ADA upgrades, and plans for the town’s 250th anniversary.

The board emphasized the immediate need to address problems with the fire department’s sprinkler system, which included issues with the water tank and pump. Quotes for the inspection and repair of the system were considered, with the board highlighting the urgency to avoid potential insurance implications. The board was briefed on the significance of timely action to ensure the town’s fire department remains operational and compliant with insurance requirements.

In addition to the sprinkler system, the board was confronted with financial discrepancies related to the Bicentennial work. It was noted that there were missing funds from previous contributions, prompting the board to plan outreach to the treasurer for further investigation. Ensuring the integrity of the town’s finances was deemed critical, and the board expressed a commitment to resolving these discrepancies.

The situation was compounded by frustrations expressed over union negotiations, with the board noting a lack of responsiveness from the union side. This part of the discussion underscored the ongoing challenges in reaching agreements that are favorable to both the town’s administration and its unionized workforce.

Infrastructure concerns extended beyond the fire department, with the board considering the right of entry to a property affected by a landslide.

The board also reviewed the fire department building’s condition, focusing on cost-effective solutions and exploring the possibility of modular construction to potentially save on costs for taxpayers.

Short-term and long-term maintenance plans were also on the agenda, with immediate roof patching and future building assessments being planned. Financial reports were scrutinized, with overspending in areas such as town hall maintenance and repairs being a particular concern. A detailed review of the Hilltown ambulance quarterly report provided insight into the emergency services’ operations, including response numbers and transportations.

The broader scope of the board’s concerns included discussions on potential elderly housing, the East West Rail project, and funding opportunities related to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. The Municipal Empowerment Bill was also considered, with the importance of encouraging youth participation in municipal positions being underscored.

Other ongoing projects mentioned included road maintenance and drainage issues, as well as concerns about trees potentially falling onto the road. Community involvement was encouraged, with plans to organize a T-ball or softball game for Memorial Day and a dedication event for students to volunteer during April vacation.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Michael Szlosek
City Council Officials:
Cara Letendre, Ted Cousineau, Jeff Allen, Joann Martin (Administrative Assistant)

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording