Blandford moves toward adopting five-year hazard mitigation plan after public hearing

BLANDFORD -- July 6, 2026, Blandford Select Board advances hazard mitigation plan update and weighs Eversource cost recovery options. At the July 6 meeting, the board received the second and final public presentation of the town's draft five-year hazard mitigation plan from Derek Strahan, senior planner at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, who said the plan, required by MIMA and FEMA every five years after Blandford's lapsed in 2021, identifies high-priority actions including a new backup generator for town offices, a new firehouse, and hiring a facilities director. Chair Jacqueline Coury reported that the town's attempt to tap a new state grant for Eversource intervenor legal costs was rejected because the intervenor process predates the July 1 program launch, and that the town's attorney has been asked to press the Energy Facilities Siting Board to require Eversource to compensate the town directly. Coury also disclosed that Northfield, a comparable hill town, has spent roughly $50,000 defending solar project denials in court and "virtually lost," warning that Blandford must ground any future solar denial strictly in health, welfare, and safety. The board also learned that the sole bid for treasurer-collector services came in above the FY27 budget placeholder, requiring a Finance Committee reserve fund transfer before the contract with Mass Municipal Finance's Sarah Hunter can be executed.