Blandford Select Board approves 9-1-1 contract, clears way for candidate forum

BLANDFORD — May 27, 2026 — Blandford Select Board approves emergency services contract and learns town won a $199,500 state equipment grant. The board unanimously approved a $18,829.03 annual contract with DLT ConnectSuite for the town's reverse 9-1-1 notification system at its May 27 meeting. Highway Superintendent Ray announced the town had received a state equipment grant of $199,500 for a highway dirt roller at no direct cost to the town, and the board authorized reapplication for a community culvert program grant after Blandford was passed over in the first round due to high statewide demand, with the new window open through June 26. The board also worked through accrued vacation and sick-leave balances for three highway employees — Clayton, Ryan Keach, and Mario — who had been held under union contract terms while the personnel policy was renegotiated, and set a Monday deadline for the superintendent to report each employee's preferred option ahead of the July 1 policy effective date. A draft municipal property and elections policy, read aloud in full, was sent to town counsel for review, and the board voted two to one to approve a resident-organized candidate forum at the gymnasium for June 2 — a session George, its organizer, said was prompted by Blandford's alarming shortage of contested races and public civic engagement.