Southwick Select Board Allocates $1.5 Million for Roads, Approves Lieutenant Promotion

SOUTHWICK -- May 11, 2026, Southwick Select Board approves more than $1.5 million in road and drainage projects at pre-election meeting. The board voted unanimously Monday to allocate $590,000 for the Ed Holcomb Road pavement reclamation project, $135,000 for South Longyard Road drainage repairs replacing a prior $95,000 figure, and $811,920 for pavement work on Meadow Lane, Dairy Lane, and Stagecoach Road, all drawn from Chapter 90 and previously allocated town funds. Director of Public Works Rich Bologna said Holcomb work could start almost immediately and that Meadow Lane bids would go out before the end of May with construction targeted before fall. The board also voted 2-0-1, with member Doug Mogren abstaining, to adopt a Complete Streets policy drafted by Bologna using a state template with "where practicable" modifications; the policy must still clear a MassDOT scoring threshold of 80 before any program funding becomes available. Career firefighter paramedic Ian Hurley was unanimously appointed to the rank of fire lieutenant, the department's second career officer. Town Administrator John Holmes received board authorization to submit two One Stop for Community Growth grant applications for culvert replacements on Vining Hill Road and Tannery Road, with the town committing up to $150,000 in matching funds if awards are made. Updated Tax Increment Financing projections presented by Town Assessor Randy Austin showed a combined 10-year savings to the applicant company of $1,098,960 on a $12 million investment, with a formal TIF vote still pending.