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Dave Watkins

Freetown Select Board Approves Apex Contracts, Flags Unsustainable School Budget Growth

FREETOWN -- February 9, 2026, Freetown Select Board approves routine measures and warns of unsustainable regional school cost growth. The board voted unanimously Monday on five items including a $116,848.50 ambulance write-off, two consulting agreements with Apex at roughly $10,000 each to update subdivision and stormwater regulations,

Acushnet Planning Board Votes to Restore Part-Time Clerk, Submit FY2027 Budget

ACUSHNET -- February 6, 2026, Acushnet Planning Board unanimously backs a fiscal 2027 budget request to restore a part-time clerk position cut after the spring 2026 town meeting. Chair Mark Francois led the push, arguing that Town Planner Victoria Alfaro, a part-time employee, has been consumed by clerical duties

Dighton Board of Health Unanimously Approves FY27 Budget at Special Meeting

Dighton Board of Health approves FY27 budget unanimously at brief special Zoom meeting. Chairperson Tammy Mello called the February 5 meeting to order at 12:01 p.m. with members Vincent Hebert and Chris Isibor present; Hebert made the motion to approve the budget as presented and Isibor seconded.

Dartmouth Police Department Seeks $60,000 Staffing Study in FY27 Budget Request

Dartmouth Police Department requests $60,000 staffing study as FY27 budget proposal shows 1.6% overall increase.

Acushnet Finance Committee reviews FY27 budgets, defers votes to February 18

ACUSHNET -- February 5, 2026, Acushnet Finance Committee opens FY27 budget review under pressure from rising health insurance costs. Town Administrator Jamie Kelly walked the committee through level-funded preliminary budgets for more than a dozen departments at the February 5 meeting, warning that health insurance premiums could rise as much

Acushnet Select Board Hires Local Resident as DPW Laborer and Truck Driver

ACUSHNET -- February 5, 2026, Acushnet Select Board unanimously hires local resident Evan Murray as a DPW laborer and truck driver. The board, which had been advertising and interviewing for the position, approved Murray in two sequential votes at its February 5 meeting: first a general appointment motion, then a second

Acushnet Board of Health Enters Executive Session, Conducts No Public Business

ACUSHNET -- February 5, 2026, Acushnet Board of Health conducted no public business, voting unanimously to enter executive session. Chair David Davignon opened the February 5 meeting and immediately moved to close it under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 38, Section 21B, citing personnel strategy and non-union staff vacancy discussions. Vice

Dighton Open Space Committee rates trail priorities, eyes conservation bylaw deadline

Dighton's Open Space Committee, newly at full strength, rated trail and conservation priorities and set a February 16 deadline for bylaw comments.

Taunton Schools Open Six Transportation Bids, Refer to Administration for Review

TAUNTON -- February 4, 2026, Taunton School Committee opened six transportation bids and referred them to administration at its February 4 meeting. The Finance and Law Subcommittee, chaired by School Committee member Greg DeMello and including members Manuel Vieira and Mrs. Schiaves, received bids ranging from $67,122,850 from Bloom

School Committee Hears Bleak State Aid Outlook as FY27 Budget Takes Shape

RAYNHAM -- February 4, 2026, Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee received a sobering state budget update and previewed its fiscal year 2027 spending plan at its February 4 meeting. State Representative Dennis Gallagher told the committee the governor's House 2 budget funds Chapter 70 per-pupil aid at $75 per

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