Select board and finance committee split on Blackstone water treatment borrowing; PFAS settlement funds reduce borrowing need

Town officials debated Article 13, a borrowing authorization for the Blackstone water treatment plant, and the finance committee recommended favorable action on the base project but opposed two alternates that would add office and garage space because members said the added cost would unduly raise water and sewer rates.

Department of Public Works (DPW) representatives told the committee that recent PFAS litigation settlements will provide one‑time revenue for the project: the town expected an initial payment of $256,000 from 3M and further payments later in the year from other defendants, and the DPW reported roughly $200,000 in available ARPA funds that could also be applied. DPW representative Ben Sherman said the settlements “are happening now” and that “there’s about half a million dollars right away that we were able to put…