Blackstone advances curbside recycling specs, schedules hazardous-waste drop-off and senior flu clinic

At its meeting the Town of Blackstone select board advanced multiple town-service initiatives, including finalizing curbside recycling bid specifications, scheduling a hazardous-waste drop-off, and setting a high-dose flu clinic for seniors.

On solid-waste procurement, Speaker 1 said the invitation to bid needs explicit container specifications; Speaker 3 emphasized the necessity of including details such as wheel size, bar, lid and container material in the bid documents so the town can specify exactly what it will purchase and place under contract. Speaker 3 said the specs would be finalized and returned to the board for review at the next meeting before the solicitation goes to council.

Speaker 3 also reported coordination with Clean Habits to schedule a hazardous-waste drop-off day for April 26, 2025, and discussed potential voucher arrangements with neighboring towns, noting inquiries involving ‘‘Jeanie’’ in Northbridge, Diane and Aaron from Uxbridge. "We scheduled a hazardous drop off day for April 26, 2025. That's the the soonest that they could, schedule it," Speaker 3 said.

On public-health efforts, Speaker 3 announced a high-dose flu clinic for seniors on Oct. 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the senior center, working with senior-center staff (Kayla and Maggie) and asking staff to promote sign-ups on the town's Facebook page. "It's the high dose, because I know that's what the seniors like," Speaker 3 said.

Board members also noted that state environmental officials (DEP) had cleared the landfill site and praised the recycling center's performance; Speaker 2 asked staff to request a closing letter summarizing DEP suggestions so the board would have a record of the findings.

Procedural items on the agenda included approval of minutes and payroll and standard inspections and enforcement updates; the meeting adjourned after those routine actions.