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Milford selectmen approve ClearGov contract, swing‑bridge agreement and updated ambulance rates
Summary
After debate over budget timing and recurring costs, the Board of Selectmen approved a phased ClearGov implementation, authorized a federal project agreement for the swing‑bridge, added domestic‑partner insurance authorization, and adopted ambulance reimbursement rates aligned with new state law effective Jan. 1, 2026.
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Milford Board of Selectmen approved several administrative items and contracts that the board said will affect upcoming budgets and operations.
ClearGov software: Finance staff recommended adopting the ClearGov budgeting, transparency and reporting platform under a phased implementation to publish a live digital budget book by December and complete modules by April 2026. Implementation was offered with a 25% implementation discount ($14,883.75) and a 30% discount on modules. The board approved a motion to pay $21,003.41 from 2025 unspent funds and to include approximately $37,000 in the FY2026 draft operating budget for ongoing costs after extended discussion about whether the town could sustain the recurring charge.
Swing Bridge project agreement: The board voted to approve and authorize the town administrator to sign a federal LPA project agreement for the Swing Bridge. Town engineer Nicole Crawford said preliminary engineering and right‑of‑way work would be covered by the state Department of Transportation; construction costs will return to voters via a future warrant article when estimates are ready. The agreement includes an added sentence tied to a 2025 federal executive order about DEI language in federal contracts.
Employee benefits: Human Resources Director Karen Blow requested permission to add domestic‑partner coverage to town insurance plans if the insurer permits it; the board authorized the town administrator and HR director to accept that option when insurers’ offerings are finalized. One selectman recused from the vote on town insurance.
Ambulance fees and interim designations: Ambulance leadership asked the board to designate an interim privacy officer and a unit controlled‑drug coordinator and to adopt a new ambulance fee schedule required by recent state legislation (Senate Bill 245). The board approved names for interim roles and adopted new rates, which the ambulance director said would align reimbursements at 325% of published Medicare rates beginning Jan. 1, 2026; the mileage rate was corrected in the meeting record to $29.15.
Votes at a glance: the board carried motions to accept the consent calendar, approved the swing‑bridge project agreement, approved ClearGov software purchase and budget inclusion, authorized domestic‑partner coverage to be added if insurers permit it (effective Jan. 1, 2026), and adopted the ambulance rate schedule to match the new state framework.
What’s next: Several of these items will appear in the 2026 budget development process; staff will return cost‑and‑funding details to the board as needed (ClearGov line‑item insertion, warrant articles for construction funding).
