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Charlemont Selectboard unanimously approves energy rate amendment and issues Fairgrounds RFPs
Summary
On Feb. 9 the Charlemont Selectboard approved an electrical aggregation contract amendment to adjust rates amid ISO-NE market volatility, and issued RFPs for Fairgrounds restroom and parking improvements; the board also approved minutes and warrants and agreed to invite an education advocate to present on a potential school assessment error.
The Charlemont Selectboard on Feb. 9 voted unanimously to approve and sign an amendment to the town's electrical aggregation contract to adjust rates amid ISO-NE day-ahead market volatility, a measure the town adopted to avoid a program shortfall. Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds told the board that, even with the increase, the aggregation rate remains lower than basic service rates from National Grid and Eversource; the town plans to revisit the rate in the summer. Wilder Sparks made the motion to approve the amendment and Jared Bellows seconded; the vote was unanimous.
The board also approved two Requests for Proposals for Fairgrounds improvements. Members discussed restroom configurations (the draft included flexibility for family or gender-neutral bathrooms; the board agreed on two stalls per gender and two designated gender-neutral bathrooms) and parking lot upgrades. Jared Bellows moved to issue the restroom RFP, Kim Blakeslee seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Bellows also moved to issue the parking RFP, Blakeslee seconded and that motion passed unanimously. The board noted that if proposals exceed available grant funding the project need not proceed.
Administrative items approved included the Jan. 26, 2026 meeting minutes and payroll and vendor warrants on motions by Jared Bellows and seconded by Kim Blakeslee; the board then unanimously agreed to adjourn at 6:49 p.m.
In liaison reports the Board reviewed a summary of the Governor's proposed FY2027 budget and correspondence about school assessment calculations. Ken Rocke, described in meeting materials as a local education advocate, asserted in correspondence that Charlemont may have been mis-assessed by the Mohawk Trail Regional School District and could be owed approximately $90,000 on a five-year rolling calculation; the board agreed to invite Rocke to present his figures. The board also reviewed a Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority report showing the Charlemont Housing Rehabilitation Revolving Fund had a beginning and ending balance of $7,288 for the reporting period and no applications were received.
