Southbridge DPW Subcommittee Approves Over a Dozen Budget Transfers, Extends Crane Street Deadline

Select Board · Meeting of June 25, 2026

Southbridge's DPW subcommittee approved more than a dozen fund transfers totaling over $500,000 and extended the River Crane Street Phase 1 deadline to July 31, 2026. The largest action, approved 4-0 as a recommendation requiring a two-thirds Town Council vote, was a $189,500 appropriation from sewer retained earnings to cover unpaid prior fiscal year 2025 invoices to sewer operator Jacobs, leaving the retained earnings account at $1,734,586. A separate item revealed the town had been unaware of a National Grid gas account at the wastewater treatment plant held in former operator Veolia's name for roughly 20 years; a shutoff notice prompted a $16,000 transfer and a separate $10,521.24 payment for prior-year charges, also requiring a two-thirds TC vote.

The town manager said online billing access has now been established and monthly reconciliation assigned to staff. Two zero-cost extensions — one for the MassWorks grant, one for contractor AF Amarillo — pushed the Crane Street project to July 31 to accommodate a municipal fiber installation.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,705 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.