Southbridge Subcommittee Approves $705,300 Paving Bid and $325,000 Sewer Transfer

SOUTHBRIDGE -- May 6, 2026, Southbridge's Joint Planning and Development Subcommittee unanimously approved more than $1.15 million in infrastructure actions Wednesday, anchored by a $705,300 paving contract and a $325,000 sewer fund transfer. The subcommittee accepted a bid from M.L. Partlow & Sons Paving to mill and repave streets in the North Street neighborhood using Fiscal Year 2024 Community Development Block Grant funds, with construction targeted for completion by late July pending town council ratification. Separately, members appropriated $325,000 from sewer retained earnings, which held roughly $2.5 million before the vote, to cover a $34,000 police detail shortfall, a $120,000 change order to Ludlow Construction for an unexpected concrete slab discovered under River Crane Street Phase 2, and remaining contingency. Citizen Member Larachelle pushed staff on whether the project would address ADA-compliant curb cuts at corridor intersections before the pavement is new, warning "I hate when we do things twice in this town"; staff agreed to provide the full repair scope before the full council vote. The board also approved a no-cost agreement with the Counselors of Real Estate, a national professional organization, for a "Transforming Neighborhoods" downtown case study the week of June 8, with a public findings presentation set for June 9 at 9 a.m. in the town council chambers.