Southbridge Town Council Approves $2.3 Million in Year-End Transfers, Bids Farewell to Three Members

SOUTHBRIDGE -- June 15, 2026, Southbridge Town Council closes fiscal year 2026 with more than $2.3 million in appropriations and a contested road change order. At its final regular meeting of the year Monday, the nine-member council approved a package of free cash and retained-earnings transfers covering police and fire capital equipment, school IT infrastructure, water line replacements, and a $200,000 contribution to the town's Other Post-Employment Benefits trust fund, which carries an unfunded liability of approximately $28 million. A $184,958 change order to the ML Partlow contract for the North Street Area Road Improvements Program passed 8-1 after Councilor Kelly argued that the low-bid contracting model creates a structural incentive for contractors to underbid and recover costs through change orders, saying "governments are very easy in that we consistently approve change orders." The town manager reported that a state supplemental spending bill will deliver $211,892 toward a $276,000 snow and ice deficit, leaving roughly $65,000 still to be resolved through available funds. Three outgoing councilors, George Chenier, Councilor Ortiz, and Councilor Dow, delivered farewell statements after last week's municipal election, which drew 12.33 percent turnout, more than double the prior year's 5.87 percent.