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.