Select Board OKs Library, School Septic Repairs

Select Board · Meeting of July 8, 2026

Bernardston Select Board approves library and school septic repairs, presses state rep candidate on school costs. The board voted unanimously to spend $7,300 on Cushman Library masonry repairs by Scott Allen Masonry and $5,075 on Bernardston Elementary School septic pump repairs by Fletcher Sewer and Drain. Finance Committee Chair Jane Dutcher told state representative candidate Amy Lavallee the town cut highway, senior center and fire funding this year to stay under the 2.5 percent tax levy cap amid rising Pioneer Valley Regional School District assessments, with the tax rate projected to rise almost $2 per $1,000 in value.

Lavallee, a Franklin County Technical School Committee member, said a proposed new technical school building could draw 65 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The board also approved early voting hours for the August primary and reappointed Fire Chief Peter Shedd and Police Chief James Palmieri to the Regional Animal Advisory Committee.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,288 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.