Select Board OKs Firefighter, National Grid Easement

Select Board · Meeting of September 22, 2026

Mendon Select Board scraps a 33-duplex housing plan for a smaller Providence Street project. The board unanimously appointed Samuel De Jong as a career firefighter paramedic and approved a National Grid easement for underground service near Kelly Road. Town Planner Dylan Lindholm told the board a feasibility study found 73-75 Providence Street "not feasible" for 33 duplexes without $7 million to $10 million in town subsidy, so the town will instead rehab an existing house and barn for up to five affordable units.

A joint session with the Capital Improvement Committee previewed an October 27 Special Town Meeting warrant with $1.8 million in requested free cash, including a $35,000 salt brine sprayer, $459,000 in road funding and a new feasibility study on combining fire, senior center and library space. The board also weighed spending $59,592 in new growth on small restorations versus reducing the tax override, opting for "small improvements over the reduction."

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,325 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of September 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.