Ashland Board Splits Thompson Street Project, Approves Water Work Only

Board of Selectmen · Meeting of April 6, 2026

Ashland Select Board votes to pursue water-only work on the $6.2 million Thompson Street infrastructure project, shelving sewer and stormwater components. The board voted unanimously Monday to accept 50 percent principal forgiveness through the State Revolving Fund for the $4.8 million water portion while deferring the $1.1 million sewer segment, which carried only 5 percent forgiveness and would have cost the town's roughly 600 sewer ratepayers an estimated $80,000 per year over 20 years — a 32 percent rate increase. Water and sewer director Andrew told the board "I just don't think you're getting the best value for your dollar" on the sewer side, and said re-engineering for a future sewer application is estimated at $100,000.

The board also unanimously approved four board appointments — David Ruhle as alternate library trustee, Tim Peters to the Zoning Board of Appeals and as Lakes Region Planning Commission representative, Kendall Hughes and John Harville to the Planning Board — and authorized a no-cost brownfields assessment grant application for the town-owned Hill Street Mill Building through the Lakes Region Planning Commission.

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Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of April 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.