Rutland Select Board approves regional collaboration for enhanced emergency services

The Hubbardston Select Board meeting on April 8, 2025, focused on a significant regional collaboration aimed at enhancing local governance and emergency services. The proposed agreement would shift oversight from the Rutland Board of Selectmen to a more inclusive structure involving multiple town administrators and select boards from various communities.

Key discussions highlighted that while immediate changes to billing and operations would be minimal, the new framework would empower local leaders to have a greater say in administrative decisions. This collaborative approach includes forming an operations board with chiefs from each participating community and a finance board that incorporates treasurer collectors.

The initiative aims to create a state-of-the-art facility for emergency services, primarily funded by state 911 resources. This development could potentially lower assessments for participating towns by up to $100,000, making it an attractive option for local governments.

The meeting also touched on outreach efforts to gauge interest from additional communities in Worcester County, including Sutton, Sturbridge, and Charlton, among others. The collaborative model is seen as a way to strengthen regional ties and improve service delivery across the area.

Overall, the Select Board expressed optimism about the agreement, noting that it presents minimal downside while offering significant benefits for the involved communities. Further discussions and planning are expected as more towns consider joining the initiative.