Bellingham Select Board Approves $221,797 Dispatch Upgrade, Reorganizes Leadership

BELLINGHAM — June 16, 2025 — Bellingham Select Board reorganizes, approves $221,797 dispatch overhaul, and confronts a shrinking health insurance trust fund. The board unanimously reelected Michael Hennessy as chair and chose Jennifer Alante as vice chair on a 4-1 vote, with Dawn Martinez the sole dissent. Town Administrator Dennis Anniballi, who is departing this fall, led a sobering health insurance briefing alongside CFO Heidi Chucker and HR Director Caroline McCrory: the town drew $1.3 million in free cash in FY2025 to cover a 15 percent spike in claims, and the health insurance trust fund balance has dropped from $2.2 million to roughly $1.14 million mid-year, with nine individuals generating nearly $2.5 million in claims above the $175,000 stop-loss deductible. The board unanimously transferred $221,797 from existing ARPA and departmental surplus accounts to replace end-of-life public safety dispatch consoles — no new taxpayer funds required — and granted a common victualler license to The Coffee Bar, a new location at 1 Mechanic Street from a Milford-based owner who described drawing converts from Starbucks and Dunkin' and plans a soft opening around July 3. The board set town administrator finalist interviews for July 1 and 2 after a recruiter reported more than 20 applications — among the largest pools in recent Bellingham searches.