Bellingham Select Board Launches Hartford Ave Financing District, Elects New Chair

BELLINGHAM — June 16, 2026 — Bellingham Select Board reorganizes and advances $13.3 million Hartford Avenue road financing plan. The board unanimously elected Mike Hennessey as chair Monday night and chose Don Martinez as vice chair in a closer 3-2 vote before approving a consulting contract to develop a District Improvement Financing program aimed at closing a $1.8 million funding gap on the Hartford Ave improvements project. Town Administrator Joe Watkins described the DIF as a tool that "captures incremental tax revenue from new private investment" without adding a new levy on residents, and said a consultant presentation is targeted for early August with a possible special town meeting as soon as September 22. The board also awarded three public works contracts — a $572,000 standpipe painting project to R.J. Forbes Painting of Attleboro, a Well Pennell access road to Dandell Construction of Hanson, and middle school sewer improvements to Njabadi Incorporation of Braintree — and authorized a $20,000 health insurance study with Hill Group to evaluate the town's self-insurance model. Non-resident day passes at Silver Lake were raised from $7 to $15, with seasonal passes climbing from $60 to $75.