Bellingham Select Board sets November 19 interviews for three town administrator finalists

BELLINGHAM — November 4, 2024 — Bellingham Select Board schedules November 19 interviews for three town administrator finalists. The board accepted the recommendation of its Town Administrator Screening Committee, chaired by Shanin Woodbury with Marty Roach as vice chair, which evaluated 25 applicants before advancing three: John Codair, former town administrator in Foxborough; Kate Hodes, town administrator in Lancaster; and Joseph Powers, town administrator in Hopedale. The board also heard capital requests including a $503,000 third ambulance for the Fire Department, $255,900 in replacement portable radios, a $47,000 police-fire radio infrastructure improvement, and a $1.5 million police station locker room renovation, all headed toward town meeting. Conservation administrator Hannah Chase was ratified and Pamela Francis was appointed to the Conservation Commission. The board tabled a proposed battery energy storage overlay district, citing resident concerns and misinformation on social media, and signaled a possible special town meeting in February if public sessions scheduled for the following week resolve outstanding questions.