Sunderland Select Board Approves $430,625 Capital Assessment for Fiscal Year 2027

WHATELY — May 27, 2026 — Sunderland Select Board approves fiscal year 2027 capital assessments totaling $430,625 in a brief 2-0 vote. The increase reflects a 2.5 percent adjustment applied to two existing overrides — a 2016 override now assessed at $134,480 and a 2024 override now assessed at $296,144 — adding just over $10,500 combined. The board also reviewed a nine-day traffic study at 112 Amherst Road on Route 116, which recorded more than 10,000 vehicles per day and found only 2 percent enforceable speed violations against a 50 mph limit, results members called "really good" and "surprising." Town Administrator Crystal confirmed that Tim Drumpool, a former interim chief, has accepted the South County EMS chief position, with contract negotiations ongoing in Deerfield. A highway department grant of $77,800 for a sidewalk-cleaning machine — exceeding the $70,000 town appropriation — left an $8,000 mowing attachment ineligible under grant terms; the Capital Planning Committee will meet to decide whether to fund it from the original appropriation. The board noted the passing of Nellie Manischewitz, identified as Sunderland's eldest resident.