The Spencer Journal

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Selectmen address EMS agreements, Rescue Squad transitionsSPENCER — Agreements related to emergency response and Spencer...
06/15/2026

Selectmen address EMS agreements, Rescue Squad transitions

SPENCER — Agreements related to emergency response and Spencer Rescue Squad’s transition to a town department topped the Selectmen’s agenda on June 8. An intercept agreement, as explained by Fire Chief Robert Parsons, allows Spencer to bill a neighboring town a base fee of $300 for advanced life support (ALS) services. The advantage to this arrangement, he said, is that the other towns like Paxton, the Brookfields, Charlton and Leicester, would then “send us a check right away,” and then they would bill insurance companies for the basic life support portion of services....

SPENCER — Agreements related to emergency response and Spencer Rescue Squad’s transition to a town department topped the Selectmen’s agenda on June 8. An intercept agreement, as explained by Fire …

Building Committee approves change orders, approaches deadlineSPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD - At its May meeting, the David Pr...
06/15/2026

Building Committee approves change orders, approaches deadline

SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD - At its May meeting, the David Prouty High School Building Committee approved $124,705 worth of change orders. The funding was for work ranging from auditorium stage leveling and catwalk modifications to pre-K playground re-design and chain link fence installation. Kristian Whitsett of architectural firm Jones & Whitsett presented the list for consideration. It included $17,366 to add new metal and gypsum walls and ceiling to the auditorium stage....

SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – At its May meeting, the David Prouty High School Building Committee approved $124,705 worth of change orders. The funding was for work ranging from auditorium stage…

The Honor of Reporting for The Spencer Journal this SummerSPENCER - To my fellow Spencer residents, I am honored to writ...
06/10/2026

The Honor of Reporting for The Spencer Journal this Summer

SPENCER - To my fellow Spencer residents, I am honored to write for The Spencer Journal this summer and work alongside excellent people to inform the public. Local news is both an incredibly important and underestimated form of sharing information with the community. A fact sheet from Pew Research Center reveals only 21% of Americans reported reading local news closely in 2025, a drop from 37% in 2016....

SPENCER – To my fellow Spencer residents, I am honored to write for The Spencer Journal this summer and work alongside excellent people to inform the public. Local news is both an incredibly…

Furniture surplus, gym logo on building committee’s agendaSPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD - With an expected substantial complet...
06/04/2026

Furniture surplus, gym logo on building committee’s agenda

SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD - With an expected substantial completion date of August 14, the moving of furniture and replacement of the gym lobby logo were among the topics discussed by the David Prouty High School Building Committee in May. In mid-July, the existing and surplus furniture that the high school and pupil services department are using in the pre-K wing will be moved out of the building....

SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – With an expected substantial completion date of August 14, the moving of furniture and replacement of the gym lobby logo were among the topics discussed by the Davi…

Board of Selectmen re-organizes; talks about repairsSPENCER - On May 18, the Board of Selectmen reorganized, approved an...
05/19/2026

Board of Selectmen re-organizes; talks about repairs

SPENCER - On May 18, the Board of Selectmen reorganized, approved an insurance cost-share change with employees, and heard about upcoming repairs. Gary Woodbury was voted in as chair, Jonathan Viner voted to remain as vice chair and Chris Woodbury will serve as clerk. Chris Woodbury and Norman Letendre Jr. were elected to the Board of Selectmen last week. The board agreed on an upcoming summer meeting schedule of June 1, June 29, July 27 and August 31....

SPENCER – On May 18, the Board of Selectmen reorganized, approved an insurance cost-share change with employees, and heard about upcoming repairs. Gary Woodbury was voted in as chair, Jonath…

Firefighter override passes, school budget question failsSPENCER - Four career firefighters will remain in the departmen...
05/13/2026

Firefighter override passes, school budget question fails

SPENCER - Four career firefighters will remain in the department thanks to the passage of a Proposition 2 ½ override in Tuesday’s election. The ballot question had a vote of 898-619 and sought $368,390 to fund the firefighters. The grant paying them runs out in February 2027, so the total in the first year is $184,194. A second override question to fund the Spencer East Brookfield school department’s operating budget ($264,456) failed....

SPENCER – Four career firefighters will remain in the department thanks to the passage of a Proposition 2 ½ override in Tuesday’s election. The ballot question had a vote of 898-619 and soug…

Town Meeting approves `contingent’ funding for firefighters, school budgetSPENCER - Town Meeting approved appropriations...
05/08/2026

Town Meeting approves `contingent’ funding for firefighters, school budget

SPENCER - Town Meeting approved appropriations contingent on Proposition 2 ½ votes passing on the May 12 election ballot. With a vote of 133-15, members okayed $368,390 to pay for four existing firefighters to remain in those roles. Grant funding for the positions runs out in February 2027, so the first payment would amount to $184,195 for half the year....

SPENCER – Town Meeting approved appropriations contingent on Proposition 2 ½ votes passing on the May 12 election ballot. With a vote of 133-15, members okayed $368,390 to pay for four exist…

Letter to the editor: OverrideTo the Editor, Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the upcoming s...
05/05/2026

Letter to the editor: Override

To the Editor, Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the upcoming school budget override in Spencer. Much of it comes from real frustration, especially around taxes and the feeling that it’s always something new. That’s fair. But I also think some of the key facts are getting lost in the noise: The proposed $264,456 override for the FY27 school budget isn’t about adding new programs or anything flashy....

To the Editor, Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the upcoming school budget override in Spencer. Much of it comes from real frustration, especially around taxes and the …

Officials ponder solutions for Spencer Fair parking, traffic issuesSPENCER — Town officials want to work collaboratively...
05/05/2026

Officials ponder solutions for Spencer Fair parking, traffic issues

SPENCER — Town officials want to work collaboratively to alleviate parking constraints and better manage traffic flow for this year’s Spencer Fair weekend. Police Chief Michael Befford and Fire Chief Robert Parsons appeared before the Board of Selectmen on May 4 to start the conversation about how to handle the difficulties that have plagued the town, especially since the event has surged in popularity....

SPENCER — Town officials want to work collaboratively to alleviate parking constraints and better manage traffic flow for this year’s Spencer Fair weekend. Police Chief Michael Befford and Fire Ch…

Town Meeting is May 7SPENCER - Town Meeting convenes on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. It will take place at Spencer Town Hal...
05/04/2026

Town Meeting is May 7

SPENCER - Town Meeting convenes on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. It will take place at Spencer Town Hall (157 Main Street) where members will vote on articles, many of which involve financial appropriations. Receiving the most attention are two articles authorizing funding for what will be Proposition 2 ½ override questions on the election ballot on May 12....

SPENCER – Town Meeting convenes on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. It will take place at Spencer Town Hall (157 Main Street) where members will vote on articles, many of which involve financial ap…

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