Phillipston MA

Phillipston MA Local News and Community Information

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• Phillipston Budget, Elections, Meetings

  

  Budget, Elections, and Meetings Phillipston MA

  Several local government meetings, including budget reviews, are scheduled in Phillipston, MA, in early April 2026, leading up to the annual town meeting season.

  Budget and Financial Meetings

  Finance Committee (FY 2027 Budget Review): Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Phillipston Memorial Building. The agenda includes finalizing the budget.

  Board of Selectmen (Budget & Warrant): Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Phillipston Memorial Building. The agenda includes a review of the FY 2027 budget and approval of the warrant.

  Community Preservation Commission: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Town Annex Meeting room.

  Upcoming Town Meetings & Board Meetings

  Planning Board: Monday, April 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Phillipston Memorial Building.

  Library Trustees: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Phillips Free Library.

  Conservation Commission: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Town Annex Meeting Room.

  Board of Health: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM at the Town Annex.

  Agricultural Commission: Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Town Annex.

  Zoning Board of Appeals: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Town Hall.

  Board of Selectmen: Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Phillipston Memorial Building.

  Elections and Annual Town Meeting

  Annual Town Meeting: While 2024 information was prominent in earlier searches, in 2025/2026, the Community Preservation Committee indicated they are accepting proposals for the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.

  Town Election: Please check the Phillipston Town Clerk’s website for finalized dates for the 2026 Annual Town Election.

  Note: Meetings are held at the Phillipston Memorial Building, 20 The Common, or the Town Annex, 15 Templeton Rd, unless otherwise noted.

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• Phillipston – April 2026

  

  Phillipston MA – April 2026

  The Phillipston local government has a full schedule of board and committee meetings planned for April 2026, alongside a major leadership transition as the Chief Administrative Officer departs for a new role.

  Major Administrative Changes

  The Town of Phillipston is undergoing a significant leadership shift this month.

  CAO Resignation: Chief Administrative Officer Adam Lamontagne officially starts his new contract with the Acushnet Board of Selectmen on April 1, 2026.

  New Appointments: To assist with administrative duties following this departure, the Board of Selectmen appointed Jenn Basso as the Assistant to the Board of Selectmen. She is based at Town Hall and can be reached at (978) 249-1737.

  April 2026 Government Meeting Schedule

  Most town boards and committees have scheduled their regular sessions for the first half of the month: —Board of Assessors April 1 5:30 PM Town Hall Assessor’s Office — Board of Selectmen April 1 7:00 PM Phillipston Memorial Building — Planning Board April 6 7:00 PM Phillipston Memorial Building — Library Trustees April 7 6:00 PM Phillips Free Library — Conservation Commission April 7 7:00 PM Phillipston Town Annex — Board of Health April 8 5:00 PM Phillipston Town Annex — Agricultural Commission April 9 7:00 PM Phillipston Town Annex — Community Preservation Commission April 13 6:30 PM Phillipston Town Annex — Zoning Board of Appeals April 14 7:00 PM Phillipston Town Hall —

  Key Deadlines & Public Notices

  Holiday Closure: Local government offices and the Registry will be closed on Monday, April 20, 2026, in observance of Patriots’ Day.

  Election Preparations: While the Massachusetts Secretary of State lists a Special State Election for March 31, 2026, Phillipston’s own Annual Town Elections typically occur in May

  Featured Events in Phillipston

  The following events are taking place directly within Phillipston at Red Apple Farm: — Easter’s Great Gathering — Date & Time: Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Venue: Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave, Phillipston, MA Description: A festive community celebration held the day before Easter. It includes breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Brew Barn, free children’s egg hunts, raffles with prizes, and fresh cider donuts. — Apple Tree Planting Experience –Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 Venue: Red Apple Farm, Phillipston, MA –Description: A hands-on morning in the orchard where participants learn to plant trees from the farm’s owner. Tickets typically include a cider flight, charcuterie, a tour of the Cidery, and an apple tree sapling to take home.

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• Firefighter Graduates March 2026

  

  Phillipston and Templeton Firefighters among Graduates of Call/Volunter Recruit Class #124

  
  The 33 members of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #124 graduated at the Department of Fire Services’ main campus in Stow on the night of March 11. They represent the fire departments of Athol, Ayer, Douglas, Grafton, Hardwick, Hatfield, Lincoln, Medfield, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Orange, Pepperell, Phillipston, Sherborn, Sterling, Sturbridge, Templeton, and West Boylston. In the class: Phillipston Firefighter Ryan Levesque and Templeton Firefighter Mat Demar.

  “Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said MFA Recruit Program Coordinator Dean Babineau. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, these graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to protect themselves, their communities, and each other.”

  The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors.

  
  The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. More than 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated since then.

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• Phillipston March 2026

  

  Phillipston MA Happenings March 2026

  The Town of Phillipston put out a comprehensive guide to local civic engagement and upcoming Spring festivities. CLICK HERE. The Chair Man and the Chair Lady discuss it all. Listen on any device.

  The Phillipston Newsletter details critical municipal deadlines, such as obtaining nomination papers for the annual town election and registering for the town meeting in May. Residents can also find schedules for the public library, Historical Society, and Lions Club, along with information on available youth scholarships. Religious reflections from the Congregational Church are included, alongside invitations to a large-scale Easter egg hunt at Red Apple Farm. Our detailed infographic profiles all the happenings.

  
  In other Phillipston MA News, Chief Administrative Officer Adam Lamontagne submitted his resignation which the Board of Selectmen accepted at their March 4, 2026 meeting. View resignation letter, CLICK HERE.   Adam Lamontagne has entered into a contract with the Acushnet Board of Selectmen with a start date of April 1, 2026.  At the March 4, 2026 meeting, the Board also appointed Jenn Basso as Assistant to the Board of Selectmen.  She has began working full-time at Town Hall and she can be reached by phone at (978) 249-1737 or email at jbasso@phillipston-ma.gov.  Lamontagne will stay the month of March for the transition of duties.  Lamontagne stated “The Town of Phillipston will always have a special place in my heart and I thank the Board as well as the community for the opportunity to have served.”

  

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• Phillipston MA History

  

  Phillipston MA Profile and History page

  Gardner Magazine has created a complete Phillipston History page with a large amount of information, infographics, and a “Deep Dive”

  View the complete page, CLICK HERE.

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• TEAM Recognition

  

  TEAM Excellence and Merit Award Given to Local First Responders for Frozen Lake Rescue

  Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D Early Jr. has recognized first responders who swift and coordinated actions led to the successful rescue of two adults who fell through the ice on Queen Lake earlier this year. Members of the responding agencies – including Phillipston Fire and EMS, Phillipston Police Department, the Phillipston Highway Department, Templeton Fire and Police Department, and Athol Fire Department– were presented with the District Attorney’s Team Excellence and Merit (TEAM) Award, which recognizes outstanding action and service by those in public safety.

  On February 20, 2025, Phillipston Fire and EMS were dispatched to Queen Lake near Lambs Cove after two individuals broke through the ice roughly 100 feet from shore. One of the victims managed to call 911 using their smartwatch, reporting that both were partially atop the ice but unable to move due to rapidly deteriorating conditions.

  The responding Phillipston police officer arrived on scene and confirmed visual contact with both victims, who were conscious and alert but still trapped. Within minutes, Phillipston Fire personnel arrived with the department’s ice rescue sled and boat. Two firefighters donned ice rescue suits, tethered themselves to a vehicle on shore, and entered the water with the department’s “banana boat.” Rescuers reached the first victim, pulling them onto solid ice, before moving to the second victim, removing their snowshoes, and securing them onto the rescue sled. Both individuals were safely extricated within seven minutes, with assistance from mutual aid arriving on scene. Templeton Fire paramedics evaluated the victims, who declined transport to the hospital.

  “This rescue was a total team effort,” Mr. Early said. “From the 911 call to the rapid arrival of police, fire, and EMS, every part of the response worked exactly as it should. Their training, coordination, and courage prevented a tragedy that day.” Mr. Early commended all agencies involved, noting that their professionalism and teamwork embody the spirit of the TEAM Award. “This rescue was a great team effort between all the responding personnel on that cold winter day. They quickly used ice and rope rescue skills to successfully rescue these two individuals within just seven minutes of being on scene,” said Phillipston Police Chief William Chapman and Phillipston/Athol Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Parker.

  The TEAM Award was created by Mr. Early in 2019 to recognize public safety employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. Contact the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office at (508) 755-8601 to nominate someone for this award.

  The Team Award was Presented to:

  Phillipston Police Department Officer Jennifer Harding Phillipston Fire Department Captain John Seamon, Jr. FF/EMT Laurie Parker FF/First Responder Cesar Franco-Uribe

  Templeton Police Department Officer Noah Welch Templeton Fire Department FF/Paramedic Kyle Daniels FF/Paramedic Andrew Francis

  Athol Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Parker Captain Jamal Hamilton Captain Andy Soltysik FF/EMT Bruce Dubrule FF/EMT Owen Anderholm

  Templeton Regional Dispatch Dispatcher Ariana Deery Dispatcher Eric Baker Phillipston Highway Department Highway Superintendent Rick Tenney Highway Worker Scott Boutwell

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• Phillipston 12-3-25

  

  Phillipston Special Town Meeting Focuses on Borrowing Plan

  Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  
  The Special Phillipston Town Meeting of December 3, 2025 s focused on a proposal to fund significant roof replacements for the local high school and middle school. Officials detailed a borrowing plan exceeding $10 million, noting that a state grant would cover over half of the costs while the town would be responsible for its proportional share.

  Residents and committees discussed the technical safeguards of the project, including contractor warranties, insurance policies, and the oversight role of the project manager. The discussion also clarified that the funding requires a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, necessitating a subsequent ballot vote by the community. After addressing concerns regarding student population percentages and reimbursement timelines, the assembly approved the article by a majority vote.

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• Zip Code Fight

  

  Zip Code Fight – The Case for a Phillipston Zip Code

  Gardner Magazine has a “Deep Dive” discussing and explaining the efforts of Phillipston, Massachusetts officials to secure a unique U.S. Postal Service Zip code for the town. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY

  Currently, Phillipston shares the 01331 code with the neighboring town of Athol, prompting a formal request for a Zip Code Boundary Review. The town asserts that the lack of distinct identity causes numerous community problems, notably resulting in higher property and vehicle insurance costs and significant mail delivery confusion due to identical street names existing in both towns. As part of their argument for efficiency and fairness, officials cite the fact that the nearby Town of Templeton utilizes three separate zip codes for its villages. Officials are asking the USPS to finally grant Phillipston its own postal identity with its own zip code.

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• Where Adam Landed

  

  To put Phillipston in context: The nearby City of Gardner is 23.02 square miles in area with a population of over 21,000. Phillipston is slightly larger with a total area of 24.6 square miles and a population of under 2000 people. A little bigger in size with 1/10 the people.

  For more information on the Town of Phillipston, MA, please visit the website, CLICK HERE.

  “Where Adam Landed” – Interview with Phillipston CAO Adam Lamontagne

  Gardner Magazine had the honor to speak with Phillipston CAO Adam Lamontagne on July 2, 2025. Lamontagne has been in the position since April. Listen to the interview on any device. CLICK PLAY.

  Some of the Issues discussed:

  

  Lamontagne drafted a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General asking for a Phillipston Post office. See pdf of letter. or click image for larger view. Currently the town shares the Athol zip code.

  The Phillipston Chief Administrative Officer spoke of the Phillipston Town Common and a vision for improving the area. Phillipston Memorial building is getting paving due to a $50,000 state earmark. Town Meeting approved $100,000 for new gym at the Memorial School and Lamontagne looks forward to a beautiful basketball floor. He touched on some of the nice places in Phillipston including the well-known Red Apple Farm and the public beach at Queen Lake. Lamontagne is working with other communities to get electric rates down through aggregation. There’s also an effort to improve technology in the community. Lamontagne praised his public safety officials.

  Adam Lamontagne noted that the recent Phillipston Town Meeting was very efficient, approving all 32 articles in one hour. Lamontagne was very pleased on how well he was welcomed by the community.

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• Phillipston Common

  

  Town of Phillipston Reviews Town Common Study

  The first draft of the Phillipston Town Common Study was released on June 25, 2025. Here’s a copy on pdf.

  The Town of Phillipston is asking residents for feedback through the month of July. The study itself was funded by the Community Preservation Committee and the expenditure was approved by residents at Town Meeting.

  Gardner Magazine has a “Deep Dive” podcast explaining it all. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  Send feedback to CAO Adam Lamontagne at this email: alamontagne@phillipston-ma.gov.

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