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Billerica board declines to adopt health insurance reform statute

Select Board Meeting · Meeting of September 14, 2026

Billerica Select Board shelves a health insurance overhaul after retirees and employees packed the meeting. Consultants from the Help Group told the board the town's health plan lost roughly $8 million over two fiscal years, but Vice Chair Jillian Pavidis said "these aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet, these are actual people" and no member moved to adopt Massachusetts General Law Chapter 32B, Sections 21-23. The board unanimously approved three-year union contracts for firefighters and fire dispatchers, rejected three Zoning Board of Appeals applicants before appointing John LaFosse to a regular seat, and accepted a $75,000 state Green Communities grant toward Council on Aging window repairs.

Members also debated a state notice that 2.7 acres on River Street Extension must allow at least 10 housing units by right under the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, with comments due to the state by September 29.

In the full story:

  • Who Was There
  • Organizations And Documents Referenced
  • The complete report — 3,136 words

Source: the Select Board Meeting meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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