Sandisfield Board Approves Verizon Poles, Solar Fees at Year-End Meeting

SANDISFIELD -- December 29, 2025, Sandisfield Board of Selectmen closes 2025 with utility pole approval, new solar fees, and a $299,000 eminent domain offer to SFDI. The board unanimously approved seven new Verizon utility poles along Lower West Street, contingent on DPW superintendent sign-off, and adopted a tiered building permit fee schedule for solar panel inspections ranging from $250 for systems of one to nine panels up to $1,000 for 30 panels and above. In its most consequential update, the town manager reported that following an executive session the prior week, town counsel reached out to SFDI with a friendly eminent domain offer of $299,000, matching the town's latest appraisal, and gave SFDI a deadline of January 7 to respond. The board also approved a slate of new appointments to town boards and committees, and noted that one applicant has already come in for the open police chief position.