Dartmouth Select Board Approves Utility Rate Hikes, Two New Liquor Licenses

Select Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Dartmouth Select Board approves water and sewer rate hikes, two new liquor licenses, and a $100,000 donation at packed July session. The board conditionally approved an aquaculture license for Jack Condon to farm shellfish on up to half an acre of Slocum's River, approved a 7.5 percent water rate increase to build reserves after a 13 percent mid-year hike in January, and is anticipating a 16 percent sewer rate increase driven by an expected $1.2 million jump in biosolids disposal costs tied to approaching PFAS regulations. The board transferred a wine and malt beverage license from Farm and Coast to Deval's and approved a new all-alcohol package store license for Farm and Coast under a home rule petition the state legislature enacted.

The $100,000 gift from the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly will fund kitchen and main-room renovations at the Council on Aging. Carol Ann Mello was approved as the town's new Human Resources Director, starting August 31, while Anthony Novelli of the Crapo Hill Landfill reported that Dartmouth's below-market disposal rate of roughly $25 per ton saves residents more than $500,000 annually compared to the market rate of $110 to $120 per ton.

In the full story:

• Background and stakes
• The question before the body
• Substantive content
• Deliberation and outcome
• Implications
• Background and stakes
• The complete report, 2,706 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.