News and events in Southborough, MA

Above: Alice and Carol Gulbankian after two long nights of town meeting, culminating in overwhelming voter support for the resolution of their zoning disputes with the town.

Last night voters wrapped up 2014 Annual Town Meeting business. It’s not a surprise that emotions were running high on the night that several citizen petitions were addressed. Still, which articles sparked controversy may be a surprise to some of you.

As expected, the most controversial Warrant Article was David Parry’s proposal to form a review committee for the Main Street project. After passionate comments and a move to vote, the proposal failed by a vote of 124-121 against. (So if you think your vote doesn’t matter at Town Meeting, think again!) 

I’ll cover more on this further down, but first the other votes. . .

Residents also shot down the non-binding resolution to endorse a Split Tax Rate and two measures that would have increased the authority of the Town Administrator. 

Voters were happy to support 911 field renovations, expanded liquor licenses for Panzano’s Market and Sperry’s Market, and the rezoning for Gulbankian family property.

Articles indefinitely postponed were the Site Plan Review changes (as previewed last night) and a citizen’s petition to allow department heads to directly accept donations under $5,000.

Some highlights from the discussions:

• The proposal to switch the Town Clerk position from appointed to elected -
  
  • If the article had passed, and if legislators then approved the town’s petition, the change wouldn’t have taken place until the end of Town Clerk Paul Berry’s next term, ending 2017. (He’s up for reelection this May, but uncontested.)
  • Pros outlined by town officials and advocates: The position requires extensive knowledge and education. Opening the applicant pool to non-residents would help ensure qualified candidates and also allow for succession planning. Allowing the Town Administrator to oversee the clerk and his staff would help the town consolidate staff for efficiency. And the person who oversees elections shouldn’t be elected.
  • Cons outlined by opponents: The person who oversees elections and open meeting laws should report directly to the people, not be beholden to town officials. This person should also be a town resident. The change in power structure could lead to cronyism.
  • Berry, who has held the position for 40 years, opposed the measure. He pointed out that only 70-80 of the 300+ towns in the state have appointed Town Clerks for many of the concerns residents shared.
  • Both sides of the argument lauded and applauded Berry for his excellent work and service to the town.
• Article to appoint future Town Clerks and to shift reporting/appointing authority of Police, Fire and DPW chiefs to the Town Administrator -
  • The Advisory Board explained that this was in effect already happening. John Butler likened having the chiefs report to the BOS to having vice presidents report directly to a board of directors. He claimed that the power structure will cause a problem in the long run.
  • Many residents objected to the town’s apparent efforts to strengthen the Town Administrator position especially with language giving the TA authority to appoint the chiefs, subject to BOS approval.
• Main Street Project review committee -
  • Advisory Board Member John Butler proposed an amended version of the article (supported by David Parry). Changes included shrinking the committee to 7 members, adding language about the committee’s work including ”recommendations on project Right of Way acquisition and appropriation by Town Meeting”, and loosening the language on which Town Meeting the committee would report to.
  • Selectman John Rooney informed the crowd “make no mistake about it”, a vote in favor of the article would kill the state funding. He explained that the state refused to move the 25% hearing date past June. He said that the state made it clear they couldn’t push the 25% version of the plan past that date. So a committee to vote on the issues at a future town meeting would cause the state to drop the project.
  • John Butler and David Parry argued that since the state already knows that easements required by the plan would require passing at a Town Meeting, the committee to review that shouldn’t undermine the quest for state funding.
  • Rooney promised that he intended the BOS’ working group to incorporate Main Street resident concerns, including inviting outspoken Main Street project opponent Steve Phillips.
  • Several residents passionately supported the proposed committee while criticizing elements of the current plan. Some residents questioned how much the project would end up costing the town in the long run.
  • Eventually a motion to move the vote cut off discussion, leading to the 121-124 vote.
• Gulbankian Family property zoning -
  • The last item of the night, residents were eager to cut off long speeches. Apparently, they didn’t feel a real need to hear more on the issue. The sentiment was clear in both the overwhelming vote in their favor and the ensuing applause.

If you’re still concerned about the Main Street reconstruction project and wondering, “Where do we go from here?” . . .

The Board of Selectmen are looking for community members to volunteer for their Working Group.

• The goal of this committee will be to meet with residents to hear concerns, visualize those concerns, and try to resolve issues.
• The timeframe is to report out publicly in time to gain consensus before the June 18th state public hearing.
• If you are interested in participating in the 7-member working group, email selectmen@southboroughma.com by April 25th. The members will be selected/appointed at the BOS’ April 29th meeting.

Did I forget any important details or your favorite moment? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Updated (4/18/ 5:46 pm): I fixed a huge typo pointed out by a reader. It was meant to say that John Butler (not Rooney) proposed the Main St article amendment. That’s what happens when I try to write a story in the middle of the night. (Not that I don’t make plenty of mistakes in the daytime.)

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