Open discussion thread: Ask questions, share opinions

Above:  I know some people flee the snow in New England. But snow frosted trees are one of my favorite New England sights. (photo by Beth Melo)

It’s time for another open thread. What’s on your mind this week, Southborough?

For those of you new to the blog, the open discussion thread is your place to ask questions, sound off on town issues, or share information with other readers. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

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19 Comments
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Southboro92
6 years ago

The Transfer station Swap Shop buildings have been a HUGE mess lately. People leaving broken stuff all over the place. Stuff strewn all over the floor – can’t even walk into the buildings. I really feel bad for the workers – The two workers there at the end of the day last Saturday were busting their butts clearing so much heavy stuff away from there. Better be careful people…….they’ll shut them down again – permanently. Just Sayin’

Downtown Resident
6 years ago
Reply to  Southboro92

I agree. If your stuff is junk, throw it away. I believe that people don’t realize that it all gets thrown out in the end anyway. So if it’s junk, junk it.

But a thought just occurred to me. Perhaps this is a result of the recycling only sticker!

Southboro92
6 years ago

Possibly I suppose. Not sure how many people did the Recycle stickers only deal. And wouldn’t your private trash pickup take your old beat up junk. At least on scheduled days.

SB Resident
6 years ago
Reply to  Southboro92

While I agree people should be more respectful and keep the swap shop clean out of respect for all that use it, you need to remember this is our transfer station. The swap shop is what we want and we hired workers to do a job and cleaning up that mess is part of the job. There shouldn’t be a concept of “they” who can shut it down, it is ours and it has been proven clear that we want it.

On the other note, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. The whole point of the swap shop is that I shouldn’t be the judge of what is junk, I’m bringing it there because I determined it to be junk.

Southboro92
6 years ago
Reply to  SB Resident

But I believe “they” meaning the town did shut down the swap shop some time ago. I remember there was a big bruhaha over it and it was reopened. And the workers at the transfer do clean up the mess every week and that is fine. But the sheds are just trashed with stuff all over the floor, etc. Would be nice to see people just be more respectful.

LHM
6 years ago

I think one shed should be for household items and furniture and other for toys, books and misc.such as seasonal items. Shelves should be labeled. I do agree that there is a lot of junk that people should look at closely and throw away and just not dump in there.

louise barron
6 years ago

Just watched the Planning Board Dec. 11 meeting. The lights at T&L auto on Route 9 are glaring, too bright, and never should have been approved. The only thing the building is missing is roulette and black jack tables. The architect of the project stated that the lights installed are permanent, and cost a small fortune. Understandably, the owner and architect cannot pull them down. This leads me to ask, how can this large of a mistake be approved by the Planning Board. With all due respect, how could the lights at Choate Field have been approved and installed and then not work, because the power at the time couldn’t handle the power the lights called for. Then an additional $4000.00 was needed for a transformer to power the new lights, after spending $400,000.00. The 911 field cost over run because of drainage problems. More money is needed. Another bad decision. Who is minding the store. Now the powers that be want more money for fields, because they are insufficient. Isn’t that too bad. There needs to be more research, done by our boards before any more costly projects are permitted. God help us with the Public Safety Building (The Taj) as I call it. The over runs, and mistakes will be plentiful and will multiply. What we need in our town is a moratorium on this outrageous spending. Don’t you people want to spend your own money, or do you like it when the town has their hands in your pockets.

D. McGee
6 years ago
Reply to  louise barron

Just wondering…do you ever do anything but complain? Maybe you should run for BOS. You clearly have all the answers.

TM
6 years ago

Last winter was pretty brutal with regards to outdoor ice skating rinks. I haven’t seen the town setup in front of Woodward yet as they have before. Is the town not planning on setting a rink up this year?

Southboro92
6 years ago

What about the Woodward lights. They are so tall! I’m not against having lights there but they do seem a bit over the top. Not sure.

Marcel Proust
6 years ago

Speaking of spending, looks like we have a budget challenge coming up for FY 19. The Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday should be interesting.

Judy Christensen
6 years ago

Is there a Southborough yard sale on line? Where is the best consignment shop for toddlers?

John Kendall
6 years ago

There is a yard sale page on Facebook

katenoke
6 years ago

Savers, rt. 20 in Marlborough, or Children’s Orchard in Westborough (a little more expensive)

Townie
6 years ago

Different year, same DPW. What’s the excuse this time as to why the busiest sidewalks in town have yet to be cleared? Can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen walking in the street because the sidewalks are all snow.

Karen Muggeridge
6 years ago
Reply to  Townie

While the town may have been clearing sidewalks in the past and will likely continue to, I believe that it has no obligation to do so. It is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, whether private home or commercial. Pretty sure liability lies with them as well. The town obviously must clear town properties such as schools, the town house, the transfer station and such. I may stand corrected but I think this has been challenged and backed up in court under MGL.

Al Hamilton
6 years ago

Karen

I believe that the rules regarding a property owners responsibility to remove snow from a public sidewalk abutting their property are governed by local bylaw. In my search I could not find any such bylaw in the Code of the Town of Southborough.

Rest assured that coasting on a sidewalk is forbidden and that parading on a sidewalk is only possible with a permit.

There is a Mass. court ruling that property owners can be held liable if they fail to keep their properties free of snow and ice but of course, an abutter does not own a sidewalk. I wonder if this rule applies to the town.

Karen Muggeridge
6 years ago
Reply to  Al Hamilton

Correct Al. With our bylaws not addressing the issue, we would follow the state law established by the legislature or the court.

Frank Crowell
6 years ago

I wonder if the town is seeing an end of year windfall with people paying their property taxes early.

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