At Annual Town Meeting, officials will ask voters to support two Articles with two shared goals. If successful in getting support from Town Meeting and the state, they would replace the Public Works Planning Board (PWPB) with a Public Works Advisory Committee (PWAC), and change how the Tree Warden position and responsibilities are handled. Read the full article → from Town seeking to replace Public Works Planning Board through ATM Articles 33 & 34
One of the more controversial items at last year’s Town Meeting is back on the Warrant again this year in a different form.
Citizen’s Petitions are asking voters to increase the Town’s recommended budget to bolster the public safety dispatcher staff. Read the full article → from Dispatcher Staffing & Budget up for debate at Town Meeting on Saturday
Southborough’s Annual Report for calendar year 2023 has been posted to the Town website. Read the full article → from Annual Town Report 2023 is posted
As the Neary Building Committee continues its work studying a potential school building project, they are looking for more community feedback. Read the full article → from Weigh in on grade split for Southborough elementary schools
The Advisory Committee has issued it’s report to Annual Town Meeting, along with detailed information on this year’s budgets. It includes an explanation for their budget recommendations, plus the reasons behind some key Articles they voted to support or not support.
The report also comes with some financial forecasts and warnings. The most notable is a forecast that the Town seems to be headed towards needing a Proposition 2 ½ Override within a few years. Read the full article → from Advisory’s report for Town Meeting and the FY25 Budget
The Scholarship Advisory Committee posted its annual application for three scholarship opportunities. The Town asked me to share the news.
(And given the issues around Financial Aid this year, this may be in more need than ever.) Read the full article → from Apply by May 9th for Town Scholarships
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government
Next week, registered voters will have the opportunity to vote on Article 19, to match funding for building a dog park at Lundblad field on Parkerville Road. Read the full article → from Lundblad Field dog park proposal to be voted on at Town Meeting
Today, the Town announced that progress on cleaning up an old farm dump will impact parking and trail access at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land.
BHCL will still be open to the public, but there will be restricted areas, starting Monday and lasting for several weeks. Read the full article → from Breakneck Hill land access will be temporarily restricted for Farm Dump cleanup project (Updated)
I promised to keep readers updated on the Town election. There is another potential race brewing. And it is worth noting that some incumbents aren’t running for re-election this spring.
(That means that if you decide to throw your hat in the ring, you wouldn’t have to run against someone already in the seat.) Read the full article → from New blood running for seats in upcoming election (Updated)
At Town Meeting on March 23rd, Article 12 will ask voters to agree to commit up to $150K for planning and design work for a project for a new or renovated/expanded library building.*
In advance of that ask, library staff are trying to answer questions about the request. Read the full article → from Library Building Project request headed to Annual Town Meeting
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government
The Town’s legislative branch, Town Meeting, will convene in two weeks from tomorrow to approve spending, amend local bylaws, and “advise” officials.
[Editor’s Note: There are not intro sessions promoted for this year. (That original notation in the Article excerpt was accidentally copied over from last year’s post.)] Read the full article → from Annual Town Meeting: Saturday, March 23 (Updated)
This afternoon, the Dept of Public Works announced that the repairs to the trash pit have been completed. Read the full article → from Transfer Station trash pit is repaired