Above: The Annual Town Report for 2025 is out, with a dedication to a resident’s service, recognizing other residents’ service. Plus, Town Meeting recognized her and three other residents for their service. (images cropped from report, meeting video, and Facebook)
During the 2026 Annual Town Meeting, a few Southborough residents were recognized for their contributions to the community. One of those tributes also pointed voters to the Town’s Annual Report.
Outgoing Planning Board Chair
Prior to presenting zoning Articles Vice-Chair Marnie Hoolahan took a few minutes to pay tribute to Planning Board Chair Meme Luttrell (pictured right).
Luttrell is retiring after 25 years of volunteer service on Town committees, including 15 years on the Open Space Committee and nearly a decade on the Planning Board. Her term ends in mid-May, following the Annual Election.
On Saturday, Hoolahan told the hall why she felt they should applaud Luttrell for extraordinary dedication to the town:
Meme commands a strong and nuanced understanding of Southboro’s bylaws, but more importantly, she understands their purpose. She’s consistently led with a commitment to balanced decision-making that protects public health, safeguards environmental resources, and ensures long-term capability between growth and community character. Her fingerprints are on some of the most important planning work our town has undertaken. . . and guiding complex discussions toward thoughtful outcomes.
What often goes unseen is the time for all of us really. The preparation, the quiet, the late nights, the quiet perseverance that comes with volunteer service done well. For 25 years, Meme has shown up for Southboro, not for recognition, but because she believes deeply in this community and its future.
Peggy Tuttle Award
Library Director Ryan Donovan named the winner of the annual Peggy Tuttle Award for Library Service Distinction. Bert McCue was recognized for his service to the library for nearly a decade:
He came to the library as a participant of the senior tax workoff program. He went on to learn the ins and outs of library services and materials, including a begrudging acceptance of how popular graphic novels are for our juvenile patrons.
Donovan noted that McHue shared that his weekly shift was an “important part of his physical and mental health”.
(You can read more about the annual service award here.)
Moderator Recognizes Service
At the start of the meeting, Moderator Paul Cimino spotlighted two residents who he believed deserved special recognition.
He told the hall that the Girl Scout Troop who had just helped with the opening ceremony were led by Carol Saunders. He highlighted that Saunders has led local Girl Scout troops for 37 years, starting in 1989.
Troops she led included both her daughters’ and their daughters.
Cimino also asked the hall to “a little bit of love” to resident Anita Reeder.
Saturday was Reeder’s birthday. But more importantly, he wanted to recognize here efforts supporting the Quilts of Valor initiative. You can see photos of the quilts she handmade and presented to veterans at the most recent Veterans Day ceremony here.
Cimino noted that Reeders’ efforts are recognized in the Town’s Annual Report. That report included details of an additional quilt that Quilts of Valor “angel” Reeder presented after Veterans Day:
Later that weekend a quilt was also presented to US Army Captain Kerry Kendall. Captain Kendall’s quilt was of special note since it was the first Ms. Reeder made for a female veteran. It was given to her in a ceremony at the Public Safety Complex where her brother Nate serves in the Southborough Fire Department [of which her father John is retired].
The two page dedication also recognizes the service that Southborough veterans have provided the nation. As for Reeder’s work, it sums up:
Mrs. Reeder is emphatic that this act of volunteerism is not about her and all about saying thank you more often for the sacrifices each veteran has made. Her truest wish is that these quilts are a symbol of care, comfort and healing for
our celebrated veterans and not put on a shelf for display but used lovingly in every season.
The 2025 Annual Report also lists the 60 community members who died last year. (Town Meeting gave a moment of silence to remember then.)
The report also provides an overview of Town Departments, the financial year, ending last June, and more. You can read it here.
