As promised, Recreation is offering to watch children for free while parents vote. Read the full article → from Sign up for free Babysitting during Town Meeting on Saturday, March 23
Presumably there’s still a contract that needs to be succesfully negotiated. But it looks like our next Fire Chief will be Steven Achilles. Read the full article → from Selectmen unanimously select Steven Achilles as new Southborough Fire Chief
A few minutes ago, selectmen opened their meeting to interview finalists for the new Fire Chief. Read the full article → from Fire Chief interviews in process this morning (Updated – Achilles selected)
The Open Space Preservation Commission is seeking funds to replace invasive plants with native species on town-owned conservation land. Read the full article → from Town Meeting: Article to replace invasive plants – attempts to ward off a devastating insect invasion, preserve historic stone walls, support pollinators, and beautify Open Space
Town Meeting will be asked to fund restoring what is believed to be the burial flag for a Southborough soldier killed in the Civil War. Read the full article → from Town Meeting: Article to restore 1862 flag and finish historic archiving project
So far, there aren’t any races to report. There are potential vacancies if incumbents who haven’t pulled papers yet (or those candidates who haven’t filed signature yet) decide not to run this spring. At this point, I still haven’t heard that anyone has made that decision. Read the full article → from Town Election: Pull papers by March 22nd; Potential vacancies (Updated)
The Board of Selectmen support an effort to use Community Preservation Act funds to fix the historic section of the Southborough Library. But they may ask Town Meeting voters to strike the “Preservation” clause from the Historic Preservation Article. Read the full article → from Disagreement between BOS and CPC about “preserving” Southborough Library’s facade
The local paper claims that out of 21 cities and Towns, Southborough was the only one to not respond to the public records requests. Read the full article → from Metrowest Daily News reports Southborough failed to respond to public records request (Updated)
A list of board and committee meetings for the week with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government: Planning Board, Advisory, School Committee, and BOS Fire Chief interviews (Updated)
The Town has posted the official Budget Book for Town Meeting. It includes details on the FY2020 budget that the Board of Selectmen will ask voters to support. Read the full article → from Town Meeting Update: BOS to ask for about 2.67% tax increase, a few budget items may change (Kallander and Open Space)
Last night, the Fire Chief Screening Committee recommended two finalists for selectmen to interview. The Board of Selectmen will consider the Fire Chief from Portsmouth, NH and Assistant Chief from Wayland, MA. Read the full article → from Fire Chief finalists announced: Look for interviews later this month (Updated)
Businesses are encouraged to contribute prizes in exchange for sponsorship recognition. Read the full article → from Businesses asked to contribute prizes for an Earth Day art contest
A list of board and committee meetings for the week with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government: BOS and other boards on Town Meeting Articles and Capital budgets
Advisory is optimistic that the final budget at Town Meeting will represent just a “cost of living increase”. And the proposed changes for the SAP have been posted (with one semi-controversial item) along with the Final Warrant that went to print. Read the full article → from Town Meeting Update: Taxpayers could see < 2.5% increase; SAP explanation & Final Warrant posted