Last spring, Town Meeting voters gave the Town permission to pursue a Municipal Aggregation plan for electricity. A flat rate contract was secured this fall, and goes into effect this winter. It was adopted to provide savings to most residents/property owners in Southborough. Read the full article → from Your energy supplier will be changing soon – unless you opt out of the stable price plan (Updated – again)
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: Golf Course CR and land exchange closing, preliminary Town budget review, and school calendar
Selectmen reacted to a presentation raising potential for large 5G antennaes to be placed around Southborough with little control by Town officials. Read the full article → from Selectmen encourage looking at tightening local control for placements of 5G antennas
The Historical Commission has asked me to share an update. The main gist is that there has been movement on pursuing the Main Street Historic District. Read the full article → from Update on Main Street Historic District project
On November 30th, the Economic Development Committee held a workshop inviting residents to join roundtable discussions on issues around revitalizing downtown. They are now sharing some of their takeaways.
One that may garner the most attention is the possibility of the Town purchasing land. Read the full article → from EDC roundtable findings: Possibility of “investing” in downtown lot; investigating re-zoning and treatment plant options (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: Historical hearing on a demolition, Golf Course CR open forum, Planning on Safety Building, and School Committee on MCAS
The committee charged with helping to protect the land at St. Mark’s Golf Course is holding an open forum on Monday night. Read the full article → from Learn about the Golf Course Conservation Restriction & weigh in – Monday night
The Town issued and shared its official response to David Parry’s complaint of an Open Meeting Law violation. Read the full article → from Town issued response to claim of OML violation
This week, the Public Safety Building Committee presented updated project costs to the Board of Selectmen. The Chair made clear that while there are cost overages “on paper” members are still striving to stay within their original budget presented to voters. He clarified that figure is $2 million below the “contingency” they included in the voter approved budget allowance.
During the discussion that followed, it became clear that some members disagreed with a decision not to include costs for a related project in their budget. At issue is relocation of the clubhouse for the adjacent St. Mark’s Golf Course. Read the full article → from Officials debate whether Golf Course clubhouse costs can/should be covered by Public Safety Building budget
Flags in Southborough are flying at half staff in honor of the 76th anniversary of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Read the full article → from Why flags are at half staff: December 7, 2017
The Recreation Commission is pursuing plans to rehab athletic fields and facilities. The commission is looking to fund over $4 million worth of field projects in the next few years. And they revealed an even bigger ask down the road.
But members and supporters are adamant that work is desperately needed. They pointed to fields in poor conditions that only get band aid fixes and limited access impeding youth sports. Read the full article → from Recreation seeking support for $1M in field replacement and repairs this spring; another $3M in following years
Last night, Southborough Wicked Local posted a story about David Parry’s complaint of an Open Meeting Law violation. It included two updates since my post yesterday afternoon. Read the full article → from Chair defends warning letter to Parry; Town expected to issue official response soon
The annual winter parking ban went into effect at the beginning of the month. Read the full article → from Winter parking ban is in effect
In August, David Parry was sent a letter stating that his access to Town property would be restricted based on purported, repeated harassment of Town employees. The letter was written by Dan Kolenda, in his role as Chair of the Board of Selectmen. Three months later, Parry responded with public accusations that Kolenda, and his board, violated the law. Read the full article → from Parry accuses BOS Chair of OML violation in response to Kolenda’s letter warning Parry about alleged harassment of Town employees