Would you support substantially raising the cost of a Transfer Station sticker? Or reducing the hours of operation? How about an extra fee for disposal of bulky items like refrigerators? Or doing away with the provision that allows seniors to use the Transfer Station for free? What about a use-based model that would charge you by the bag or by the visit? Read the full article → from Selectmen discuss raising rates, shortening hours at the Transfer Station
Each year voters at Town Meeting decide how to allocate a couple hundred thousand dollars collected through the Community Preservation Act. A good chunk of the money goes to pay the Chestnut Hill bond, but there’s still plenty left over. In the past CPA money has gone toward things like the South Union Playground, volleyball courts at Neary School, and affordable housing projects. Read the full article → from Find out how to apply for community preservation funds at a public forum on Thursday
Both the K-8 and Regional School Committees voted unanimously this month to reject school choice for the upcoming school year, citing concerns about class size, administrative capacity, and cost. Read the full article → from School committees reject school choice again
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from The week in government (5/20/13 – 5/24/13)
The long-awaited Main Street reconstruction project is one step closer to reality. Town Administrator Mark Purple announced last week the project has been placed on the draft three-year Transportation Improvement Plan put together by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. While that’s good news, Purple said if the draft is approved, the earliest the project is likely to get underway is fiscal year 2017. Read the full article → from Main Street reconstruction project could happen in fiscal year 2017
Under the best of conditions, Southborough town elections don’t seem to command much attention. Since 2000, the average voter turnout has run around 21%. But with only 5.5% of registered voters showing up at the polls on Monday, this year’s turnout was dismal even by that modest standard. Read the full article → from Turnout at this week’s town election lowest in years
The Metrowest Daily News reported late last week that Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Matt Hurley will resign his post at the end of June. Read the full article → from MWDN: Southborough ZBA chairman to resign
The Gulbankian family has until the end of the month to complete a list of repairs to its Mt. Vickery Road businesses that were ordered by the town in 2011, but in a recent filing the family has asked the Zoning Board of Appeals to remove the two most costly repairs. Read the full article → from MWDN: Gulbankians to ask Southborough to take back orders for costly work
Southborough is one step closer to a 5-member Board of Selectmen, as voters yesterday soundly approved a controversial measure to expand the board from its current three members. The proposal now goes to the Legislature, and if approved, it will represent the first significant structural change to the board since Colonial times. Read the full article → from Amid low turnout voters approve expanding the Board of Selectmen
Amid low voter turnout, residents on Monday approved by wide margins two ballot measures that will have a significant impact on how Southborough is governed. Read the full article → from BREAKING NEWS: Voters overwhelmingly approve both ballot measures in Monday’s election
Polls are open in Southborough today for the town’s annual election. There are no contested races, but the two questions you’ll find on today’s ballot are more than enough reason to take a moment to cast your vote. Read the full article → from Don’t forget to vote today, Southborough
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from The week in government (5/13/13 – 5/17/13)
If you’ve been in downtown Southborough this week, you already know the spring paving season is underway. This week crews have been working on School Street and Latisquama Road. Both streets are currently open to local traffic only as the roadway is ripped up and replaced. Read the full article → from What roads will be repaved this spring and summer?
An announcement earlier this week that the town is kicking off a project to update its property records by sending inspectors to all single-family homes in town left some of you with questions. You asked why the inspection was happening, what data was being collected, how the data would be used, and whether allowing the inspection was voluntary or not. Read the full article → from Assessor addresses homeowner concerns about project to update property records