Last night was the first Board of Selectmen meeting since the surprise resignation of Chairperson Bonnie Phaneuf last week. Selectman Bill Boland said the only way to add a member to the board mid-term is to hold a special election. Given that regular town elections are in May, Boland said holding a special election now “just doesn’t make sense.” Read the full article → from Selectman: ‘We’ll carry on with two as best we can’
Superintendent Charles Gobron told the K-8 School Committee last week that the school budget is in a bit of a holding pattern until more information comes in. Read the full article → from School committee holds off on budget discussion
Town Administrator Jean Kitchen told selectmen last week that a change in medical plans for retirees could save the town nearly $170K per year. In the face of a $1.1M budget shortfall, selectmen said they were interested in learning more about the proposal. Read the full article → from UPDATED: Selectmen consider moving to Medicare for town retirees
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from The week in government
As you’ve probably heard, Southborough selectmen have been making a push lately to convince tax-exempt nonprofits in town like St. Mark’s and Fay School to increase the amount of their voluntary payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) contributions. Selectman John Rooney said this week that the effort is not limited toe the educational institutions. Later this month he intends to ask Southborough’s churches to increase their PILOT contributoins, as well. Read the full article → from It’s not just about the schools: Selectmen also ask churches to step up their donations
Snow and ice build up on the Trottier roof last week caused structural damage to the building that will be very expensive to repair, Superintendent Charles Gobron told the K-8 School Committee last night. Read the full article → from Gobron: Trottier roof will require ‘very expensive’ repairs
Voters love choices, and this year it looks they’ll have one in the race for selectman. Two candidates have pulled nomination papers to run for election in May. Read the full article → from Two candidates pull nomination papers in the race for selectman
Payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) contributions – voluntary donations made to the town by tax-exempt nonprofit institutions – has been a hot topic on the blog this past week. Last night John Rooney and his fellow selectmen reiterated their stance on PILOT contributions: It’s all about fairness. Read the full article → from Selectmen talk PILOT donations with state rep
After nine years on the Board of Selectmen, Bonnie Phaneuf announced last night that she will resign effective immediately. It’s an announcement not many of us saw coming, including the other two selectmen who shared the table with her. Read the full article → from Bonnie Phaneuf unexpectedly resigns from the Board of Selectmen
Bonnie Phaneuf announced tonight that she will resign from the Board of Selectmen effective immediately. “This will be my last meeting,” she said. Read the full article → from Breaking news: Selectwoman Phaneuf has resigned
I just received word that CSX will meet with the Westborough Conservation Commission tonight about their proposed chemical transfer station on Walkup Drive, about a mile from the Southborough border. It’s a project that has some in Southborough concerned. Read the full article → from TONIGHT: CSX to meet with Westborough Conservation Commission
Two Southborough residents have submitted a warrant article to reimburse more than $14K in legal fees incurred by town employees during the so-called Southborough Eight investigation. Read the full article → from Residents submit warrant article to reimburse ‘Southborough Eight’ legal fees
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from UPDATED: The week in government
The state attorney general has declined to investigate multiple alleged Open Meeting Law violations against the town, saying that the complaint was filed too late. Read the full article → from MWDN: AG declines to investigate Southborough Open Meeting complaint