At town meeting this year, I sat near a town meeting virgin. This person has lived in Southborough for many years, but this was his first time attending town meeting. I suspect many of you were in the same boat. Read the full article → from Annual town meeting: What did you think?
From Southborough photographer Chris Wraight, here is a collection of photos from Southborough’s town meeting this week. Read the full article → from Photos: Southborough town meeting
Sal Giorlandino is running for re-election to the Board of Selectmen. Here’s what he wants you to know about his record and qualifications. Read the full article → from Meet the candidate: Sal Giorlandino (Board of Selectmen)
Cardboard covers the floor of the modest Cape at 209 Parkerville Road. Tools line the walls. Sawhorses are scattered throughout the room. The buzz of a table saw competes with the sound of hammering. It’s a scene Town Planner Vera Kolias surveys with obvious pride. Read the full article → from Affordable house on Parkerville nears completion
What was billed as a bylaw change to modernize outdated language in the town’s traffic code at town meeting on Tuesday night, became a debate about civilian flaggers versus police details. And when all was said and done, Town Meeting opted to stick with the old language and voted down the article. Read the full article → from Town Meeting rejects article to control use of civilian flaggers
There was a bit of procedural drama at town meeting last night just to keep things interesting. You may remember me mentioning that just because a budget is approved on the first night of town meeting doesn’t mean it can’t be reopened on subsequent nights. And that’s exactly what one resident attempted to do. Read the full article → from Town meeting day 2: Voters stand by decision to reduce Quinn Bill funding
It’s a debate that’s taken place every year for at least the past five years, so when it came time to talk about spending down the town’s stabilization fund, town meeting voters knew the drill. With limited discussion to supplement presentations by the Selectmen and Advisory Committee, Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to use $417K from stabilization to fund town budgets. Read the full article → from Town meeting day 2: Voters approve $43M budget, dip into rainy day fund
We actually got through more of the warrant last night than I thought we might, but there are still plenty of questions left on the table when town meeting continues tonight. While it’s historically less well attended, day two is just as important as day one, and this year is no exception. Read the full article → from Town meeting continues tonight – what’s on tap
Town Meeting last night voted to approve the K-8 and regional school budgets at their full amount, and defeated a motion that would have cut the library budget by 4%. On the flip side, voters decided to reduce the proposed police budget by an additional $50K. Read the full article → from Town meeting day 1: School, library budgets approved; police budget cut
I originally ran this post in the run-up to last year’s annual town meeting. Since I know many of you will be attending town meeting for the first time, I thought it might be helpful to run it again. Read the full article → from Repost: A newbie’s guide to town meeting
A list of department and committee meetings for the week. Read the full article → from The week in government: Annual town meeting
On the eve of town meeting, Advisory Committee member Al Hamilton has unexpectedly resigned. Hamilton, a frequent commenter on this blog, has been outspoken on a number of topics, including spending down the stabilization fund and closing underutilized town buildings. Read the full article → from Advisory Committee member Al Hamilton has resigned
Back in September voters approved the purchase of a new aerial ladder truck. The truck is currently being built according to the town’s specifications, and the Southborough Fire Department has set up a website where you can track its progress. Read the full article → from Southborough’s new ladder truck under construction
It’s rained quite a bit this year, both literally and figuratively. So it seems only appropriate that one of the big questions at town meeting next week will be whether to tap into the town’s rainy day fund to help offset the tax burden. Read the full article → from Countdown to town meeting: Should the town tap into its rainy day funds?