Photo from the Southborough Police Department Every year the Southborough Police Department replaces two cruisers. This year they hope to replace one of them with an SUV. At an Advisory Committee meeting last night, Interim Chief Jane Moran explained that the regular cruisers have trouble navigating many town roads and driveways in the snow and Read the full article → from Southborough Police hope to purchase an SUV
Government
Westborough to hold public hearing on EMC
The EMC project continues to roll on, despite the company’s recent announcement of layoffs and cost-cutting. The next step is a series of meetings with the Westborough Conservation Commission. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the Forbes Municipal Building (map). The Westborough Conservation Commission once before rejected the EMC Read the full article → from Westborough to hold public hearing on EMC
The week in town government
The beginning of the week is jam-packed with committee meetings. The Advisory Committee is in full swing preparing for Town Meeting and will talk budgets and other items on Monday. Money will also be on the mind of school committee members on Wednesday where Superintendent Charles Gobron is expected to share a recommended FY2010 budget. Read the full article → from The week in town government
Marlboro Road water dispute drags on
The water woes on Marlboro Road will continue for a while longer. At a public hearing last month, the Board of Selectmen asked longtime Marlboro Road resident Stephen Stanechewski to work with his neighbors and the DPW to find ways to curb the flow of water from his property onto the roadway. When the water Read the full article → from Marlboro Road water dispute drags on
Longtime building inspector to retire next month
In a letter to the Southborough Board of Selectmen yesterday, longtime building inspector Peter Johnson announced his intention to retire. Johnson, who has been Southborough’s building inspector for 12 years, plans to move to New York state to be closer to his family. “We wish Peter the best,” Chairman Bill Boland said. The board will Read the full article → from Longtime building inspector to retire next month
Town will wait to recruit a new police chief
“Please, just give us a police chief.” That’s what Officer Heath Widdiss asked of the Board of Selectmen at their meeting last night. But Widdiss and the rest of the police department likely will have to wait until late 2009 for a decision on a permanent chief after the board decided to defer the start Read the full article → from Town will wait to recruit a new police chief
Southborough faces potential $2M budget shortfall
The Board of Selectmen last night reviewed preliminary budget numbers that suggest a potential $2 million shortfall for fiscal year 2010. That’s more than double the shortfall the board anticipated a few months ago. Selectman Salvatore Giorlandino called the number “sobering.” In light of the shortfall, Selectwoman Bonnie Phaneuf asked the board to consider postponing Read the full article → from Southborough faces potential $2M budget shortfall
Advisory Committee requests reduced budgets for fiscal year 2010
Before the holidays, I reported that the Advisory Committee had decided to request two sets of budgets from town departments for fiscal year 2010 — a level-services budget and a no-tax-increase budget. Chairman John Butler just posted the official two-budget request on the Advisory Committee website. In his letter Butler estimates that a no-tax-levy increase Read the full article → from Advisory Committee requests reduced budgets for fiscal year 2010
Bids solicited for South Union School repairs
An elevation from the architect’s plan for South Union School repairs. The town of Southborough is soliciting bids to repair windows, doors, and masonry at the South Union School which houses the Arts Center and Recreation Department. The work is being funded in part by grants from the Southborough Community Preservation Act. Separately, the Southborough Read the full article → from Bids solicited for South Union School repairs
Don’t forget to return your town census form
The annual town census form showed up in my mailbox this week, and yours should arrive soon if it hasn’t already. Massachusetts law (Chapter 51 Section 4) requires towns to create an annual street listing of residents which is used to help maintain an accurate voting list, among other things. You’re asked to review the Read the full article → from Don’t forget to return your town census form
Reminder: Stay off the ice
On Saturday a Middleborough man died when he fell through the ice while skating at a local pond. Yesterday, two teens were trapped on the ice on the Assabet River in Northborough. Which means this message bears repeating: stay off the ice. According to the Southborough Fire Department, none of the bodies of water in Read the full article → from Reminder: Stay off the ice
The week in town government
After a two-week break, things get rolling again this week. There are a number of committee meetings scheduled, including a Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday. Among other topics, the board will discuss the recruitment process for Southborough’s new police chief. Monday, January 5 Municipal Facilities Committee, 6:30 pm @ Fire Station, 21 Main St. Read the full article → from The week in town government
Stay off the ice
It might have been in the 50’s yesterday, but colder weather is in the forecast, and with it the potential for ice on Southborough reservoirs, rivers, and ponds. Via their website, the Southborough Fire Department reminds you that none of the bodies of water in town are considered safe to be on when frozen, since Read the full article → from Stay off the ice
Adpot a fire hydrant
Photo courtesy of the Southborough Fire Department You’ve heard of Adopt-a-Highway. How about Adopt-a-Fire-Hydrant? Southborough has hundreds of fire hydrants, and the Southborough Fire Department along with the Water Division is asking for your help in keeping them clear of snow. The Water Division typically clears the snow away from hydrants, but getting to all Read the full article → from Adpot a fire hydrant