Every year the towns of Northborough and Southborough use some advanced math to figure out how much of the regional school budget each town will pay. This year those calculations might see Southborough ponying up an additional $200K — an unexpected increase that is raising some eyebrows. Here’s the situation. There are two different ways Read the full article → from A regional storm is a-brewin’
Government
Photos from the Fire Ball
By all accounts, the Southborough Fire Ball was a huge success. Organizer Rebecca Waterfall tells me the event on Saturday night was attended by 290 people and brought in $95K. Not all of that will go toward the ladder truck since a portion will go toward the event itself, but still, an impressive number. At Read the full article → from Photos from the Fire Ball
Selectmen consider reducing hours for town employees, library
Technically, the fiscal year 2010 budget was balanced last week when the Selectmen cut $120K from the school benefits budget. But, what if the school is unable to absorb those cuts? Or what if, as some in town suspect, Town Meeting voters want even more reductions? Either of those possibilities could mean tough times for Read the full article → from Selectmen consider reducing hours for town employees, library
Selectmen reduce school benefits budget by $120K
Going into their meeting last week, the Board of Selectmen were looking at a budget shortfall of $120K for fiscal year 2010. By the end of the evening, the budget was balanced, with the cuts coming entirely from the school benefits budget. Town employees — excluding school employees — currently pay 22.5% of their health Read the full article → from Selectmen reduce school benefits budget by $120K
The week in town government
Here are the department and committee meetings for the week. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on new athletic fields St. Mark’s wants to build alongside the fields behind Pilgrim Church. The DPW will hold a public hearing on plans for the town’s water system. The Zoning Board of Appeals continues their discussion Read the full article → from The week in town government
Options and costs for replacing Ladder 26
(This is part 5 in a series of posts about the proposal for a new aerial ladder truck in Southborough. For more information, see the series introduction.) When you buy a new car, what’s the first thing you do? You take it for a test drive, right? That’s exactly what the Aerial Ladder Study Group Read the full article → from Options and costs for replacing Ladder 26
New poll: Should we buy a ladder truck?
There’s one more installment in the ladder truck series to be posted later today, but if you’ve already made up your mind about whether the town should purchase a new ladder truck, head on over to the My Southboorugh poll and register your vote. You’ll find the poll in the sidebar to the right. (If Read the full article → from New poll: Should we buy a ladder truck?
More public meetings than you can shake a stick at
Southborough has gone public meeting crazy. I’m not sure if it’s the run-up to Town Meeting, but there are four public meetings in the coming weeks covering everything from historic preservation, to DPW projects, to the tax rate. Here are all the details. Monday, March 9: Water System Master Plan On average, the town of Read the full article → from More public meetings than you can shake a stick at
Tough terrain: Getting access to Southborough homes
(This is part 4 in a series of posts about the proposal for a new aerial ladder truck in Southborough. For more information, see the series introduction.) Rebecca Waterfall, one of the organizers of the Southborough Fire Ball, has reason to want a new ladder truck in Southborough. Like others in town, she has a Read the full article → from Tough terrain: Getting access to Southborough homes
Keeping the Arts Center open
I’ll admit I have a soft spot in my heart for the building that houses the Southborough Arts Center — it’s where I went to kindergarten after all. Come to find out, I’m not the only one. “I view it as part of the town’s DNA,” Selectman Sal Giorlandino told a crowd of Arts Center Read the full article → from Keeping the Arts Center open
A little help from our friends: Relying on mutual aid
(This is part 3 in a series of posts about the proposal for a new aerial ladder truck in Southborough. For more information, see the series introduction.) “We had to stand there and watch it burn.” That’s what Fire Chief John Mauro Jr. said about a residential chimney fire his crew responded to late last Read the full article → from A little help from our friends: Relying on mutual aid
Board of Selectmen recap
It was an action-packed session at the Board of Selectmen meeting last night. The meeting lasted about 3-1/2 hours and I have 20 pages of notes (they’re small pages, but still). Bear with me as I fashion them into a collection of posts. Some topics you can expect to hear about: The Arts Center and Read the full article → from Board of Selectmen recap
Does Southborough need an aerial ladder truck? What the numbers say
(This is part 2 in a series of posts about the proposal for a new aerial ladder truck in Southborough. For more information, see the series introduction.) Yesterday I explained why an aerial ladder truck is important in firefighting. Basically, when responding to a fire in a two-story or greater building, having an aerial ladder Read the full article → from Does Southborough need an aerial ladder truck? What the numbers say
Should we get rid of the Arts Center?
Advisory Committee member Al Hamilton has a plan to balance the budget, and it doesn’t revolve around layoffs or salary freezes or cuts to programs. What’s his magic bullet? Sell the Southborough Arts Center. Or Fayville Hall, or Fire Station 2, or the Cemetery Building, all of which he labels “money pits.” In a recent Read the full article → from Should we get rid of the Arts Center?