Is buying cheaper than building? That’s the question the Municipal Facilities Committee is asking. The committee has been working on a proposal for a new police station for the past year. Up until now there have been two options under consideration: rehab the existing police station or demolish it and build a new one. But Read the full article → from A new spin on the police station proposal
Government
Coming soon to a TV near you
Get your DVR’s ready because the Southborough Board of Selectmen are coming to public access television. The Cable Committee is gearing up to record the bi-weekly selectmen meetings for airing on public access. They did a practice run at last week’s meeting to work out audio and other issues. Once they get the kinks worked Read the full article → from Coming soon to a TV near you
Town website gets a facelift
I visit the town website a couple times a week looking for information, and I have to admit I’ve never enjoyed the experience. But as of yesterday all that changed! A new Southborough town website was just launched. The new site is a huge improvement aesthetically speaking — nice photos of the town on the Read the full article → from Town website gets a facelift
Emergency response volunteers needed
The Southborough Emergency Management Agency is looking for volunteers to join the Community Emergency Response Team and the Medical Reserve Corps. In other words, SEMA wants people to join CERT and MRC. Enough acronyms for you? CERT and MRC are groups of trained volunteers who assist the town in the event of a major emergency. Read the full article → from Emergency response volunteers needed
FY2010 budget: What’s in and what’s out
On their way to balancing the budget for fiscal year 2010, the Board of Selectmen have made a number of cuts, including some big capital projects. There’s still about $130K left to cut, but here’s how things stood as of the selectmen meeting last week. Capital projects and articles still in the budget: School technology Read the full article → from FY2010 budget: What’s in and what’s out
The week in town government
Here are the department and committee meetings for the week. Enjoy. Monday, February 2 Municipal Facilities Committee, 6:30 @ Hearing Room, Town House Advisory Committee, 7:30 pm @ Upper Hall, Cordaville Hall (agenda) Tuesday, February 3 Southborough Emergency Planning & Management Comm., 10:00 am @ Memorial Hall, Fire Station Board of Selectmen, 7:00 pm @ Read the full article → from The week in town government
Buy Fire Ball tickets tomorrow
It will be the gala event of the Southborough social season (does Southborough have a social season?), so you’d better get your tickets soon. I’m talking, of course, about the Southborough Fire Ball — cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dancing, all for a good cause. Proceeds from the event go toward the purchase of a Read the full article → from Buy Fire Ball tickets tomorrow
What’s happening with the old Andrea Restaurant lot
How many of you remember the Andrea Restaurant at the corner of Parkerville Road and Route 9? I think childhood birthday parties, end-of-season soccer banquets, and Friday night family dinners. The restaurant has been vacant for more years than I can remember, and every time I drive by the property I think about what could Read the full article → from What’s happening with the old Andrea Restaurant lot
Southborough decides not to share building inspector
Towns across the state are looking at ways to save money by consolidating services, but Southborough has passed on an opportunity to share a building inspector and will instead hire a full-time one. With longtime building inspector Peter Johnson set to retire next month, the Board of Selectmen explored the option of sharing Ashland’s current Read the full article → from Southborough decides not to share building inspector
Southborough loses $53K in local aid
Last week Governor Deval Patrick said he would cut $128 million in local aid to cities and towns to make up for a mid-year budget shortfall. Today we learned the details. Southborough will lose $53K in funding from the state. That’s about 10% of our local aid package. The cut is in line with what Read the full article → from Southborough loses $53K in local aid
Southborough Democrats to elect convention delegates
Southborough Democrats will hold a caucus on Saturday to elect delegates to the 2009 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, which will be held in Springfield in June. At the convention, delegates will work together to adopt a party platform. All registered Democrats in Southborough are welcome to attend the caucus on Saturday. It will take place at Read the full article → from Southborough Democrats to elect convention delegates
Selectmen make cuts, ask for caution in spending
Southborough municipal employees won’t be going to Office Depot anytime soon. At a special meeting last night, Board of Selectmen Chairman Bill Boland told town department heads not to spend money unless absolutely necessary. And that includes everything from overtime and travel to pens and stationery. Overruns expected this year Boland said he expects the Read the full article → from Selectmen make cuts, ask for caution in spending
How to run for office in Southborough
If you’re reading this blog (and hooray that so many of you are!), you’re obviously interested in the myriad issues facing our town right now. But wouldn’t you like to do something more than just read about it? Wouldn’t you like to become a more active participant in the decisions that will shape the future Read the full article → from How to run for office in Southborough
It’s going to cost more to send your kid to school next year
And I’m not just talking about your rising property taxes. Governor Patrick may have spared schools from the latest round of budget cuts, but that doesn’t mean the school district is going to have an easy time making ends meet. And one strategy they intend to use is passing along some of the rising expense Read the full article → from It’s going to cost more to send your kid to school next year