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
Government
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
Preliminary capital requests for the schools
At the Southborough School Committee meeting earlier this month, Superintendent Charles Gobron presented a preliminary version of the operating budget for fiscal year 2010. Totaling $16.4 million, the budget does not include capital requests like computer equipment and major maintenance projects. While a final version of capital requests won’t be available until next month, Gobron Read the full article → from Preliminary capital requests for the schools
Fire Department reminds you to keep vertical vents clear
Photo from the Southborough Fire Department. In case you missed it, we had a lot of snow this weekend. While you’re out shoveling your driveway and walkways, the Southborough Fire Department urges you to clear outside vents of snow and ice. Many appliances vent horizontally out the side of your house, including gas and oil Read the full article → from Fire Department reminds you to keep vertical vents clear
EMC gets approval from Westborough Planning Board
EMC is one step closer to building a 10-builing, 445-acre complex on the Southborough/Westborough border having secured the approval of the Westborough Planning Board last week. EMC got approval from Southborough’s Planning Board earlier this year. Discussions between EMC and the towns have stretched years and at times have been contentious. Southborough went to land Read the full article → from EMC gets approval from Westborough Planning Board
Did the ZBA go too far?
The Planning Board last week questioned whether the Zoning Board of Appeals overstepped its jurisdiction on a proposed development at 40 Southville Road. The Capital Group, a Southborough-based real estate development company, went to the ZBA seeking a variance for the setback on an 8,000-square-foot, office/warehouse complex they plan to build on Southville Road. They Read the full article → from Did the ZBA go too far?