Following up on guidance by Town Meeting, the Select Board took a new vote on whether to remain in or withdraw from an agreement with Westborough and Grafton to form a regional public safety dispatch center. Read the full article → from Select Board withdraws from Dispatch IMA
Government
Historical Society moving ahead with Fayville Hall plans
A Planning Board hearing for Major Site Plan approval of SHS' new museum at 40-42 Central St is scheduled for April 24th.
SHS is seeking approval on its plans for refurbishing the interior of the historic Fayville Hall to hold “the town’s new home for history and arts education”. Read the full article → from Historical Society moving ahead with Fayville Hall plans
Select Board appoints new DPW Superintendent
The Board was impressed with the resume and answers of a public works Superintendent from Spencer.
The Select Board voted to appoint William Cundiff as the new DPW Superintendent, pending a finalized contract. Read the full article → from Select Board appoints new DPW Superintendent
The week in government (Updated)
Select Board on DPW Superintendent and Public Dispatch RECC IMA; Joint Meeting on "MBTA Communities" zoning; School Committee and more
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government (Updated)
Town’s “unconstitutional” comment policy yet to be addressed
The Select Board has yet to change, or schedule a discussion of, its comment policy in light of court ruling.
The topic is not on the Select Board’s upcoming agenda to be addressed. And the comment guideline is still posted on the website under the board’s policies. Read the full article → from Town’s “unconstitutional” comment policy yet to be addressed
Select Board to interview potential DPW Superintendent Monday (Updated)
An in-person only session interview is scheduled, for an unnamed candidate.
The Select Board has scheduled a meeting to interview an unnamed candidate for head of the Public Works Department. The agenda is for an in-person only meeting on Monday afternoon. Read the full article → from Select Board to interview potential DPW Superintendent Monday (Updated)
Letter: Select Board shouldn’t wait to withdraw from Dispatch IMA (Updated)
This letter to the editor from residents Bonnie Phaneuf and John Butler to publicly urges the Select Board “not delay in honoring the nearly unanimous request of Town Meeting that the Town withdraw from the current IMA agreement” for the regional dispatch center in Westborough. Read the full article → from Letter: Select Board shouldn’t wait to withdraw from Dispatch IMA (Updated)
42nd Annual Senior Conference (Updated)
Free services, workshops, food, and door prizes are offered at the annual regional conference for seniors.
Every year, area senior citizens are welcomed to a special conference hosted by state officials. This spring, the conference will be back in-person for the first time since 2019. Read the full article → from 42nd Annual Senior Conference (Updated)
The week in government
Planning Board and more
Here is a selection of the committee and board meetings for the week along with my selected highlights from the agendas. Read the full article → from The week in government
New Building Commissioner hired
This morning, the Select Board voted to approve hiring a Building Commissioner to fill the position vacant since March 3rd. Casey Burlingame is expected to start work on April 24th. Read the full article → from New Building Commissioner hired
Volunteer opportunities on Town Committee
Several Town committees/boards have vacant seats.
Two discussions at Annual Town Meeting raised awareness of Town Committees that have vacancies (the Advisory Committee and the Southborough Public Accessibility Committee). So, I took a look at the current status and discovered over two dozen other vacancies. Read the full article → from Volunteer opportunities on Town Committee
Town Meeting’s vote to lower the voting age is just the first step (Updated)
A Citizen's Petition was supported by Town Meeting, but efforts by other towns haven't made it through the state legislature. Here's my recap of the TM discussion and the road ahead.
I’m writing up some highlights from the Annual Town Meeting discussion and potential implications of the Citizen’s Petition to lower the voting age in Town elections to 17 years old. I also followed up our Town’s representatives in the state legislature about their positions. Read the full article → from Town Meeting’s vote to lower the voting age is just the first step (Updated)
ATM Voters disfavor Regionalization of Public Safety Dispatch
On Saturday, voters who stuck around long enough to hear the last few Citizen Petition Articles informed Select Board members that they weren’t happy with plans for regionalizing emergency communications. Read the full article → from ATM Voters disfavor Regionalization of Public Safety Dispatch
Candidate’s Letter: Johanna Sheyner for School Committee
[This spring, Southborough voters will be able to choose among three candidates for two seats on the Southborough School Committee. To help you make that decision, each candidate is invited to submit one letter to readers promoting their campaign.] Read the full article → from Candidate’s Letter: Johanna Sheyner for School Committee