It’s past time for a new open thread. So, here we go.
What’s on your mind this week, Southborough?
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(Photo posted to Flickr by stevemeltzer)
Beautiful photo. Did you take it, Beth? I find it very calming as the water is so still.
I wish! It was posted to flicker by “stevemelzer” who apparently took the photo in August 2011.
Does anyone know the status of the Fayville Playground is? I was delighted to hear that it was going to be renovated (hopefully with fewer splinters!) but then the July storm destroyed the pavilion and the project had to be rethought. I have not driven by there recently, but I assume it is still closed. Is it, and what are the plans for renovation and reopening?
Oh yes! Great question. Would love an official update.
The playground is still open, it will be officially closed November 1 and rip out will begin soon after. Install of the new playground is targeted for Spring 2017. This will be weather permitting.
That’s terrific news. Doreen, thank you for the update and for the town’s work on this project!
Are you kidding me. There have been funds in place for a while for the park renovation. The town is feeding everyone crap. This is a long ignored park that continues to be the last thought on the list by the town. I can cite many times over the last 3-5 years where the trash is constantly overflowing, flag pole has a torn american flag, fields are ignored, playground equipment is damaged, I have a hard time believing anything is going to happen soon. This park has been an afterthought for a long time. Just ask anyone who has gone to a t ball game how embarrassing it is to invite friends, parents, or in-laws.
Give me a break. The town simply does not care. We had a major storm destroy portions of the playground. The cleanup took weeks, and now months later there is temporary fencing enclosing the damaged area which still contains demo debris.
This is not a complicated project by any stretch. Anyone competent would have the project completed by now in an efficient manner. Instead we are trending towards an over budget project that will be completed a year from now if we are lucky.
Sincerely,
embarrassed resident
Does anyone know what is the status of the school embezzlement case? Does anyone else find it odd that this has been swept under the rug? I find it odd that there were no repercussions on the Superintendent and school administrators. The Superintendent hasn’t said a word since the initial news story. What is she hiding? What is the school committee doing and how are they holding school officials accountable? Does the school committee remember they work for the people who elect them? I find it amazing that this topic has just disappeared from the news. This was a HUGE amount of OUR money. I know it was recouped from insurance but that doesn’t make the issue disappear. What did that do to our policy expenses? Doesn’t the Superintendent and the school committee think the public deserves an answer? Where is Advisory on all this and the other town leaders. I am outraged that this has just been ignored by the people who are paid by the townspeople. The Superintendent should have been sent packing with any other school official in charge of money that missed this theft for years.
Latest news I could find: http://www.telegram.com/article/20160401/NEWS/160409843
This is from April, so I don’t know what the criminal resolution was.
You should be concerned for the points you mentioned. This went on for several years and it strains credulity that no one in the superintendent’s office suspected anything. Did the education committees accept independent audits and investigations at face value? Did anyone on any of the education committees ask any questions of anyone who worked out of the office? We’ll never know.
What I do know is, if the office of the superintendent is not operating well, then this is going to happen again. Maybe not an embezzlement, but certainly same ballpark.
On another thread, a poster pointed out that the committees voted against supporting Question 2 (adding charter schools). I do not know if this is the case. I did not need another reason to vote yes, but thumbing my nose to the entire education establishment is icing on the cake. I have seen first hand what happens in towns with failed schools here in Massachusetts. Those towns and parents need an alternative.
Not sure why more people aren’t voicing concerns and just “taking it”. The town’s should demand more accountability as should the school committee and they seem as though the couldn’t care less. I am sure there is so much in that office we have no idea about, especially if something like the embezzlement happened for so long and so easily. They keep saying that they can’t cut budgets. Has anyone taken note of the complete renovation of the Neary School office? That couldn’t have been cheap! When do they step back and be accountable? People in this town should be outraged. I just don’t understand it.
Hey Everyone! Having a Yard Sale this weekend with TONS of children’s items, toys, home décor, women’s clothing and shoes and men’s clothing. All Seasons. Everything is on trend and in great condition. Sat 10/8 @9-3; 1 Lincoln Lane Southborough (end of Vine Street). Please no early birds!
Hi everyone. Last night my kid said to me, “Mom, if there are clowns at Heritage Day, what should we do?” Has anyone else’s kids asked about the clowns? What would you do if they showed up?
My son came home from Woodward asking about the clown. My daughter goes to Neary, and said that Officer Landry answered kids questions (crazy, wild rumors) and told them that it was all a hoax.
I received an email from a Selectman asking for my attendance and support at Special Town Meeting on October 18.
In a nutshell, it says that we either accept millions from the state to re-do Main Street and its intersection at Route 85 or we would have to pay virtually the same amount from our own ( Town’s ) funds.
I was a bit surprised and wonder if others recall that the basic repair work as discussed at last Town Meeting was estimated to be a much smaller number than the much more ambitious state plan I’ve been asked to support.
Should I feel that there’s a little bias in how the Selectman’s letter was phrased?
Last week, for the first time, selectmen got A real estimate of what an alternative project would and wouldn’t include, with the associated costs. The presentation was made by the main street design working group at the board of selectmen meeting. I haven’t had Time to watch the presentation from beginning to end and give it the appropriate coverage. I have been planning to do that sometime this week. In the meantime, you can take a look at the Southborough access media video from the meeting.