Above: These days, most meetings that used to welcome the public to attend in the Town House Hearing Room or other public facilities are accessible to the public by video/audio conference calls only.
Here are the posted committee and board meetings for this week along with my selected highlights from the agendas.
The Town intends to make each of its meetings available for viewing/listening via streaming live (and saved) video and audio on YouTube with some available for public comment by zoom.* Live streaming of school committee meetings is only available for viewing via webinars.
As always, be aware that changes to the meeting schedule are known to happen throughout the week. For an updated list of meetings, visit the town website. (For an update on meetings that popped up late last week, scroll down.)
Monday, October 19, 2020
- ADA Committee Meeting, 9:30 am @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Review and discuss access to the Public Safety Complex pursuant to letter from the Chairman BOS; Review plans to improve lighting on town/school playing fields; Discuss new Southborough ADA appeal process and federal/state enforcement of ADA violations.
- Planning Board Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Hearings on Chestnut Hill Farm barn, Mooney Field Lighting, Richardson Courts lighting, and Scenic Rd Tree Removals; Discuss EDC zoning bylaw status and Public Shade Tree Removal Policy
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
- Library Board of Trustees Meeting, 12:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: FY22 Budget Update; Façade Restoration Project update; Reopening Discussion; Inclusivity/Diversity; Discuss Youth Services/Teen Librarian position
- Board of Selectmen Meeting, 5:30 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) (Note: Begins with closed Executive Session. It looks like open session may not open until about 6:30 pm) Agenda Highlights: Tax Classification Hearing; Fire Dept. update on hiring, training and reporting; Discuss duties of the Board and Personnel Director; proposed FY22 SAP increases; employee training; Responding to Public Records requests; Extension of outdoor dining; Review of cemetery policies and procedures re: damaged headstones; Proposal to establish Rent/Mortgage Relief under CARES Act; Consideration of Trails Committee Letter of Support for DCR Public Access Plan
- Municipal Technology Committee Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: COVID-19 risk mitigation via technology; Status updates; Fire Department tech strategy; EV charging stations; Cyber resiliency plan
- Personnel Board Meeting, 7:30 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Joint Meeting with Board of Selectmen on FY22 Annual Salary Adjustment; Responsibilities of Personnel Director and Board; Employee Training/Development; Town Org Chart; Town Adm/Personnel Director Job Description; “Quadrennial” Classification and Salary Review; Merit Program for SAP Employees
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
- Taxation Aid Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Status of the FFMW Southborough Community Fund application and possible discussion with Trust Fund member; Conversation with Senior Center leadership
- Southborough Housing Authority Meeting, 5:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Annual Meeting to review FY21 Annual Plan; Review and Approve Contract of Exec Director; Capital Projects and payments; Election of Officers
- Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: APTO Presentation; Athletics Update; COVID-19 Impact on Art; MassCore; Coalition for Equity Update; Implementation of Short-Term Study Group for Mascot Review; FY22 Budget Priorities; Elevator Repair Update (Pregister for webinar here.)
- Master Plan Committee Meeting, 7:30 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Draft Storyboard, Visions, Objectives, Goals and Recommendations, and Housing Chapter; Any additional recommendations/goals due to recent events or as result of MVP report; next steps
Thursday, October 22, 2020
- Southborough Housing Opportunity Partnership Committee Meeting (SHOPC), 8:00 am @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Discuss HPP Implementation Planning, Technical Assistance Contract; Recap Joint Meeting with BOS on Downtown Initiative
- Capital Planning Committee, 6:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Review for BOS Meeting FY22 Capital Plan Presentation and draft Capital Planning policy
- Capital Planning Committee – School Research Subcommittee Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: MSBA and NESDEC Update from Superintendent; Decision tree; Review of data provided, discussion of trends, and next steps
- Conservation Commission Meeting, 7:00 pm @ Virtual Meeting (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Hearings on 96 Mt. Vickery Road Resource Area Delineation, new Single Family homes at 81 Breakneck Hill Rd and Lot 5 Granuaile/Brigham Rd, and Eagle Scout trail & viewing platform at Bigelow Rd; Discussion re Chestnut Hill Farm parking
*There is the caveat that there could be technical glitches that force the Town to take backup actions:
No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on Southborough’s website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting.
