The week in government: BOS meeting; Capital Planning’s presentation of completed Town Space Needs Study Report

Above: These days (unless otherwise noted) all of the Town’s committees and boards are back to meeting over zoom.

Here are the posted committee and board meetings for this week along with my selected highlights from the agendas.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are all remote sessions open to the public.*

As always, be aware that changes to the meeting schedule are known to happen throughout the week. (Scroll down for details on meetings that popped up after last Monday’s post.) For an updated list of meetings, visit the town website.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

• Southborough Housing Opportunity Partnership Committee Meeting, 8:30 am (agenda, video) Agenda Highlights:Updates on Master Plan Committee and SHOPC/CPC Subcommittee; Affordable Housing Trust – 5-year Plan Legal Opinion and Warrant Article prep; Discuss MBTA Communities requirement
• Board of Health Meeting, 10:30 am (agenda and packet) Agenda Highlights: Appoint Epidemiologist through  Boroughs Partnership; Housing & Food Inspections; Community Fridge; Ken’s Expansion; Letter to Noise Committee; Discuss/Vote on Number of Tobacco Licenses; Job Description Revision for Health Director; MetroWest Health Foundation Grant; Report for Advisory re FY23 Budget; Re-vote on Job Description for Public Health Nurse; COVID Case Numbers and Vaccine Clinics
• Board of Selectmen Meeting, 6:30 pm (agenda and packet) Agenda Highlights: Noise Bylaw Ad-Hoc Committee review of community survey; FY 23 Budget discussions for Fire and Police Departments; Fire Department Strategic Plan; Updates on FY23 Budget, ADA report, and Town wide mask mandate, FY22 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Award, and Approval from Conservation for Golf access road/parking lot; Accept OPM’s recommendation for architect for the Town House renovation project; Contract to manage EEA grant; Policy on Recording Clerks; Opportunities for State ARPA funding and items for consideration of funding; Town meeting date and survey results
  • Noise Bylaw Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights:Brief report on Committee status to the Select Board; Share Survey results; Request Charter alteration to remove one Forum requirement; Inquire about Town Meeting
• Municipal Technology Committee Meeting, 7:00 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: 5 year strategic tech plan next steps.; FY23 MIS/Tech Budget Review; Provider/path diversity for two internet connections; Tech initiatives for ARPA fund usage; MTC processes – Action Items tracking; 2022 Town resident survey

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

• Housing Authority Meeting, 5:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Report of Executive Director; Approval of payment of bills
• ARPA Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Review of the Committee Charge; Organization of the Committee; Next steps/meeting schedule
• Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Algonquin Regional High School Library, 79 Bartlett St, Northborough (agenda) Agenda Highlights: English Learners Presentation; Medical Advisory Team’s Review of Data and Mask Recommendation/Reasonable Off Ramp; Review of Face Coverings Policy A-170; Mascot Study Group; FY’23-FY’29 Capital Plan; FY’23 Recommended Budget Presentation; Athletic Complex Update
• Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting, 7:00 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Approve Meeting Minutes dated October 20, 2021 and 2022 meeting date schedule
• Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Meet with IT and MTC re FY23 IT budget and IT matters including YFS software and HIPAA; Meeting with following to discuss their FY23 budgets – Town Accountant, Town Treasurer, Town Administrator, and Town Assessor to discuss their department proposed budgets for FY 23; Discuss estimated split of property values for 1/1/22 between residential and CIP
• Noise Bylaw Committee Meeting, pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Further review of Bylaw outline

Thursday, January 20, 2022

• Trails Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Peninsula Trail DCR public access plan and MWRA permit status update; MassTrails Grant planning; Recap of site visit with MWRA and Marlborough of Trail along open channel off Ward Road
• Capital Planning Committee Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Presentation of Town Space Needs Study Report from DRA consultants regarding future allocation of Town space. Discuss relevance to Library’s space needs.  
  • Library Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Attend Capital’s presentation on Town space needs
  • Youth Commission Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Attend Capital’s presentation on Town space needs
  • Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Attend Capital’s presentation on Town space needs

Friday, January 21, 2022

• Council on Aging Meeting, 8:30 am (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Discuss center closings; Report on upcoming programs and what’s gone virtual/been rescheduled; Spring spending; Discuss any new info/questions re addition and Capital Committee updates
• Capital Planning Committee – School Research Subcommittee Meeting, 10:00 am (agenda) Agenda Highlights: Updates on Statement of Interest for Neary School and Town Space Needs Study; Review of MSBA Cost Analysis and final report for February School Committee meeting including pre-meeting communication to public

Looking Back:

Below is a meeting from last week that was posted after I ran last week’s list:

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

• Greater Boroughs Partnership for Health Meeting, 2:00 pm (agenda, video) Agenda Highlights: Contact Tracing Grant, Public Health Excellence Grant, Covid Testing, Mask Mandates, and Additional Funding Opportunities
• Library Board of Trustees Meeting, pm (agenda, video) Agenda Highlights: FY23 Budget discussion in Advisory Committee’s meeting

Thursday, January 13, 2022

• Historical Commission Meeting, 6:00 pm (agenda, video) Agenda Highlights:7 Chestnut Hill Road Proposed Demolition of Goat Barn and Tool Shed – vote on historical significance; Update on St. Marks Street Park; Proposal to divert State Shared Street Funds from St. Mark’s property to a new outdoor amphitheater next to the Museum on Town Land; Reports from Treasurer and CPC representative; internet problems at Museum; annual budget; recording secretary

*The Town intends to make each of its remote public 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.