Select Board Chair Kathy Cook announced that Harvard University stepped up its PILOT contributions in a big way. An over 90% increase in annual payments is accompanied by a significant in-kind benefit. Read the full article → from Harvard ups the ante in PILOT payments and perks to Town
The PILOT Committee is still seeking residents at-large to join them. The committee is charged with researching information to help the Select Board as they seek ongoing (and hopefully increasing) donations from private schools exempted from paying property taxes in Southborough. Read the full article → from PILOT Committee Seeking Volunteers
Nothing has yet been advertised (or is even shown as possible) for residents to apply for seats on the Town’s new PILOT Committee. Yet, at this week’s meeting, the Select Board Chair indicated they were waiting for more people to apply. Read the full article → from Apply for the PILOT Committee (Updated)
The Attorney General has approved a revised version of the Pilot Committee bylaw voters passed at the May Annual Town Meeting. The AG’s office determined that as originally written, two sections within the bylaw would have unlawfully impinged on the Select Board’s executive authority. Read the full article → from AG’s office strikes language from PILOT Committee Article
A lot happened at last week’s Annual Town Meeting. Here is my final coverage on the discussions and votes. Read the full article → from Town Meeting Wrap Up: Noise Bylaw, PILOT Committee, and clarifying Neary Feasibility Study (Updated)
It was a long night at Annual Town Meeting, but voters and officials worked together to get through the Warrant rather than continue to a third one. Read the full article → from Annual Town Meeting: Quick recap of final votes (Updated)
Annual Town Meeting is in two days. So, it’s past time to update readers on the proposed budgets. In related news, I’m also sharing an announcement on PILOT promises from the two big private schools in town. Read the full article → from Town Meeting Update: Projected tax increase and PILOT news (Updated)
Last week, two items prompted questions for me about the status of non-tax revenues the Town is/isn’t receiving. Read the full article → from Update on PILOT payments & medical marijuana contingency fees (Updated)
If some voters had their way, one more Article would have been postponed – a $600,000 borrowing Article to fund a Fire Pumper truck. Read the full article → from Town Meeting Recap: Another PILOT debate and Articles postponed to next Town Meeting
A few recent stories prompted responses with details worth sharing. Read the full article → from News updates: Deerfoot Road runoff, private school properties, and clarifying a remark about a potential school building closure
St. Mark’s School recently purchased 2 downtown Main Street properties. The purchases are interesting in light of a few recent Town government efforts related to downtown and/or the private schools. Read the full article → from St. Mark’s School purchased 2nd downtown home since Annual Town Meeting (Updated)
On Tuesday night, the Board of Selectmen talked through their next steps for two issues: their effort to negotiate PILOT contributions from non-profits and handling Special Municipal Empoloyees. I’m rounding up the highlights. Read the full article → from BOS on how to proceed with PILOT talks, SMEs, and Public Safety Building room naming
Two items in the packet for discussion at this Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting caught my attention. Both relate to advice issued to the board from Town Counsel. Read the full article → from Town Counsel to BOS: Current PILOT negotiation strategy falls under OML; Request to rescind his “special” status
The Board of Selectmen reversed course on their plan for how to follow up on Town Meeting’s vote to pursue PILOT commitments with non-profits in town. Read the full article → from Selectmen not appointing PILOT Committee; Chair and Vice Chair to negotiate with private schools