The Board of Selectmen has a new chairman. Historically, the board rotates the position, with the selectman in the final year of his or her elected term getting control of the gavel. This year that honor falls to Selectman Dan Kolenda, and at this week’s meeting Kolenda’s fellow board members unanimously elected him their new leader. Read the full article → from Kolenda takes over as chairman of the Board of Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night voted unanimously to ratify a new 3-year contract for the town’s public works employees. It’s a contract Chairman John Rooney characterized as a “tremendously beneficial” one for the town. Read the full article → from Selectmen praise public works union for concessions in new contract
When it comes to the numbers, there are still more unknowns than there are knowns, but the Board of Selectmen last night got an early look at the municipal budget for fiscal year 2014. All indications suggest it’s going to be another tight year. Read the full article → from Southborough selectmen get early look at budget numbers
Coming up with budget proposals to bring to Town Meeting each April has often been a long, drawn-out, process: endless meetings, haggling, revision after revision. This year, selectmen hope to streamline the process by giving more budgeting authority to new Town Administrator Mark Purple. Read the full article → from MWDN: Southborough selectmen comfortable with reduced budget role
When voters considered the proposal to move to a town manager style of government at Town Meeting last spring, the reaction was decidedly mixed. When the measure ultimately failed, the proposal to expand the Board of Selectmen from three to five members failed along with it. But it looks like voters may get another chance to consider that change. Read the full article → from Voters may get a second chance to expand the Board of Selectmen
When the 140-unit Madison Place apartment complex off Route 9 was approved earlier this summer, the developer agreed to pay the town $338K in mitigation funds to offset the impact the project will have on the town. At their meeting last night selectmen discussed using $308K of the funds to upgrade the police and fire department’s antiquated computer-aided dispatch center. Read the full article → from Selectmen support using $308K in mitigation funds to upgrade police/fire dispatch center
Last week selectmen unanimously voted to offer the job of Southborough town administrator to Ashland Interim Town Manager Mark Purple. Throughout the recruiting process, selectmen talked about an expanded role for the next town administrator. Brad from the Metrowest Daily News chatted with Selectman John Rooney about what that expanded role might entail. Read the full article → from MWDN: Southborough looking forward to expanded role with Mark Purple
The Board of Selectmen tonight will meet with the Planning Board to discuss a wide-reaching proposal to update the town’s zoning code. They’ll also hear a request from the Advisory Committee to delay a town meeting vote on the changes. Read the full article → from Advisory Committee seeks to delay town meeting vote on zoning changes
Many of you may remember there’s a project in the works to upgrade Main Street, one that will include repaving the road and widening it at some points. While selectmen approved the project design in 2010, still outstanding was the question of whether utility lines along Main Street should be buried underground while the reconstruction work was taking place. Read the full article → from Selectmen pass on plan to bury utility wires along Main Street
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last night to impose a voluntary odd/even water restriction starting immediately and running through September 22. Under the ban, outside water use is restricted based on your house number, so odd-numbered houses use water on odd-numbered days, and even-numbered houses use water on even-numbered days. Read the full article → from Voluntary odd/even water ban now in effect
An increase in the cost of a Transfer Station sticker has been an annual event for several years now. Last night Selectmen decided to hold the fee at its current rate of $175, but there was little consensus on the board about how the Transfer Station should operate and be funded in the future. Read the full article → from No increase in sticker fee, but changes for the Transfer Station could be on the way
In a surprise move at last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Zoning Board of Appeals member Regina McAuliffe withdrew her application for reappointment to the board. Her withdrawal paved the way for selectmen to appoint Southborough businessman David Eagle as a new permanent member of the ZBA. Read the full article → from McAuliffe steps aside, selectmen appoint Eagle to zoning board
I wasn’t able to attend last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, but the Metrowest Daily News was there and reports on an interesting development in the ongoing effort to change Southborough’s form of government. Selectmen voted last night to create an ad hoc committee that will be charged with bringing Town Manager legislation before voters once again. Read the full article → from MWDN: Southborough selectmen revive town manager effort
You may be able to watch Board of Selectmen meetings live on public access television from the comfort of you home, but if you want to ask questions or register a comment on any of the items discussed, you’ll have to get up off your couch and head to the Town House. That’s because the board last week nixed a plan to accept input via email during their meetings. Read the full article → from Selectmen won’t accept email comments during meetings