Town Meeting last week voted overwhelmingly to approve funds to help repair and renovate Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. The decision, which came despite the warning of at least one town official, commits the town to paying $882,300 over the life of a 30-year bond. Read the full article → from Town Meeting commits funds to repair and renovate Assabet
Every year after Town Meeting I take a look at the attendance numbers. It’s typically a depressing exercise, and this year is no different. While it wasn’t the worst on record, turnout this year was predictably light. Read the full article → from Most of you did not go to Town Meeting – tell us why (with POLL)
Town Administrator Jean Kitchen announced late last year that after six years on the job she would retire in June at the end of the town’s fiscal year. Since then, the effort to replace her has been in a holding pattern pending the fate of the town manager legislation. No longer. Read the full article → from Search for a new town administrator to begin immediately
Budgets may have taken center stage at the second night of Town Meeting last night, but both before and after the official business at hand, the talk in the lobby and aisles of the Trottier auditorium was all about the previous night’s vote to postpone the town manager legislation. Surely it’s a decision that will Read the full article → from Chairman says town manager legislation defeated by vocal minority, ‘scare tactics’
It was a relatively quiet night as Southborough’s Annual Town Meeting continued last night, both in terms of attendance and in terms of the discussion. There were more open seats than filled ones, and only a handful of residents took to the microphones to discuss the various articles, including ones like the school budgets that commonly see lengthy debate. Read the full article → from Town Meeting approves all budgets with little discussion
Welcome to Day 2 of Southborough’s Annual Town Meeting. On tap tonight are operational budgets, capital items, and more. I’ll be live blogging the action as long as my Internet access holds. Read the full article → from LIVE BLOG: Southborough Town Meeting – Day 2
There are 24 articles on the warrant this year, and last night Town Meeting made it through only the first seven. That means there’s still quite a bit of action to come – and lots of money on the line – as Town Meeting continues tonight. Read the full article → from Town Meeting continues tonight – here’s a preview (UPDATED)
After two hours of discussion on the floor of Town Meeting last night, most seemed to agree that Southborough’s government needs fixing. What voters didn’t agree on was the mechanism by which to fix it. With that impasse, and by a margin of only 11 votes, Town Meeting decided to indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to adopt a Town Manager form of government. Read the full article → from Town Meeting votes to postpone town manager legislation in its entirety
As luck would have it, I have Internet access here at Trottier for Day 1 of Southborough’s Annual Town Meeting, so I’m going to give live blogging a shot. I’ll keep updating as long as the Internet holds out, so check back for the latest. Read the full article → from LIVE BLOG: Southborough Town Meeting – Day 1
Former Selectwoman Bonnie Phaneuf released a statement this weekend urging voters to delay a decision on the proposed Town Manager legislation, saying it needs more review. Meanwhile, the Drafting Committee on Friday released their final report that details the committee’s findings and explains highlights of the proposed legislation. Read the full article → from Former selectwoman opposes Town Manager article; drafting committee releases final report
Each time we get heavy rain, the fire department sends out crews and equipment to help residents pump out flooded basements. A new bylaw proposed by Fire Chief Joseph Mauro would charge residents who should be relying on a sump pump instead of the fire department to get out the water. Read the full article → from New bylaw would charge residents for repeat pumping assistance
New to town meeting and want to learn how it all works? Or maybe you’re an old-timer who wants to brush up on your procedural etiquette? If so, check out an upcoming screening of the 30-minute video Town Meeting and You on the Southborough Government cable channel. Read the full article → from Resources for learning more about how Town Meeting works
Southborough is no stranger to school renovation projects, and at Town Meeting next week, voters will be asked to allocate funds for yet another one, this time for Assabet. But our history with renovation projects has one selectman urging caution. Read the full article → from Selectman wants assurances on Assabet building repair project
Our town is luck to have a collection of very smart people who have done their homework and know exactly how they feel about the town manager proposal to be voted on at Town Meeting next week. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. Read the full article → from Town manager legislation: Let’s talk