Southborough’s Annual Town Meeting gets underway one week from today. (You’ll be there, right? Right?). To help you with your vote, this week we’ll be taking a look at some of the articles that appear on the warrant this year. I’ll share what information I have, but I encourage you to ask questions and share your opinions in the comments below. First up is a series of articles that aims to change aspects of our town government. Read the full article → from On the warrant: Giving the town administrator more authority, expanding the Board of Selectmen (Articles 7-9)
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Need a babysitter for Town Meeting?
Town Meeting will be held on Monday, April 8 starting at 7:00 pm. If you haven’t yet lined up a babysitter for the evening, the Recreation Department is here to help you out. Read the full article → from Need a babysitter for Town Meeting?
Selectmen ratify new three-year contract for police officers
The Board of Selectmen announced at their meeting last night they have reached a “fair and equitable” agreement with the police union on a new 3-year contract. The agreement marks the end of negotiations on the second of four municipal contracts set to expire later this year. Read the full article → from Selectmen ratify new three-year contract for police officers
Library will host public forum on town governance articles to be considered by Town Meeting – Thursday, March 21
Town Meeting is less than one month away (April 8 – mark your calendars), and there are some big items on the warrant, from operational budgets and capital items to changes in our town government. We’ve talked about much of it here on the blog, but (thankfully) this isn’t the only place to get educated before you vote. Read the full article → from Library will host public forum on town governance articles to be considered by Town Meeting – Thursday, March 21
Superintendent to discuss school budget at the Senior Center on Wednesday
Southborough’s K-8 school budget has received stamps of approval from all key boards and committees, now it just needs a stamp of approval from voters. Toward that end, Superintendent Charles Gobron will make his annual visit to the Senior Center on Wednesday to discuss his department’s request. Read the full article → from Superintendent to discuss school budget at the Senior Center on Wednesday
MWDN: Southborough selectmen support expanding board to five members
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on Tuesday night to lend their support to an article at Town Meeting next month that would increase the size of the Board of Selectmen from three to five members. While they agreed they wanted to give voters a chance to weigh in on the idea, they didn’t all agree expanding the board is a good idea. Read the full article → from MWDN: Southborough selectmen support expanding board to five members
Selectmen praise public works union for concessions in new contract
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
MWDN: Official says Southborough tax increase likely lower this year
An increase is still an increase, but it looks like things won’t be quite as bad for Southborough taxpayers this year as officials had originally feared. Read the full article → from MWDN: Official says Southborough tax increase likely lower this year
Southborough K-8 School Committee approves $17 million schools budget
Back in January Superintendent Charles Gobron told the K-8 School Committee the district may have to eliminate up to four full-time positions to make the budget numbers work. Last night he told the committee he was recommending the reduction of only two positions thanks to a budget “gamble” on special education funding. Read the full article → from Southborough K-8 School Committee approves $17 million schools budget
Learn about proposed changes to Southborough’s town government – TONIGHT
Legislation to move to a town manager style of government failed narrowly at Town Meeting last year, but proponents of the idea have continued their effort to bring some of the changes proposed in the legislation to bear. Tonight the Board of Selectmen will hear a presentation on three related articles that will come before voters at Town Meeting this year. Read the full article → from Learn about proposed changes to Southborough’s town government – TONIGHT
Voters could face a Prop 2-1/2 override next year, selectmen call financial projections ‘troubling’
Expenses are going up and revenue is going down. That was the conclusion of a 5-year financial analysis recently completed by Town Accountant Brian Ballantine. It’s a scenario that could have voters facing a Proposition 2-1/2 override vote as soon as next year. Read the full article → from Voters could face a Prop 2-1/2 override next year, selectmen call financial projections ‘troubling’
MWDN: Superintendent recommends five new teachers at Algonquin
Superintendent Charles Gobron presented a preliminary budget for Algonquin at the Regional School Committee meeting last night. The $19.4M budget, which is $893K above the current year’s budget, includes a request for five new teachers and an additional assistant principal. Read the full article → from MWDN: Superintendent recommends five new teachers at Algonquin
Southborough schools could face staff reductions next year
Superintendent Charles Gobron unveiled preliminary fiscal year 2014 budget numbers for the Southborough K-8 schools last night. The early numbers have the schools coming in at about $17.6M, a 4.06% increase over the current fiscal year. Read the full article → from Southborough schools could face staff reductions next year
Gobron previews K-8 school budget
Superintendent Charles Gobron previewed the K-8 school budget at a meeting earlier this week. He didn’t talk numbers – that comes next month – rather he discussed the overarching factors that impact the budgeting process. Gobron said the school district is dealing with some significant fiscal constraints, including the loss of one-time savings and the cost of implementing new state mandates. Read the full article → from Gobron previews K-8 school budget