New plan is an important step for preserving Northborough’s history

Northborough

THEN NOW

By Normand Corbin History Columnist

NORTHBOROUGH – North - borough’s first Historic Preservation Plan was recently completed. This plan is the road map for Historic Preservation in Northborough for the next 10 to 15 years. It is based on the 2020 Northborough Master Plan. The Master Plan contains overall goals for historic preservation while the Historic Preservation Plan contains specific tasks to accomplish the goals.

The plan was written by the members of the Northborough Historic District Commission with support from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, Northborough Historical Society, Northborough Town Planner, Northborough Planning Board and the Northbor- ough Conservation Agent.

Continuing education was identified as the highest priority. One part of the education priority is to bring an awareness of Northborough history to the community. This will be accomplished by continuing to work with local organizations to promote historical information. Promotion will include continuing the monthly programs offered by the Historical Society, preparing articles for local news outlets and continuing the historic marker program. In addition, teaming with the Northborough schools, the library, and cable access are encouraged.

Another part of educational outreach is to bring an awareness of preservation options to the community and especially to historic property owners. Three key approaches for historic property preservation are listing in the National Register of Historic Places, designating properties within a local historic district, and protecting properties with preservation restrictions. In addition, there are preservation options for open space lands which in the past were farms, woodlots or meadows. All preservation options have different advantages. It will be important to understand their differences and determine which is most beneficial to a property owner. One key aspect to these preservation methods is that property owners have control over the processes.

Several key tasks were identified, including increasing the number of historical properties and historical lands protected, preserving historic documents, repairing the many damaged grave markers in the Howard Street Cemetery, and finding ways to financially support historic restoration and preservation. Additional tasks include working with the Trails Committee to convert the Aqueduct Trail to a multiuse trail and open the aqueduct over the Assabet River for pedestrian traffic. Having an archeological assessment prepared for the town to identify areas that may contain archeological and early colonial artifacts was also noted as a necessary project.

In addition to the historic plan chapter, the preservation plan document also includes chapters containing an overview of Northborough history, a review of prior Northborough historic preservation efforts, and the current status of historic preservation in Northborough. There is also an appendix with state laws and Northborough bylaws related to historic preservation. Printed copies of the plan are available at the library, Senior Center and Planning Department.

The plan is also available online at: https://www.town.northborough.ma.us/sites/g/files/ vyhlif3571/f/uploads/nb_historic_preservation_plan_2022. pdf

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – A former automotive paint distributor at 272 Lincoln St. is closer to becoming a 12-unit multifamily dwelling – without the billboard.

Attorney Terrence P. Morris and Charles Zammuto, the manager for 272 Lincoln LLC, appeared before the City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee on Feb. 9. They sought a special permit to convert the site into multifamily housing.

The plans include 12 twobedroom units, 24 accessory parking spaces (18 garaged and 6 open-air), a pocket park and other landscaped areas.

Under the special permit, a billboard at the site will be removed and not replaced.

On Dec. 13, 2022, the Site Plan Review Committee reviewed the application for the special permit. In its report to Urban Affairs, the committee said it “was pleased with this development design, layout

Marlborough officials request midyear budget transfers

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

MARLBOROUGH – Reimbursements for fuel costs, funding a new position and contract negotiations were among the reasons city departments requested midyear budget transfers totaling more than $1.6 million.

The transfers were brought up during the City Council’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 13.

The city’s finance office is requesting $25,100 from the vacant principal clerk position to cover the newly created replacement position of treasury/ payroll manager through June 30. The Auditor’s Department is requesting $117,000 to help the city pursue tax-delinquent properties.

In a letter to Mayor Arthur Vigeant, Director of Finance Patrick Jones said, “There is a property that for many years has been in tax title. The city has acquired this troubled property. The city’s ownership and control of this property is being challenged in multiple courts. Litigation is ongoing and in full thrust, and expected to be resolved in the next 18 months.”

Jones is requesting $98,000 to cover anticipated legal fees through June 30 and $19,000 to help cover fees in its other services account through June 30.

In other transfer requests, the Fort Meadow Commission will require $1,200 to increase the fuel reimbursement for members. Additionally, $117,400 was requested for four police officer retirements, $41,700 for one firefighter retirement and an additional $235,000 for anticipated contractual negotiations. and landscaping concept presented. We were also pleased to know that this will be a carbon free/net zero development.

Another request was $156,803 to offset Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School’s amended assessment.

The information technology department is requiring $59,500 to cover the phone upgrades for the city and school department to keep them compliant with the state regulations, and the fire department will require a transfer for $86,500 for equipment, equipment repair and maintenance, and emergency events that required mutual aid and increased rehabilitation expenses.

The Department of Public Works is requesting a transfer in the amount of $730,500 to cover various expenses, including pump repairs; building maintenance and repair; and an increase in costs for chemicals for water treatment. Most of these funds will come from the DPW’s solid waste disposal account.

Human Resources is requesting $22,775 for the director’s salary line item and anticipated additional training requests by department heads. The Board of Health will require $1,072 to cover sick leave buy back and longevity that was mistakenly omitted from the 2023 fiscal year budget. The legal office will require $48,500 to fully fund outside council due to unbudgeted services.

The requests have been sent to the council’s Finance Committee.

“This project will require full site plan review once it receives a special permit from City Council. The committee will flush out specific details on the site design and mechanics at that time. We have also re- viewed the draft special permit conditions and note that these now incorporate comments we had on crosswalk painting and traffic sight distance,” the report said.

Urban Affairs discussed several issues during the Feb. 9 meeting, including snow removal, the installation of benches, parking and access to

A the Assabet Rail Trail. Zammuto said that should everything go according to plan, the old building could be torn down in late spring. Urban Affairs voted to approve the special permit with amended conditions. It went before the City Council on Feb. 13 in order to have the permit sent to the city’s solicitor.