and

to how ARPA funds are used,” it said.

The statement continued, “The committee is concerned that the selectmen’s actions are essentially forcing Town Meeting to authorize debt for public safety and environmental compliance projects for which there is no discretion while at the same time holding $2.62 million in available ARPA funds for some future discretionary projects that Town Meeting will not be required to vote on.”

Northborough is slated to receive $4.5 million in ARPA funds. During the Feb. 13 meeting and following public input from residents and school officials, the selectmen released $1.7 million to replace the roof of Proctor Elementary School.

The Northborough Fire Department sought $900,000 to replace a 2005 fire engine, and the Department of Public Works wanted $475,000 for the installation of a tight tank system at the highway garage.

However, the selectmen did not fund these projects, with Selectman Kristen Wixted noting that some residents were interested in other projects that they hadn’t had a chance to discuss.

“My opinion is spend it judiciously on things that will help the projects that the people have been asking for, such as downtown revitalization,” said Selectman Julianne Hirsh.

In the statement, the Financial Planning Committee noted that if the projects were funded with ARPA, $1.25 million would remain.

This report echoed comments made by committee members Feb. 13.

Financial Planning Committee member Mike Hodge said these were projects the town “consistently” supported, in the queue and were vetted and discussed. Appropriation Committee member George Brenckle said the committee voted to fund these projects now and not push the projects off.

“There’s a lot of talk about use of the ARPA funds and what’s the best way,” said Appropriations Committee Chair Tim Kaelin. “To unnecessarily raise residents’ taxes while we have the money in the bank doesn’t seem to make sense. It seems the best way to use the ARPA money is to indirectly return that to the residents by not raising their taxes and using the funds to pay for things like these projects that would require the issuing of debt, which would lead to higher taxes.”

During the March 1 Appropriations Committee meeting, Kaelin noted the Financial Planning Committee’s report and asked if Appropriations could do something similar.

Northborough, Southborough parents, guardians sought to participate in survey

NORTHBOROUGH /SOUTHBOROUGH – Parents and guardians of children who are in kindergarten through 12th grade are sought to participate in a survey.

The survey was developed by Encompass, the local substance use prevention coalition that serves Northborough and Southborough. The purpose of the survey is the gauge what resources would be most helpful to parents and guardians to support children in making healthy decisions.

The survey will collect information to complement data from students that is collected in the biannual MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey that is administered to students in sixth through 12th grade.

Encompass will then use the data to determine priorities, raise awareness and support programs and policies that address substance use.

The survey, which closes

March 20, is anonymous and will take about seven minutes to complete. Every question is optional. The group encourages one or more parent or guardian from the household to complete it.

The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XJPXZRT. For more information, or to get involved, visit tinyurl. com/encompasscoalition or https://www.facebook.com/ NSSAPC.

By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH – Nearly three months after plans for an expansion and renovation were turned down at the Special Town Meeting, representatives from the Westborough Public Library came before the Advisory Finance Committee on Feb. 27.

This time, it was to discuss Article 12 of the March 25 Town Meeting warrant, which is a request to raise $347,959 to fund a building study and design costs for repairs to the library.

Library Director Maureen Amyot, Library Trustee Chair Mary Johnston and Library Building Committee Chair Ed Baldwin discussed the article.

According toLibrary Director Maureen Amyot and Johnston, the article is part of a threephase process. Should the article pass and the funds provided, the results would be presented at Town Meeting either this fall or next spring.

The funding request for repairs could come in October

Tax increase decreases from January estimate

By Maureen Sullivan

Assistant Editor

WESTBOROUGH – With the closing of the Town Meeting warrant comes some good news for the town’s annual budget.

Town Manager Kristi Williams told the Select Board during its Feb. 28 meeting that the average single-family tax bill for the 2024 fiscal year will increase by $795 — about $100 less than what was projected at January’s budget summit.

The increase includes the hike in Waste Connection tonnage fees to $85 per ton, as well as increases to recently approved contracts.

Williams credited higher state aid numbers for the rollback in the tax bill increase.

There’s still some ambiguity for the town’s insurance budget and electricity rates.

“We’re still watching electricity rates,” said Williams, adding they may “sign something” in the next four-six weeks.

2024 or March 2025.

The reasons for repairs are a combination of an aging infrastructure; the need for ADA compliance; and deferred maintenance.

Most of the problems are known — a slate roof original to the 1908 building has broken and missing tiles; windows that cannot be opened because of rotting woodwork; an electrical system with no outlets to charge a phone or laptop.

“The needs are still there,” said Amyot.

In January, one of the fan units caught fire. Although quickly extinguished, that unit remains offline as the library decides on repairing the unit for $8,000, or replacing the unit for $25,000.

Amyot and Johnston pointed

March out that all the fan units are beyond their useful life.

“It was dire at Town Meeting, and it’s dire now,” said Amyot of the library’s condition.

Part of the proposed building study will determine how best to use — and perhaps reconfigure — the 1980 addition, now that it’s not being torn down. According to Amyot, there aren’t plans to add square footage.

“We want to do the absolute best with what we have,” said Amyot.

“We want to look at the benefits and tradeoffs,” said Baldwin.

The article will require a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting. Advisory Finance will be voting its recommendations on the warrant articles Monday, March 13.

March

Owner and master blender Daithi O’Connel will join us ito kick off his first releases in Mass! If this doesn’t get you in the mood for St. Paddy’s Day, I don’t know what will! Purchase a $10 Julio’s Gift Card to attend.

Plantation Rum & Long Pond Distillery

April including the just-dropped Panama 2012 finished in Pauillac wine casks!