The New Uxbridge Time - June, 2021

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THE NEW

Uxbridge Times Established in 1991 Vol. 30 • Issue 6

Over 21,000 Copies Mailed Free

UxbrIdge • North UxbrIdge • LINwood • doUgLas • NorthbrIdge • whItINsVILLe • sUttoN • MaNchaUg

JUNe 2021

Towns get down to business at Annual Spring Meetings by Christine beauchaine

Great job - recently area Scouts and helpers joined forces to clean up Uxbridge. Volunteers included; Pack 25, Pack 2, troop 1122, troop 25 and troop 25 girls. these hard working scouts are sensational!

Picnic Reservations at West Hill Dam West Hill Dam in Uxbridge, is now accepting picnic shelter reservations for the 2021 summer recreation season. Permits will be offered from June 5th through September 5th, and only those with approved permits can access the picnic shelters due to limited vehicle access. Picnic shelter use permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis for activities such as graduation and birthday parties, small reunions, and church or group events. There are two picnic shelters which will be available on Saturdays and Sundays only and will require a $75 permit fee per shelter. Permits can be obtained by calling Park Ranger Viola Bramel at (978) 318-8417. The Day Use Area, which includes

PoStaL PatroN

the beaches, swimming area, picnic tables and grills, will open for the summer recreation season beginning June 5th. Visitors to the Day Use Area must park at the Project Office at 518 East Hartford Avenue in Uxbridge and walk to the area. There will be no Day Use

Area entrance fee. Visitors to the Day Use Area and people utilizing the picnic shelters must comply with federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines for outdoor recreation. For more information, contact Park Ranger Viola Bramel.

Uxbridge, Northbridge and Douglas all recently held their annual spring town meetings. Uxbridge held their meeting on Saturday, May 15th, 2021. Northbridge and Douglas held their meetings on May 3rd and 4th respectively. The town of Uxbridge had 24 articles on their warrant. Articles 2, 10,15, 20 and 24 were passed over. A report by the town’s charter review committee was read as part of Article 1. Citizens were encouraged to take a survey regarding language in the town’s charter and also to attend the charter review committee’s meetings via Zoom. The biggest item on Uxbridge’s warrant was the fiscal year 2022 budget. The town moderator, Ed Maharay stated that the budget would be voted on by major category as opposed to approving the entire budget all at once. General government, public safety, education, public works, health and human services, library, debt services and unclassified categories were all approved by majority vote; thus, the entire budget was approved. Other articles on the warrant also included financial considerations such as addressing the snow and ice deficit and the wastewater enterprise fund among others. Additional warrant articles involved amending zoning bylaws, establishing a bike path and a lease agreement with the Uxbridge Youth Soccer League.

Open Space & Recreation Plan Update Initiative The Town of Northbridge is to undergo an effort to renew/update its Open Space & Recreation Plan. The Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP) helps guide decisions regarding the use, acquisition, and management of open spaces, conservation areas, recreation facilities, and natural resources. PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800

ECRWSS

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) Division of Conservation Services oversees municipal open space planning for the state. Where, an approved Open Space & Recreation Plan may be required for eligibility of certain state funding programs.

Those interested in learning more about the OSRP or volunteering to assist in the preparation of an Open Space & Recreation Plan for Northbridge are encouraged to contact the Community Planning & Development Office at (508) 234-2447 or planning@northbridgemass.org.

Friends of Library Need Volunteers The Friends of the Uxbridge Library group is looking for interested residents to join its Executive Board. Various positions need to be filled including Secretary, but possibly more. The Friends main goal is to fundraise for the town’s library and its programs through such

events as their twice a year bake and book sale. Meetings are typically once a month with summers off. Anyone interested should contact the library at 508-278-8624 or send an email to: Uxbridge Library Friends@gmail.com.

All warrant articles passed by the required vote except article 19 which pertained to marijuana delivery licenses. This article failed by a narrow margin of 50 in favor and 52 opposed. Northbridge and Douglas also primarily addressed fiscal year 2022 budgets and other financial considerations at their respective town meetings. Northbridge voted to transfer money from the Pine Grove Cemetery Trust for improvements at Pine Grove Cemetery including tree and stump removal, building envelope weatherization repairs, and much needed cemetery road improvements. Article 17 on the Northbridge warrant was approved by voters and authorized several smaller projects and purchases including (but not limited to) guardrail replacement on Linwood Avenue, interior painting at the library, a scanner for the town hall annex and parking lot reclamation at both the town hall and the senior center. Sidewalk maintenance was also a part of Article 17 along with the purchase of a Bombardier sidewalk blower attachment. Northbridge also voted to transfer “custody, care and control” of the elementary school building on Cross Street from the school committee to the board of selectmen. Construction began in 2019 on a new elementary school at the site of the old Balmer School on Crescent Street. The old Balmer School will be demolished. Construction on the new school is due to be completed shortly and will consolidate the two schools into one. A building reuse study was also approved for the old school on Cross Street. Northbridge voted to pass over Article 21 which regarded the establishment of a conservation fund. In addition to the aforementioned budgetary considerations, the town of Douglas looked at police and fire union contracts, school bus transportation contracts and school textbook and digital subscription contracts.

~ INDEX ~ town News.........Page 4 Society……....…Page 17 Senior Corner....Page 19 School News….Page 21 business News...Page 23 Classified...........Page 25 real estate.........Page 27


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