Got Debris? You've Got to Find a Way to Move It

Northborough does not offer roadside debris pick-up, but the town administrator said few towns do, and this one is no different.

Several people have complained to Northborough Patch, and elsewhere, that while it is nice that Northborough added additional drop-off times for debris considering the storm that hit last month, it would be more helpful if the debris could be picked up. That service, unlike in some towns, is not offered in Northborough. Town Administrator John Coderre said Northborough is no different than most of the surrounding communities. "The town of Northborough is handling it the same way all the other surrounding communities are," said Coderre. "Grafton, Marlborough, Westborough, Southborough—they are all allowing residents to bring brush to a transfer station or DPW yard, free of charge. The only town that I'm aware of in our area that is picking …

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Nantucket Newspaper Announces New DPW Director, from Northborough

Kara Buzanoski is heading to the islands, leaving behind her longtime position in Northborough.

By the Numbers

That Costly Snow and Ice

The winter may be a distant memory, but surely you remember its terror months ago.

The winter is long gone, but the budget for the town is not forgetting what a nuisance the snow and ice was through the months of December, January and February. Gas, truck repair, salaries, sand, salt - it all costs money. The cost of this winter put most town DPW budgets at a deficit, including Northborough, as we reported in Northborough Patch's Board of Selectmen rundown earlier this week. The ice and snow budget is the only area where towns are allowed to deficit spend, though, as Town Administrator states, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you want to." For FY11, the snow and ice budget for Northborough was $179,300 and $416,200 is what was expended, leaving a $236,900 deficit. "The finance team has been able to pull enough …

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By the Numbers

New DPW Vehicles for Northborough

Here's how much the town granted the DPW to spend on vehicles this fiscal year.

At the annual Town Meeting in April, the attendees unanimously voted to approve funds for the DPW that included $60,000 for a highway garage truck lift, $39,000 for a one-ton pick up truck with a plow, $164,000 for a street sweeper, and $71,000 for a one-ton dump truck with a plow. All of the money, which totals $334,000, came from "free cash" and had no impact on the tax rate. "We have not purchased any of them yet because the money is not available until Fiscal year 2012, which begins on July 1," said Kara Buzanoski, DPW director. "We will put in purchase orders with the vendors once the money becomes available. It does take quite a while for some of them to be delivered because of the specialty equipment.  We should have them all by Dec…

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Aquatic Treatment of Bartlett Pond on Friday, May 27

This is a notice to residents that Bartlett Pond will be treated on Friday, May 27.

Bartlett Pond in Northborough will be chemically treated with the USEPA/MA registered aquatic herbicide Sonar (Fluridone) on Friday, May 27 to control nuisance and invasive aquatic vegetation. Two follow-up “booster” applications are also anticipated – one in June and one in July.    The pond will be closed on the day of treatment to all water uses, including swimming, fishing and boating. Use of the pond water for irrigation (watering lawns, shrubs, flowers or plants of any kind) is prohibited for approximately 90 days, or until Aug. 28.    Printed signs, warning of the temporary water use restrictions, will be posted around the pond shoreline, prior to treatment. This management program at Bartlett Pond is being performed for the town, …

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