Changes to the Cell Tower Bylaw, Yay or Nay?

On Monday at Town Meeting, residents will vote, along with some 50 articles, on the controversial "cell tower article."

There are 50 articles on the Town Meeting warrant this year, ranging from "housekeeping" items to approving the budgets for the town and for the schools. As with a warrant article last year that focused on changing restrictions on zoning bylaws, this year, a controversial subject in town involves articles 33 and 34. Article 33 pertains to adopting a Revised Radio Communications facilities bylaw. If adopted, this bylaw would replaces the existing Wireless Communictions Facilities bylaw. Accoring to Kathy Joubert, town planner, the proposed bylaw was prepared by the Planning Board in response to residents asking if the existing bylaw could be updated to lessen the number of cell towers in town. Consulting with wireless communications …

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Janice Fournier

4:36 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2013

At this point Northborough moms and dads are now worried about their kids and teachers being under the "umbrella" of a cell antenna. Neighbors are anxiously wondering if the person living next to them will be able to place an antenna in the yard next door. Residents are frustrated and disappointed to learn that they were not well informed of proposed actions taken by the Northborough Planning …   more ›

Be Sure to Vote: Your Warrant Articles This Year

It's all here to ponder and pontificate upon: the meals tax, capital plans ... and the budget.

Town Administrator John Coderre, in his annual presentation of the upcoming fiscal budget, stressed the transparent nature of Northborough government. If it affects the resident, it is available to the public. As part of his report for perhaps the last eight meetings, Selectman Jeff Amberson reminded townspeople to plan on Town Meeting. Get out and vote, and make it count. The annual Town Meeting is Monday,  April 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Algonquin Regional High School. And to do this, it's important to be familiar with the warrant articles, which were approved by Board of Selectmen last week. This year's warrant articles, and there are 50, include: To view all of the warrant articles in full, click here.

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Carol C

11:01 am on Friday, April 5, 2013

Town meeting will be your only time to vote against an article. VOTE NO at town meeting and get as many people to go and vote the same. I agree, it is no place for a cell antenna. What is the need? In my experience, the special permit means nothing. YOUR ONLY CHANCES ON STOPPING THIS IS TO VOTE NO at THE TOWN MEETING! And get people to show up and vote the same. Educate people about the reason …   more ›

Emergency Shelter, Salt Shed Among Capital Projects for FY2014

Northborough asks the town to approve warrant articles for FY2014 capital projects.

Northborough has "relatively few projects" planned for FY2014, according to Town Administrator John Coderre, who detailed the potential capital plans at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting. The town is seeking approval at Town Meeting for capital projects totaling $1.5 million. One investment would go toward the purchase of a new air compressor replacement for air packs for the Fire Department, and another $28,000 is set aside for an emergency trailer. The trailer, said Coderre, would be stocked with cots and ready to shelter up to 100 residents in the case of an emergency. "This was an outgrowth of the emergency planning process," said Coderre. "I'm excited to bring this to town meeting." Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories …

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Meals Tax: Good Idea for Northborough?

This year at Town Meeting, residents of Northborough will have the opportunity to vote on whether it wants a meals tax, a hotel tax, or both, instituted in town.

What Would Get You To Participate in Local Government More?

There's usually low turnout at open town meetings or few candidates for representative ones.

Would you give up a Saturday in March to vote on your town's budget? How about a few nights a week for a month?  Open town meetings statewide typically draw a small percentage of the community's registered voters—a few hundred people at most. And many of them leave before the meeting ends. Representative town meetings usually have few who run for open slots. How can participation be improved? Tell us in the comments.

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GM

8:52 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013

I'm with you on your comments, Andy. Having spent a few years involved with our town's government, I have come away with a strong belief that local government is the best place to ensure that government in general is effective and efficient. The local community is where people understand the true needs of the residents, and where people are in the best position to judge the urgency of the needs …   more ›

You Ask, Patch Answers

Generator at the Melican School Will Provide Energy for the Town

In a state of emergency, the new generator being installed at the Melican School will serve as power for the town's main shelter site.

A new generator at the Melican Middle School won't just power the store; it'll be a source of power for the town during an emergency.  A warrant article to replace the old, inefficient generator at the Melican school was approved by voters during the April 2012 town meeting, for $400,000. And according to an update given at the Northborough-Southborough School Committee, the replacement is in process. The concrete pad for the generator has been poured, and the underground work has been completed. Cheryl Levesque, business manager for the schools, said the generator is on order and installation is tentatively planned for the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.  "The replacement generator will power the school, which serves as the town's …

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Selectman Hutchins: Overbuilding in Town 'Unfortunate'

Zoning bylaws may be revisited in the next Town Meeting.

Selectman Aaron Hutchins doesn't want to create any waves with the planning board, but thinks that it may want to look more closely at the approval process for new buildings in town. Hutchins took an opportunity at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting to voice his concerns, and says his concerns echo those of a number of citizens in town who contact him. "The building of commercial properties on the Main Street corridor is an issue," he said. Pointing to a recent structure constructed at the corner of Westbrook Road, Hutchins said, "Because of the natural elevation, it looks like a highrise. It dwarfs this beautiful little home. It is just unfortunate, and I could list example after example of buildings on Main Street. I think we need to …

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Jonny Rock

5:41 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012

Ah "Massive renovations" please! it is what 900 sqr feet? I too would need the whole story. But these multi family condos in every nook and cranny in town is not adding appeal. Niether are the cheap discounted commercial buildings..My tax dollars used to get me trash pick up an my kid could play HS sports for free, among other things. Why do all our services get fees now and the tax rates go …   more ›

Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: April 23

Town Meeting! You going to be there? Read through the warrant articles and be prepared.

Our morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Make a difference. Get involved. Vote on the important issues of your town. Northborough's Annual Town Meeting is tonight at Algonquin Regional High School starting at 7:30 p.m. Additional information, including the warrant and proposed budget documents may be found here. 2. Dr. Karen E. Moriarty with Donne Railsback, certified personal trainer, present Beyond Exercise to Total Health at Northboro Chiropractic Center. 3. The Grades 1 and 2 Book Group meets at the Northborough Library tonight. Talk about the books, how the books were chosen, and what the favorites are. 4. …

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What Local Voters Need to Know: Election, Nomination Papers and Town Meeting

Here is election information for voters, and potential candidates, in Northborough.

Nomination papers are currently available (since Jan. 17) at the Town Hall for the annual town election, to be held May 14. Potential candidates have until March 22 to obtain nomination papers, and must be submitted to the Town Clerk for certification by March 26. At least 50 signatures by registered voters are required. Voter registration deadline for The Annual Town Meeting and Annual Town Election is April 3, and the Town Clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. that day. April 9 is the last day to file nomination papers, by 5 p.m. April 9 is also the last day to post warrants for Town Election and Town Meeting. Town Meeting warrant will be available in the Town Clerk’s office. The last day to object to or withdraw …

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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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