The Northborough Board of Selectmen met on March 22, and here are some of the highlights:
- Funding for Northborough from the American Rescue Plan is estimated to be $4.42 million. The first round of funds are due by end of May; the second round in March 2022. These funds will help backfill some of the revenue loss due to the pandemic and potentially help fund some of the capital projects. The town is still waiting for guidance from the state. The availability of these funds looks to be good news for taxes.
- A Facilities Manager position is being added back into the budget; $92,616 annual salary. Currently, duties that fall under this role are being done by town administration and the Department of Public Works Director.
- The Recreation Department is being fully funded by the general fund this year as their source of revenue was shut down when all programs came to a halt due to COVID. They are back to running spring and summer programs and hope to be back to being 100 percent self-sufficient in the next year or two.
- The Capital budget will be presented at the Monday, April 12 meeting.
- Health Agent Kristin Black is still awaiting the official start date of the regional vaccination site; anticipates it will open early April.
- As of March 22, Northborough is still in the yellow status testing positivity rate of 2.36 percent for the last 14 days. Active cases of COVID on that date: 22.
- BOS members approved the memorandum of understanding with ZHS Trust, the developer of a proposed assisted living facility on King Street. This plan has been in the works for three years. Due to a Zoning Board of Appeals decision in March 2018, the developer needed to have a plan to improve the access from SW Cutoff to King Street for safety reasons and receive approval by MassDOT. Ultimately, the proposed altered layout of King Street that will include the new access would need to be voted on at a future town meeting.
- Town meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 1 at 9 am to be held at the Algonquin Regional High School athletic field. There are 39 articles on the town warrant.
- The Town election will be held on Tuesday, May 11. Voting is all at the Melican Middle School from 7 am -8 pm.
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Yoagie’s Hip Hoagies owner Jeffrey McCarthy was approved for a victualler license to operate a food truck offering custom hoagies at 309 Main Street (formerly Texas BBQ). It will be opening soon and has a six month lease.