By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – City Councilors rejected a request May 6 to waive permitting fees for the Assabet Valley Regional School District for the renovation project currently in progress at the school's Fitchburg Street location.
“The Assabet school is a sticky wicket. We are paying our fair share and we have to be very careful on how to spend more taxpayers” money. There is no question this school is a very valuable part of our community and we support it but this could cost the city over a half-million dollars,” Ward 1 City Councilor Joseph Delano said.
Ward 6 City Councilor Edward Clancy, who also a member of the Assabet School Building Committee, suggested inviting representatives from the school to meet with councilors to explain the request in more detail. ?City Council President Patricia Pope said she had recently been requested to attend a meeting with Mayor Arthur Vigeant and Superintendent Mary Jo Nawrocki to discuss the request. Pope said she learned at the meeting that former Mayor Nancy Stevens had previously given a verbal approval to waive the fee.
After much discussion, councilors voted to reject the request to waive the fees.? Clancy and Councilor-at-large Mark Oram voted in opposition.
In other business, the council approved a special permit request to Logical Partners LLC to construct three residential townhouse style condominium units at 126 Pleasant St. ??Builders have complied with all requirements as requested by the Urban Affairs Committee, according to Ward 3 City Councilor Matt Elder, the committee chair. All of the units will be two bedrooms and owner-occupied, he said, in compliance with a request from the council.
In other business, the council voted to send to the Finance Committee a request from? Vigeant to transfer $ to fully fund the operations for the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for fiscal year 2014.
“Since taking office in January 2012, the MEDC has played a central role in the economic development successes we have achieved,” said Vigeant in a communication to the council. “I am grateful to the City Council for your willingness to embrace the mission of the MEDC and for consistently providing feedback and direction to them. ?This partnership has allowed them to grow and mature immensely to the point where I believe we can fund their operations for a full year.”