By Keith Regan, Community Reporter
Westborough–As they finalized for the warrant Saturday, March 14 Annual Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted against supporting the only citizens petition slated to be taken up by voters.
The board voted to defeat Article 27, which sought to require the town to set aside funds to keep the heat on in the Spurr House and to create a 5-person committee to study reuse of the structure and report back to town meeting.
In taking the vote, selectmen noted that under the town’s charter the building’s oversight is under the control of Town Manager Jim Malloy who told the board the building was winterized after the American Legion moved out of the building last fall.
Chairman George Barrette said the article was brought forward by neighbors of the property, who may be concerned about how it will be reused in the future.
Voters will take up 27 articles in all, including the operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2016, which officials continue to finalize as information about state local aid and other factors continues to evolve.
Other articles on the warrant for the meeting include:
– Approval for the town’s $15 million share of the $27 million renovation of the Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School.
– A proposal to enable the town to enter into load aggregation agreements, enabling it to negotiate bulk prices for electricity on behalf of all residential and business customers.
– A proposal to require anyone owning three or more dogs 3 months or older that are not licensed to register as a kennel owner. Residents will continue to be able to register as many dogs as they wish, officials have said.
– Capital projects in the town’s schools, such as $145,000 in hot water heating system fixes at Westborough High School and $55,000 to improve digital control systems.
Selectman Ian Johnson credited school officials for the extensive public education work they have done to help voters understand the spending articles being proposed.
Town Moderator John Arnold said handheld electronic voting devices will be available at the Saturday meeting and again on Monday night should the meeting need to be continued.