By Keith Regan, Contributing Writer
Westborough—The Board of Selectmen March 22 voted to submit a statement of intent to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the first step toward a possible renovation and update of the Annie E. Fales Elementary School.
The board voted unanimously to submit a resolution that lays out the shortcomings of the school, including “severe overcrowding” now and in the future and a number of physical issues at the school located on Eli Whitney St.
The School Committee approved the statement of intent earlier this month.
The Fales School was built in 1963 and officials say that much of it remains out of date for current teaching standards. The resolution notes that the school’s roof, windows and heating systems are all overdue for replacement or upgrade.
Town Meeting earlier this month voted to create an Elementary School Building Committee to work on options for addressing both current and what is expected to be future overcrowding in the schools that serve the town’s youngest students.
“This is the first step,” said Town Manager Jim Malloy. “It doesn’t commit us to anything and anything we decide to do will have to be approved by Town Meeting.”
In other business, the board also set the process in motion for the town to sell property at 7 Baylor Ave., which the town took for unpaid property taxes several years ago.
The property, at two-tenths of an acre, is currently assessed at a total value of $206,300, with the 864-square-foot building, erected in 1955, valued at $33,800.
Town Manager Jim Malloy said the town has received several inquiries about buying the property in the past and more recently has begun to receive complaints from neighbors about the condition of the property.