ICE prospects dim in Marlborough
By Kate Daly Assistant Editor

Marlborough - In a good news-bad news meeting Aug. 27, the City Council learned the potential for a federal immigration office was dimming, but they accepted a five-year-old offer of $200,000 from Hillside School for water line extensions.

The council also approved a permit for a new 10-unit condominium development on Farm Road.

The council has been pursuing the possibility of paying for a federal Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for several months.

Mayor Nancy Stevens informed the council in a letter that in Assistant City Solicitor Cynthia Panagore Griffin's opinion, "local governments are not authorized to spend money to support immigration control because it falls under federal jurisdiction."

Discussions with ICE officials also led Panagore Griffin to believe the city's request would be denied, Stevens said.

However, ICE's law enforcement programs do allow local funding because they delegate some powers to state and local police after training and with supervision, so Stevens and Police Chief Mark F. Leonard met with Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge, ICE investigations, to discuss what training options might be available. Foucart also offered to meet with the council, Stevens said.

Ward 4 Councilor Paul Ferro requested that Foucart come to a council meeting as soon as possible, and City Council President Arthur Vigeant said plans were to have him attend within the next two meetings if possible.

Vigeant, a proponent of the ICE office, said after the meeting that the attempts to get the office were an effort to prevent greater problems.

"[Illegal immigration is] beginning to become a problem but we're trying to get ahead of it," he said. "I think we do have a large illegal immigration population in the city and one of the issues is to figure that in our costs."

Reports of illegal immigrants have come from various sources, including police and the city code enforcement officer, he said.

Other business

Work will proceed on a long-awaited water line extension on Robin Hill Road, to supply water to the area including Hillside School. The council accepted a $200,000 donation from the school and switched money between accounts to allow the project to go forward. (See related article on page 1.)

The council also approved a permit request from Robert Valchius to build a 10- unit condominium at 714 Farm Hill Road. The units would be for residents over 55, with a preference for current Marlborough residents.

The council also approved a request from the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute to put a temporary sign on city property at Route 20 and Hagar Road from Saturday Sept. 22 to Sunday Sept. 30 to direct visitors to its annual Colonial Faire and Muster of Fyfes at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury.