By Drew M. Bailey, Community Reporter
Northborough – Kevin Russell, the manager of the new Wegmans store that opened in October 2011 at Northborough Crossing, met briefly with the Board of Selectmen at the board's Feb. 13 meeting.
“I simply want to say, “Thank you,”” Russell said.
Russell said that the efforts of the selectmen were matched by all of the town departments he dealt with during the process of opening the store.
Selectman William Pantazis returned the compliment, saying that Wegmans provided “a great shopping experience,” and described the store as “great for our community.”
In other business, Town Administrator John Coderre informed the board that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) reimbursement for the Oct. 29, 2011, snowstorm was officially approved. The reimbursement will cover the cost of 75 percent of expenditures beyond standard items, such as the cost of plowing. Of the $385,000 spent on the storm, $328,000 went to the cleaning and removal of fallen or dangerous branches and trees.
“Everything is working exactly as planned,” Coderre said, and confirmed that no additional tax burden will be placed on Northborough residents, and that none of the costs will be rolled over into next year's budget.
The board also approved the construction of a replacement cell tower for the Police Station at 211 Main St. According to Coderre, a lessee, who will also pay the town for its use, is covering the construction cost of the new tower, allowing the town to make the upgrade at no cost, and providing future revenue for the town.
The selectmen also approved a letter that will be sent to the community's legislators, inviting them to appear in order to discuss legislative priorities. Coderre listed funding for the “Circuit Breaker” Special Education Reimbursement program, and improvements in Chapter 90 funding as the primary goals of the process. Circuit Breaker reimburses communities for certain special education programs, and Chapter 90 funding is the town's primary source of funds for road improvement. Both have seen cuts during the lean years of the recent recession. Northborough officials would like to see increases in funding and a three-year commitment that it will be kept at a consistent level, allowing for more accurate budget planning from one year to the next.
When the legislators appear, the board will also examine their performance based on previous requests made by the town.