By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – At its Feb. 14 meeting the Board of Selectmen approved 30 articles that will appear on the warrant for the March 17 Annual Town Meeting (ATM).
Although the board approved each of the warrant articles, there were still a few issues that it said it wanted clarification on prior to the ATM. As such, representatives from several town offices and boards, including the Planning Board and School Committee, will be appearing before the board on Feb. 28 to discuss the rationale behind particular articles.
The Municipal Building Committee will also meet with the selectmen that night to discuss the request for funding for the design and bidding for a new Westborough Fire Station and for renovations at the Town Hall and Forbes Municipal Building. Town Manager Jim Malloy said the preliminary estimate for the Fire Station is $615,000; for the Town Hall/Forbes Municipal Building project the estimate is $1,404,000.
One article that will not be on the warrant is a request from Police Chief Alan Gordon to approve a Deputy Chief position. Gordon asked the selectmen to delete the proposed article, citing that he needed more time to develop the description of the position.
The town's fiscal year 2013 budget is projected at $94 million, an increase of $3.2 million, or 3.6 percent, Malloy said. The property tax estimate is $63 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 3.1 percent.
The ATM will be held on Saturday, March 17, starting at 1 p.m., at the Westborough High School, 90 West Main St.
The full warrant may be viewed at http://www.town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_BBoard/03597D0E-000F8513.0/ATMWarrant2012.pdf.
