By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – As September came to a close, financial officers in the city applauded the work done by Mayor Arthur Vigeant and department heads that led to Marlborough receiving over $80,000 in grants during the month.
Several of those grants were formally accepted by the City Council at its Sept. 24 meeting, including a $12,000 Conservation Acceptance Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. This grant is intended to enhance the natural resources and diversity of a 10-acre parcel of forest area that lies in both Marlborough and Sudbury.
In a communication to the council, Vigeant said it is a reimbursable grant opportunity that is being matched by a local land trust, the Sudbury Valley Trustees. Work will include brush clearing and controlled burning to achieve habitat restoration.
“This grant will be a positive step for the city that will enhance our natural resources and allow for a more diverse forest,” Vigeant said in his communication.
A substantial $47,000 grant received from the state's Executive Office of Elder Affairs will be utilized for programming needs and support services provided by the Council on Aging (COA).
In a related development, the COA has also received notice of a recent grant of $8,000 from the Bay Path Elder Services to assist in outreach efforts in underserved communities. Last year this grant allowed the department to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and address other cultural needs. Jennifer Claro, executive director of the Marlborough COA, told the council that this is the second year the city has received this award.
The City Council has also approved a grant of $14,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice office to fund overtime, recertification and supply costs for the Police Department's Rape Aggression Defense Systems program.
In other business, at the suggestion of Ward 1 Councilor Joseph Delano, the council agreed to hold a special meeting of the Operations and Oversight committee in order to review the progress of the new curbside trash pickup program. Department of Public Works Commissioner Ronald LaFreniere and a representative of Allied Republic Services will be invited to discuss remaining challenges and recycling rates, and provide a forum for questions from councilors, with the intention of further educating the public.