By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – A legislative act filed by Senator James Eldridge, D-Acton, has given the city of Marlborough $250,000 in state funds to be used for parks and playgrounds. Councilors were informed of the gift at the April 25 meeting in a communication from Mayor Arthur Vigeant.
“I would like to thank Senator Eldridge for his advocacy and our entire legislative delegation for their work on behalf of Marlborough residents,” stated Vigeant.
The grant was referred to the Finance Committee.
The city has also received an apportionment of Chapter 90 funds totaling $1,119,210 from the state which was revealed in a letter from Governor Charles Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito to Mayor Vigeant at the council meeting.
“Commissioner John Ghiloni and the Public Works Department will put these funds to good use on road infrastructure projects across the city,” stated Vigeant.
Also referred to the Finance Committee is a request to rescind more than $13 million in bonds no longer available. The request was made by Comptroller/Treasurer Brian Doheny and Vigeant who stated that some of the balances date back to 1992, with the largest first approved in 2008. Doheny said rescinding the amount still on the books will improve the city’s credit/bond rating. The draft order was reviewed by bond counsel and by the Legal Department.
The Finance Committee, chaired by Councilor Michael Ossing, will also study and report back to the full council on a request from the Mayor to transfer $650,000 to move mitigation funds for the Avalon Bay and Crabtree Lake Williams projects into a new fund to be used for downtown economic development. Vigeant reminded councilors that they required these payments and deferred to their preference to the type of account the funds are transferred to.