• Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
  • Events
    • Ongoing
  • Contact us
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Community Advocate news and events Community Advocate
  • Shrewsbury
  • Westborough
  • Northborough
  • Southborough
  • Grafton
  • Marlborough/Hudson Edition
  • Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
Gillespie Real Estate Agent
How can the Community Advocate help you promote your business?
Print Ads
Web Ads
Digital Marketing
Home Byline Stories - News A new reality
  • Byline Stories - News
  • Featured News
  • People and Places
  • Region

A new reality

By
Dakota Antelman
-
March 17, 2020
254
Facebook
Twitter
Email

    Area public buildings and schools close; Marlborough declares state of emergency; Westborough postpones election

     

    By Dakota Antelman, Contributing Writer

     

    Region – Even Tom Moses, Hudson’s Executive Assistant, was surprised when Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker tightened COVID-19 prevention measures March 15.

    “Big news,” he tweeted that night. “Many questions.”

    Twenty-four hours later, he and his colleagues across the region had answers to some of those questions and, in accordance, they were closing almost all public buildings.

    “This decision has been made with an abundance of caution,” explained one press release announcing the closure of the Grafton Public Library.

    Coming after a realization that COVID19 was spreading freely through seven Mass. counties including the region’s Middlesex and Worcester counties, these new restrictions ban all public gatherings with more than 25 attendees. They also relegate the restaurant industry to take-out service.

    Adding to the rapidly changing situation was President Donald Trump, who announced in his own late afternoon press conference March 16 that his administration was recommending no gatherings over 10 people. For now, he stressed, there would be no mandated national shutdown or curfew.

    For municipal governments, that makes business as usual next to impossible and prompted a flood of announcements March 16.

    One by one, towns closed their public buildings. Most did so indefinitely, making exceptions for lobby traffic to their fire departments, police stations and other public safety facilities. All said they’re keeping as close to a full cadre of staff on the job as possible.

    Marlborough, though, did take things a step further, with Mayor Arthur Vigeant declaring a local State of Emergency.

    “This…allows the City the ability to take necessary action to address, respond, and mitigate the spread of the virus and will facilitate the use of city, state, and federal resources in this crisis,” Vigeant explained in a press release announcing his decision.

    In Westborough, officials postponed their town election scheduled for March 17 as well as their town meeting, booked just 11 days later, for March 28.

    That pair of events had become a growing point of concern for Westborough’s leaders in recent days as they publicly weighed the costs of postponing such central tenets of direct democracy against the risks of disease transmission at the polls and in the close quarters of town meeting. Baker’s announcement effectively settled that debate.

    “Given the guidance of the CDC and the actions taken at the Federal, State, and Town level, it is clear to me that it is in the best interests of the voters of Westborough,” Town Moderator John Arnold wrote in a statement announcing the postponements March 16.

    He added that he’s now awaiting guidance from the state legislature, which he expects to vote on an emergency bill clarifying how to reschedule town meetings and elections postponed due to COVID19.

    • TAGS
    • Arthur Vigeant
    • charlie baker
    • COVID-19
    • dakota antelman
    • Donald Trump
    • grafton public library
    • John Arnold
    • Tom Moses
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Email
      Previous articleFirst responders remain at work as public life slows around them
      Next articleUpdated March 17 – Region comes to a halt as COVID-19 threat spreads
      Dakota Antelman
      Dakota Antelman has worked with the Community Advocate since 2016 and now serves as Managing Editor. He is passionate about community journalism with multimedia experience covering municipal government, arts and entertainment, sports and more. To email Dakota click here

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury celebrates grant for shared-use path at Jordan Pond

      Featured News

      Developer proposes townhomes near Westborough District Court

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury residents enjoy Summer Festival at SAC Park

      Featured News

      After consultant hired, Northborough talks next steps for White Cliffs

      Featured News

      McGovern proposes new plans for Shrewsbury collision, fit-up center

      Featured News

      Three Westborough Boy Scout leaders receive annual awards

      Follow Us

      Sign Up For Our Newsletter


      RECOMMENDED VIDEOS

      Featured News

      Shrewsbury celebrates grant for shared-use path at Jordan Pond

      Laura Hayes - August 15, 2022
      0
      Obituaries

      June S. Havens, 85, of Westborough

      Community Advocate - August 15, 2022
      0
      Obituaries

      Norma C. Cragin, 90, of Northborough

      Community Advocate - August 15, 2022
      0
      Obituaries

      Maria M. Chaves, 99, of Hudson

      Community Advocate - August 15, 2022
      0

      POPULAR

      Shrewsbury celebrates grant for shared-use path at Jordan Pond

      August 15, 2022
      June S. Havens

      June S. Havens, 85, of Westborough

      August 15, 2022
      Norma C. Cragin

      Norma C. Cragin, 90, of Northborough

      August 15, 2022
      Maria M. Chaves

      Maria M. Chaves, 99, of Hudson

      August 15, 2022
      David M. Carvalho

      David M. Carvalho, 60, of Hudson

      August 15, 2022
      community advocate logo
      ABOUT US

      The Community Advocate is an independently owned newspaper with a legacy of over 40 years serving the communities of Westborough, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Grafton. It is also the number-one circulated paper in those communities. We cover a wide variety of breaking news, municipal issues, human interest features and sports stories.

      For Advertising Inquiries:
      [email protected]

      For editorial inquiries:
      [email protected]

      Contact us: [email protected]
      FOLLOW US
      • Events
        • Ongoing
      • Contact us
      © Community Advocate. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy