Electronic Voting on Selectmen's Agenda Tonight

The discussion is scheduled for 6:50 p.m.

Westborough selectmen are scheduled tonight to continue discussing trying electronic voting at town meeting. Vice Chairman George Barrette and Selectman Denny Drewry will lead the discussion, which starts at 6:50 p.m., according to the Westborough website. Last month, the board agreed to form a group to explore trying electronic voting at the October town meeting. This spring, Barrette, Drewry, Town Clerk Nancy Yendriga and Advisory Finance Committee Chairman Edward Behn attended Wayland’s town meeting, which uses an electronic voting system.

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Selectmen Want Compromise on Road Bill

The board directs the town manager to send a letter to Westborough's state legislators, and the governor's office.

The politics surrounding the state transportation finance bill could cut into Westborough's road work plans this season, Town Manager Jim Malloy said Tuesday night. Malloy asked selectmen to direct him to send a letter to Westborough's three state representatives, its state senator, and to Gov. Deval Patrick, “pointing out how important this is” and asking them to pursue a compromise. Selectmen agreed. “My concern is they’ll go back and forth” and possibly not have a transportation bond bill on July 1, and Westborough would “end up missing some construction," Malloy said. The House approved the $500 million state transportation finance bill by a 97-55 vote Monday night, the Associated Press reported. "That margin would fall just shy, …

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Selectmen Name Johnson Chairman

Selectmen reorganized on Tuesday night, one week after Westborough's annual town election.

Westborough selectmen chose a new chairman Tuesday night: Ian Johnson. The vote happened exactly one week after voters at Westborough's annual town election re-elected Timothy Dodd and Leigh Emery to three-year terms. Emery had been chairman, and the board thanked her for her service. Selectmen named George Barrette vice chairman.

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Bruce Tretter

9:11 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Congratulations, Ian!   more ›

Selectmen Adopt E-mail Policy

The sender will receive an automated confirmation that the board got the e-mail. And the town manager will reply on the board's behalf.

E-mails to the Westborough board of selectmen's general mailbox will generate two responses soon. The sender will receive an automated confirmation that the board got the e-mail. And the town manager will reply on the board's behalf. Selectmen approved this policy this past week. Selectman Timothy Dodd noted that the board's goals for the year included "some discussion about having a more streamlined policy" for responses to inquiries e-mailed through selectmen@town.westborough.ma.us, which are "sent to all of us and the town manager." Dodd said he drafted a new policy by working with Town Manager Jim Malloy, and reviewing other towns' policies. The approved policy also includes adding to the town website "a very short how to guide for …

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Developer: Materials Storage Plans Will Drop Housing Project's Values

Selectmen approved the storage license Tuesday night.

A group of $600,000 and up homes will decline in value considerably due to an unexpected next-door-neighbor, the developer says. MicroChem Inc. will be licensed to store 45,000 gallons of flammable and combustible materials at its new facility at 200 Flanders Road. Selectmen approved the license Tuesday night after a public hearing at Westborough Town Hall. Trask Development Founder and Owner Ben Stevens said the plan is “a little disconcerting, because we’re proposing to build $600,000 (and) $700,000 houses here and I don’t think I can sell them for $400,000 after this plan is permitted.” Stevens said that “I think we would have an obligation to disclose to any homeowners that are living there that this is being stored next to them.” “We …

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Voters OK Veterans Tax Work Off Program

Westborough becomes first Massachusetts town -- and third municipality -- to offer this.

Westbororough will offer a veterans tax work off program -- just the third Massachusetts community to do this under a state law that took effect on May 31. Only the cities of Holyoke and Leominster have accepted the statute, known as the Valor Act, Selectman Timothy Dodd told voters at Tuesday night's special town meeting, where residents approved the request. Under the law, communities may offer their veterans up to $1,000 per year off their property taxes through working for the municipality. "We will be the first town in Massachusetts to do this," Dodd said. Westborough will have 10 spots available in the program during its first year, he said. Westborough's senior tax work off program began with the same number, and has since grown to …

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Town Land Inventory Planned

Selectmen say the list will facilitate discussing which, if any, sites to consider selling.

Westborough selectmen want all town land inventoried before considering selling it, or using it. Tuesday night's decision came after Habitat for Humanity of MetroWest/Greater Worcester expressed interest in 1 Upton Road, for an affordable house. The nonprofit was undecided about 45 High St. Ext. due to "issues" there, Westborough Housing Partnership Committee Chairman Steven Liedell told selectmen on Sept. 25. At that Sept. 25 meeting, selectmen said transferring ownership of town land to Habitat would be fiscally unwise. Chairman Leigh Emery said she would put a discussion of testing the market on Tuesday night's agenda. "Should we put our money where our mouth is and find out whether anybody wants to buy it?" Emery asked Tuesday night. …

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Patch Facts

5 Things: Learn About Timber Harvesting

Looking for Westborough happenings? Consider these options.

Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today? 1. The Westborough Board of Selectmen meets at 6 p.m. at Westborough Town Hall. The agenda includes a timber harvesting update, and a discussion of an affordable housing project proposed for 129 East Main St. 2. Support Westborough High School athletics: 3. The Westborough Public Library hosts a preschool storytime at 1:30 p.m. 4. A resolve group meets at 7 p.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. 5. And the Westborough Woman's Club learns about butterflies today at the Congregational Church. Lunch is at noon, with the talk at…

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East Main Lodging House Owner Addressing Health Code Issues

Selectmen set Oct. 31 deadline for completion of work.

A Westborough lodging house owner has addressed "approximately 90 percent" of the health code violations that the Worcester Housing Court has ordered him to correct by Oct. 31, his attorney told selectmen Tuesday night. Rasheed Warab has implemented a 24-hour cleaning service at 8 East Main St., and plans to install tile at the 13-unit site by week's end, Peter Kachajian Jr. said. During a public hearing on the matter, selectmen voted 4-0 to require all violations to be corrected by Oct. 31. Otherwise, Warab's lodging house license will be suspended Nov. 1 until all violations are corrected to the satisfaction of health, building and fire departments. "I think the schedule seems reasonable. You have the assurances of our building …

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Patch Facts

5 Things: Westborough Selectmen Meet Tonight

Looking for something to do in Westborough? Consider these suggestions.

Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today? 1. The Westborough Conservation Commission meets at 7 p.m. in Forbes Municipal Building Room 23. The agenda is here. 2. Support WHS athletics: the golf team hosts Quabbin at 3:15 p.m. at the Westborough Country Club. The boys and girls cross-country teams travel to Quabbin at 4 p.m. The soccer teams play Wachusett at 4 p.m. The JV girls (Mill Pond School) and the varsity girls (WHS) are home, while the JV and varsity boys are on the road. The volleyball teams visit Marlborough. The freshman and JV matches are at 4 p.m., while the varsity …

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