WESTBOROUGH – While the Recreation Department is preparing for the new season at the Westborough Golf Club, a new committee will help determine the future of the club’s building.
During the Select Board’s meeting on Feb. 14, members voted to form the Country Club Building Use Committee. It will consist of seven members – one from the Select Board; one from the Recreation Commission or the recreation director; the town manager or her designee; the club’s golf pro; the Department of Public Works director; a resident who’s an active member of the country club; and two residents who are not active members of the golf club, with a preference for residents who reside full time in town.
The committee’s charge is to recommend whether or not the town should consider significant capital investment in the country club building whether it be renovation or construction. The committee will also identify the expected use of the building considering the needs of the golf course, pro shop and maintenance barn. Specifically, they will address any level of food service desired and consider other recreational uses or community needs that may be addressed by the building.
The committee will make its recommendation by Oct. 1.
The Select Board will appoint its member representative at the Feb. 28 meeting, and the Recreation Commission will need to appoint its representative.
“There will be a lot of interest,” said Select Board member Sean Keogh.
A building assessment conducted by the town over the winter found that the country club building needs about $800,000 in repairs. In late January, the Select Board opted to not extend a request for proposals to lease out space for a restaurant.
As a result, the Civic Kitchen & Drink, which had been operating in that space since 2015, shut down.
The pro shop will remain at the building, and it will be open for the season.
Letters of interest for the committee will be accepted through March 10. For more information on how to apply, click here.
Hard copies can be mailed to 34 West Main St., Westborough MA 01581 OR emailed to cdorr@town.westborough.ma.us.
It is anticipated that the Select Board will make the resident appointments at their meeting on March 14, and the work of the committee shall commence forthwith.
Recreation Department requests
Recreation Department Director Jenn Kirkland presented an update on requests the department is making for the upcoming Town Meeting.
Kirkland said that because of the needs assessment, the department decided to hold off on a request for $50,000 for a golf simulator.
A request of $50,000 for a new utility tractor remains on the warrant. The tractor is used to help maintain the golf course.
According to Kirkland, the current tractor is about 30 years old, and it has become unreliable.
There is also a request of $10,000 to upgrade the lights at the tennis and basketball courts at Haskell Field.