By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Westborough – Voters will decide the fate of 36 articles, including a controversial request to have field lights installed at the Westborough High School (WHS), at the annual Fall Town Meeting (TM). The meeting will be held starting at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16, at WHS, 90 W. Main St.
Article 3 will ask that TM set the dimensional requirements (such as setbacks, structure height etc.) for all of town-owned property zoned as M-1. This particular article seeks to establish zoning dimensional regulations for field lighting at WHS.
Proponents of the article have said it will allow night games to be held as well as other cultural events. They also note that it would help downtown businesses.
Opponents argue that the lights would put a burden on those who live nearby as well as detract from the historic nature of the neighborhood. This article needs a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
Article 1 is to set the dimensional requirements for a stand-alone Pre-K building as well as to allow a renovation at the Elsie A. Hastings Elementary School.
Article 5 is a request to approve borrowing $12.5 million to fund the building of that stand-alone Pre-K building as well as renovations for inside the Hastings School.
Article 32 would require a two-thirds majority vote for $1.7 million for a new cemetery on Glen and Nourse streets. If approved, these funds would pay for the first stage of the cemetery, including removal of earth, materials processing, construction of roads, water systems and landscaping.
Article 12 pertains to zoning regulations and schedules that 1) need approval; 2) deal with open space; and 3) add a new use under the category “industrial uses” to be designated for “Brewery, Distillery” and a new use for “Brew Pub, Micro-brewery and Nano-brewery,” respectively.
Article 15 would create a town Finance Department while Article 16 would approve funding the new position of finance director (contingent on the passage of Article 15).
Article 17 would fund a Master Plan Update as put forth by the Planning Board.
Article 18 is put forth by the Board of Selectmen and will fund a Community Strategic Planning Study which is in conjunction with the Master Plan.
The entire warrant can be found on the town’s website, www.town.westborough.ma.us.