Vote In Westborough's Town Meeting: Saturday, May 15

WESTBOROUGH, MA — It's just about time for the annual Town Meeting, a place for all registered voters to speak publicly about proposals for the town and mark their ballots for what they think Westborough needs.

This year's Town Meeting is on Saturday, May 15, at 9 a.m. and will be held in Westborough High School's auditorium and two gyms (Fisher Gym and Laduke Gym). Seniors will get priority to sit in the auditorium, masks are required, and social distancing measures will be in place.

The town has a lengthy warrant — which you can find in full here — but here are some highlights before you cast your vote.

1. Tuition Reimbursement: This article asks to raise $14,000 for employee tuition reimbursement, which was previously funded through the Board of Selectman and Town Manager budget.
2. Capital Improvement Project: This project has sub-articles A through J, primarily dealing with funding for schools, the police, and the fire department. Some highlights include protective equipment for firefighters, new police cruisers, and a high school gym partition replacement.
3. Body Cameras for the Police Department: The department received a grant of nearly $40,000 to implement a body camera program in the department, but the cost to get it up and running is around $65,000. The department is looking to raise the difference.
4. Westborough Treatment Plan: Blowing other articles out of the water, this one seeks $4 million to engineering services, repairs, and improvements to the Westborough Wastewater Treatment Plant. This article asks to either raise or borrow the funds. If funds are raised, it requires a simple majority, but if they are to be borrowed, a two-thirds majority will be needed.
5. Naming: The Board of Selectmen is looking to rebrand as the "Select Board." Terms such as "chairman" will also be replaced to a simple "chair."

Read about all 29 articles on Westborough's website. Have questions about how the annual Town Meeting works? Find the town's guidance here.