The Selectmens’ meeting last night covered topics: Tom’s, property tax, the wind study grant, PAYT, and a H1N1 clinic announcement.
First on the agenda was an update on the business plan for the closed restuarant, Tom’s Eatin’ and Drinkin’, instead the board presented a letter surrendering the liquor license (dated 1/22nd). The landlord’s attorney voiced the landlord’s interest in getting a new restuarant tenant in the space. Selectwoman Fran Bakstan urged those interested “Come as quick as possible so we can make it available…we have two open [liquor] licenses”.
There will be another H1N1 vaccine clinic the 26th at Melican Middle School 4 to 6pm, see link for registration. Don’t wait if you would like the vaccine, this may be the last clinic.
At long last DOR Certification of the revaluation was received last Friday, Town Administrator, John Coderre said to expect property tax bills out on January 27th and be due on February 26th. Abatement applications are also due Febuary 26th. See town link for property values, valuation method and abatement application. Also see link for January 12th post on the public hearing.
The Town of Northborough’s proposal for a wind study grant was among the 20 accepted projects (out of a total of 34) to receive a total of $2.5m in grants from the state. The Wind committee provided an update on the project to evaluate the feasibility of wind power in Northborough and also asked the Selectmen for the acceptance of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) grant to erect a tower to study the wind. Dick Jones from the committee outlined their latest achievements in their pursuit. The committee has put out an RFP (request for proposals) and hired consultants Sustainable Energy Development Inc (SED) who will work with the committee to analyze the wind and financial aspects of the project. They have received approval from the state Department of Agriculture to erect a met tower on Ball Hill, Tougas Farm. The results from the study can be applied to turbine siting up to 2 miles away (so the met tower location may not be the final location of the turbine.) The study will monitor wind for a year and the earliest to expect to see a turbine would be an estimated 2 years away (after full data analysis, economic justification, normal funding decision process through the town and another state grant application). Selectman, Jeff Amberson was “impressed by how much progress this group has made” and thanked the committee for their hard work on the project. For more on the project, town link.
The Solid Waste committee also presented their plan for the PAYT Program. More in next post…
To see a re-play of the BOS meeting, see link
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