If the town approves at Town Meeting, Memorial Field will get an upgrade, the weeds will be pulled from Bartlett Pond, trails will be updated, and the town could see new historical markers.
As presented by John Campbell, Community Preservation Committee chair, and Town Planner Kathy Joubert, to the Board of Selectmen, the committee is asking to appropriate thousands in funds, designated in 11 articles in this year's warrant.
The Community Preservation Committee, which facilitates funds from Massachusetts' Community Preservation Act that is dedicated to open space preservation, historic buildings and affordable housing.
The participating towns raise money for the preservation fund by property tax surcharges that does not exceed three percent. Campbell noted that in March, the state upped its match of these funds to 26 percent.
"While not as high as matches were in the first few years," said Campbell, "we will still have had 1.5 million in matches to the Community Preservation Fund revenue. The CPA revenues can now be used to renovate a recreational area or open space, so that has opened up possibilities."
Campbell detailed the articles that involve money that Community Preservation Act has facilitated involving the Community Preservation Act.
All are contingent on the approval at this year's town meeting.
Among the requests:
The committee asks for $150,000 from the Community Preservation Fund to be placed in the Conservation Fund for future historical property preservation or acquisition.
"This gives us the ability to act quickly to secure pieces of land," said Campbell, who said that with the addition, it'll give the town a "pot of $500,000."
With $52,000 to the Affordable Corporation, the money would be applied to the construction of four affordable senior apartments at the site of the former Senior Center (1 Centre Drive).
"We're really excited about this," said Campbell. "It's four new affordable units, but targeted at the senior population."
Article 46 asks residents to vote on the appropriation of $7,000 to the Trails Committee to create new trails and update existing ones.
"We awarded the Trails Committee small amounts of money and they have done excellent things with that money," said Campbell. "We have great trails here in Northborough. Anyone who hasn't been out on them should at the Trails Committee's website."
Historical markers, similar to those already in the historic district around Whitney and Church streets, would designate more historic areas with informational markers and signs. The committee asks for $4,000 for this.
Two parks will see renovations and upgrades if approved at Town Meeting. Assabet Park, for $15,000 appropriated to the Recreation Commission, would pay for phase 1 of a project to provide shade near the splash pad at the park. And if $15,000 is also appropriated to the Recreation Committee, it would begin a project to renovate Memorial Field on East Main Street.
"Anybody who has been down there," said Campbell, "knows that it's a little old looking. This plan would renovate the viewing deck and make it more secure and handicapped accessible."
Every 4-5 years, Bartlett Pond needs a weeding. This year, the Community Preservation Committee asks town members to vote on article 45 to appropriate $16,000 to the Conservation Commission to "perform weed control measures on problem vegetation within Bartlett Pond."
Town Meeting is Monday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Algonquin Regional High School. To view the warrant and proposed budget, click here (note that the warrant articles pertaining to CPA are articles 39-49.