2011 Annual Report - Town of Northborough

10
Board of
Selectmen
Meeting Information
• The Board of Selectmen meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday
of each month, unless otherwise noted.
• Agendas and Meeting Minutes are available on the Town’s
website.
• Each Selectmen’s Agenda includes a public comments
portion in order to provide an opportunity for any citizen
to come before the Board to speak for any reason.
• Regularly scheduled meetings are broadcast live, re-broadcasted
on Northborough’s Cable Access Channel and can
be viewed through the Town’s website.
• All Board, Committee and Commission meetings are open
to the public.
Visit us on-line at www.town.northborough.ma.us
The Town’s website is full of important and helpful information
about your community. Town department web pages are
continuously maintained and updated.
Solid Waste Collection Program
The Board would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of
the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, who after more than
two years of study and review delivered their final findings
to the Board in early 2011. Following some lengthy discussions
on a toter-based program, and following an opportunity
for the public to provide input, the Board of Selectmen,
after much discussion and deliberation, determined the current
Pay-As-You-Throw Solid Waste Program was the most
practical and cost effective program for trash collection.
The Board signed a five (5) year contract with Central
Mass Disposal for the curbside collection of solid waste and
the curbside collection and disposal of recycling materials,
which became effective on July 1, 2011. The Board would
like to thank Pellegrino Trucking for their responsiveness
and professionalism while serving the residents of Northborough
during the previous contract term.
Finances
Finances continue to present a challenge with
respect to the needs of our community and our
ability to continue to provide Town services
within the confines of Proposition 2½. Thanks
to Mr. Coderre and his creative and conservative
approach in developing the FY 2012 Budget,
a budget that was within the confines of
Proposition 2½ was presented and adopted at
the 2011 Annual Town Meeting.
In recognition of the Town’s exceptional
financial management and planning and due to
the efforts of Town Administrator John Coderre
and his staff, the Town received its second
National Budget Award for the Fiscal Year
2012 Budget from the Government Finance
Officers Association (GFOA). The award represents
a significant achievement by the Town. It reflects the
commitment of the Board of Selectmen and staff to meeting
the highest principles of governmental budgeting.
The Board of Selectmen would like to publicly acknowledge
the efforts and commitment of the Town Administrator,
Assistant Town Administrator and the financial team in developing
each fiscal year budget using the highest principles
of governmental budgeting. At a time when financial matters
are most critical, the Budget document can now be used as
a valuable tool for the residents, presented in a very userfriendly,
easy-to-understand document. The average citizen
can now go to Town Meeting and feel like they are able to
participate in a meaningful way in their local government.
The Board of Selectmen, together with the Town Administrator,
the municipal departments, the School Superintendent,
and the Appropriations and Financial Planning
Committees will continue to work together in order to communicate
clearly to our residents what we are doing, why we
are doing it and what it means for our community.
Building a Healthy Northborough
Building a Healthy Northborough is a community initiative
that was established to create healthy eating and physical activity
opportunities for children and their families through
programs, policies, systems, and environmental changes.
Board of Selectmen from left to right: William Pantazis, Leslie Rutan,
Jeff Amberson, Dawn Rand and Aaron Hutchins.
Through grant funding, the multi-component initiative
engages key community stakeholders in the Town including
school administrators, local businesses, government, youth,
and families. The effort is led by Northborough’s Director of
Family and Youth Services, Health Agent, Recreation Director,
Town Planner, and Directors of Northborough Extended
Day Program Inc.
The collaboration and shared vision of the four Town Hall
departments, the School Department, and the Northborough
Extended Day Program, Inc. has made Building a Healthy
Northborough an extremely positive program and most
importantly has worked to improve the health of Northborough’s
children.
Volunteers Help Shape our Community
We strongly encourage your participation in your local
government, including your attending any of the various
board meetings within the community, visiting the Town
Hall or volunteering one’s services by becoming a member
on a Board, Committee or Commission. If you are interested
in volunteering your services, please contact Diane
Wackell at 508-393-5040 or visit our website at www.town.
northborough.ma.us for more information. Volunteers make
a very significant and important contribution to the future of
our community.