The Board of Selectmen meet regularly on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The meetings are recorded live and are presented publicly on Northborough's Channel 1 2. We continue to encourage public participation in local government. Participation includes attending any of the various board meetings within the community, visiting the Town Hall or volunteering one's services by becoming a member of a Committee, Board or Commission. If you are interested in volunteering your services, please contact Diane Wackell at 393-5040 for more information. The volunteers in this community make a very significant and important contribution to the future of the Town of Northborough. Again, any form of participation is strongly encouraged throughout the year.

   Early in the year the Board approved increases in Fire Service Fees suggested by the Fire Chief. The Town also received $18,000 in funding from the Department of Environmental Protection which allowed Northborough to establish a local betterment program for subsurface disposal septic system upgrades. In February the Board of Selectmen executed the Option and Lease Agreement and Notice of Lease for 1 0,000 square feet on Mount Assabet for a cell phone monopole between the Town and Cellco Partnership by Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile. The Zoning Board of appeals considered the matter in March and subsequently throughout the next several months.

   Our new Town Administrator, Barry M. Brenner, was officially welcomed on February 10th.

   The Spring brought the investigation of resident complaints regarding Sabbath, the dog owned by a Ruth Road resident. Dog Officer Claudia McGuire reviewed a variety of complaints dating back to July, 1995. Sabbath's most recent attack was charging and biting the Dog Officer in January and an April attack on a neighborhood child. The Board of Selectmen were concerned over the strength of the dog and the numerous complaints of neighbors and Post Office employees. The dog was ordered destroyed and the case is still pending.

   The Board listened to the Northborough Neighborhood Association's concerns regarding the Housing Authority's proposal to construct of 12 units of low-income housing on Rutland Road. Although the Board of Selectmen has no authority over the Housing Authority's decision, they did understand the Association's concerns and expressed dismay with the State's decision to move forward without their support.

   The Appropriations Committee, School Committee and Board of Selectmen began joint meetings to discuss budget planning. These joint meetings have continued throughout the year.

   Selectmen Kellicker proposed that the wording under the "Procedural Timetable" in Northborough Code, Chapter 9-08 Section E {3) be deleted. This amendment would no longer require that the Board of Selectmen hold Little Town Meeting.

   The Board approved the "Buy Recycled Policy" presented by the Engineering Department. The policy would implement a program favoring the purchase of recycled products to the maximum extent practicable and help the Town meet future Massachusetts DEP requirements.

   Two permit applications were filed with the Town in conjunction with the MDHCD's Local Initiative Program. The first application involves the Intervale Farm site with 36 homes are proposed as a retirement community. The second application is for the site formally known as the Mustang Stables on Route 20. This development will consist of 24 town houses. Fifteen of the proposed 60 homes will be available to low and moderate income households.

   A Citizen's Petition was filed on August 4 requesting that the Board of Selectmen call a Special Town Meeting to see if the Town will vote to amend Northborough Bylaw, Chapter 7-12 "Use Regulations", Section 7-12-030 "Special Conditions" specifically regarding the construction of cellular phone towers. The matter was referred to the Planning Board and the Special Town Meeting was scheduled for September 16, 1997. The Town overwhelmingly approved the moratorium on any new telecommunication tower applications. The moratorium is in place until the Annual Town Meeting in April. At that time, the Planning Board will present a new zoning bylaw.

   The Continuous Quality Improvement CQI) Team presented the Board with a report chronicling the status of the Team's recommendations for improved access, including providing new Town Hall hours for convenience to residents, the locked dropbox at the Town Hall entrance, and the installation of an ADA-compliant main entrance.