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Your community. Your news. Your paper. Vol. 50 | No. 16 | April 19, 2024
Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
1974 - 20
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Northborough church begins to rebuild following fire By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
Town Meeting article asks for $540K to replace police station siding northborough| 10
Expansion of overcrowded Shrewsbury High debated Shrewsbury| 14
NORTHBOROUGH – On the outside, the Church of the Nativity on Howard Street looks the same — except for the caution tape around the main entrances, the dark streaks on the roof and the smell of smoke that still hangs in the air. Early on Tuesday, April 9, an electrical fire broke out in the church’s nave. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, but it took several days to assess the extent of the damage. “The nave was singed, the kneelers were burned, the wood … there was heavy smoke and water damage,” said the Rev. Meghan Mantler, the deacon-in-charge. “We are thankful that no one was hurt.” “We are blessed that our stained-glass windows weren’t damaged,” said Senior Warden Deborah Hesek. “It was quite an intense fire — the paint melted off the pews.” Hesek showed some photos of the sacristy, where vestments, candles and other items are kept. Those items were destroyed, along with $2,000 worth of flowers that decorated the church for the Easter season. Overall, the fire caused $175,000 in damage. The service on Sunday, April 14, went on as scheduled in a tent just outside the church. St. Stephen’s in Westborough gave the Northborough church Communion cups and plates, Church fire | 6
A fire early on Tuesday, April 9, caused about $175,000 in damages to the Church of the Nativity in Northborough. (Photo/Church of the Nativity)
Westborough imposes sewer moratorium By Maureen Sullivan, Assistant Editor
Saint John’s baseball prevails over Colonials shrewsbury| 22
Summer Camp & Activity Guide page 21
WESTBOROUGH – It’s official – Westborough will have a sewer moratorium for the next year. During its meeting on April 9, the Select Board voted to approve the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) request to impose restrictions on new sewer connections and expansions. In part, the moratorium exists “… to protect the integrity of the town sanitary system by prohibiting new connections, system expansions, and increases in flow for a temporary period of time … to determine whether and upon what terms and conditions such increases in flow may be permitted in the future,” it reads. At issue is exactly how much flow is being allocated, and how much remains to be allocated. According to DPW Director Chris Payant, the town is allowed up to 2.89 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater to flow to the treatment plant, which is also used by Shrewsbury and Hop-
kinton. The average daily flow for Westborough is 2.27 mgd. Over the years, as residential and commercial developments went online and connected to town sewers, the exact amount of flow and allocation became obscured. “We gave away flow very easily and we didn’t keep track,” said Town Engineer Lisa Allain. Over the past 18 months, Allain has compiled information on the sewer allocations for each commercial property in town — some of which date back decades. That information is now with a consultant; Payant said a “memo with a table” will be available in June, and a draft will be circulated among town boards. The moratorium will give the town time to “better understand the problem” and come up with a plan to better allocate sewer flow for residential and commercial properties. “This is a very complex issue,” said Payant. “It’s Sewer moratorium | 9
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