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Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 51 | No. 2 | January 10, 2025
Board of Health weighs special counsel for transfer station expansion
Transcription offers glimpse into Marlborough’s early days
By Sarah Freedman Contributing Writer
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
HUDSON – The Board of Health discussed its options on Dec. 10 for hiring a special counsel to consult on the project by B-P Trucking to expand its current tonnage per day limit from 350 to 850. The project will be categorized as a minor site modification proposal application, as noted by Public and Community Health Director Lauren Antonelli. The designation comes from the state, she said. To her knowledge, Antonelli said the difference between a minor and a major site modification was whether a transfer station site and its site assignment already exists. Whether B-P can build on the site is established. She said that although the tonnage increase may seem like a major change, the site has been deemed suitable for waste management. The proposal will potentially move the facility further back on B-P’s current site in addition to the additional 500 tons per day. The main focus of the meeting was hiring a special counsel as the town must be a coapplicant with B-P for any proposed changes due to the facility being on town property, according to Antonelli. Town counsel for Hudson will be representing B-P. Antonelli said they are just trying to get a head start on the process and make sure everything is in place for B-P to go before the board. A clock begins once the application is received. Antonelli said in addition to special counsel, the board can hire a peer reviewer or consultant to help it review the environmental impact reports. A public hearing officer to facilitate the public hearing, which will likely span multiple days, will need to be hired as well. There are three possible options for special counsel: Dan Hill from Hill Law, Michael Scott from the Nutter firm and Marc Goldstein from Beveridge and Diamond PC. She said more time would be needed to review all of the options. Hill was recommended by the Town Counsel, who would be vetting the special counsel who is chosen. Antonelli said, “They’re all definitely strong
MARLBOROUGH – Within the 44 pages of squiggles and funny-looking letters is the story of Marlborough from its earliest days. Thanks to the work of volunteer Bob Fagone, the squiggles have been transcribed and are about to be made publicly available at the Marlborough Public Library. According to Library Director Sara Belisle, “A few years ago the library was given a book of Marlborough city records from 1666 to 1698. The book was at City Hall, and it was determined that we were the appropriate institution to house it.” The previous director, Margaret Cardello, had the book assessed by the Northeast Document Conservation Center. “It’s in pretty good condition, but was incredibly hard to read since it was handwritten and a bit faded,” said Belisle. Enter Fagone, who was the former chairman of the city’s historical commission and had
B-P Trucking | 4
Transcription | 5
Volunteer Bob Fagone, top, and Marlborough Public Library Director Sara Belisle look at one of the original pages of Marlborough records from 1666 to 1698. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
Feasibility study to examine two options for Richer By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – Step by step, the plans for Richer Elementary School are starting to take shape. During the City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 16, Kate Robey, the council’s representative to the Richer School Building Committee, presented an update. In July, the committee selected Vertex as the project’s owners project manager (OPM). The next step will be to select a designer, which is scheduled for February. The designer will be part of the project’s next step, a feasibility study. According to Robey, the study will explore two main options — a 950-student facility on the current site, which could be a renovation or reconstruction; or an 870-student facility, with the city funding an expansion of Kane Elementary
School to accommodate more students. Robey said the costs could range from $35 million to $150 million, depending on the options selected. She reiterated that should the Kane expansion be approved, the city would have to pay for it. She added that 2025 would be spent on developing plans for the school, with a possible City Council vote on funding in September 2026. Vertex has recommended community meetings once the project gets farther along. The school, 80 Foley Road, was built in 1965 and currently houses 575 students in grades K-5. School leaders have previously said that space is tight at Richer and staff are using whatever space is available for classrooms. For information, visit https://www.mpsedu.org/o/rcc