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Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 51 | No. 8 | February 21, 2025
Select Board places question for budget override on election ballot
New Marlborough Senior Center program features chef-prepared meals
By Sarah Freedman Contributing Writer
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
HUDSON — At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Select Board voted to place a question regarding the Proposition 2 1/2 override on the ballot. Executive Assistant Tom Gregory said that this was “one of the two hurdles that have to be cleared for [a] Proposition 2 1/2 override to take effect.” Two budgets — Budget A and Budget B —will be presented at Town Meeting. Budget A will be the town’s budget should the override not pass. At Town Meeting, the town may suggest that residents pass both budgets. That’s because even if Budget B — the override version of the budget — passes at Town Meeting, it still could fail at the Town Election, set for May 12. In that case, Budget A would take effect. “When you go to the ballot, that’s where you make your decision,” said Gregory. The board also voted to approve several departments’ 2026 fiscal year budgets, like $4,516,228 for the Fire Department, $4,129,264 for the Department of Public Works, $5,197,738 for the Police Department, and $947,251 for the library. Approximately $3.71 million in free cash was approved, including $1,946,000 for the DPW, $577,500 for the Fire Department, and $676,425 for Hudson Public Schools. Resident Anthony Marques requested to speak on several topics at the meeting. He spoke to the Proposition 2 1/2 override and the possible naming of the rotary near Washington and Broad streets for Thomas “Tuck” Walsh, the late owner of Tuck’s Trucks. Many bridges, like the Houghton Street and
MARLBOROUGH – During the morning of Jan. 13, Mayari Velasquez prepared lunch at the Marlborough Senior Center. In a couple of hours, she served up chicken and dumplings with peas and onions. For the past couple of months, Velasquez has been cooking lunch on Mondays and Fridays in a program funded through a grant from the Cummings Foundation. “We’re thrilled to have her,” said Marlborough Senior Center Director Patricia Pope. A resident of Marlborough, Velasquez graduated
Budget | 4
Chef | 4
Mayari Velasquez has been cooking lunches from scratch twice a week at the Marlborough Senior Center for the past couple of months. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
School Committee awards bus contract to NRT By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – There will likely be more students walking to and from Marlborough Public Schools, as rising transportation costs will lead to fewer school buses on the road. During its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the School Committee voted to award a five-year
contract to NRT, the system’s current transportation provider. According to a report from Michael Wells, the director of finance and operations for MPS, the schools fielded two bids for new contracts. The bids were based on 25 buses, along with five late buses, special education transportation and summer programs. MPS currently NRT | 5