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After MBTA zoning referendum, debate persists
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Vol. 51 | No. 8 | February 21, 2025
‘Best job I’ve ever had’
Meet the School Committee candidates
Dowd to retire as Town Clerk
By Evan Walsh Managing Editor
WEstborough | 5
SHREWSBURY – Though the referendum legally decided the issue, it hardly ended debate. On Feb. 4, over 3,500 Shrewsbury residents (13% of registered voters) cast ballots in the town’s second-ever referendum. Once votes were tallied at roughly 9:15 p.m., it was clear that Shrewsbury would remain in compliance with the 2021 MBTA Communities Act, which requires the town to zone for 1,497 units or risk losing access to certain grants. The town’s zone is a 118-acre parcel in southeast Shrewsbury with a “net new unit” capacity of approximately 426.
Chapinville was once an industrial hub
Northborough | 8 Local mascots visit the community center
Zoning | 9
Westborough mulls possible cuts to FY26 budget By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor WESTBOROUGH – Over the past several weeks, town officials, as well as members of municipal boards and committees, have heard residents’ concerns about another large increase in property taxes. The potential annual increase for the average single-family home is currently pegged at $969. This includes the town using $450,000 in free cash. Otherwise, the increase would be $1,024. To help lower this increase, town officials are trying to locate possible cuts within the $130 million municipal operating budget for fiscal 2026. The Advisory Finance Committee Budget | 4
Westborough | 12 Town Clerk Andy Dowd has served the town for 38 years. (Photo/Laura Hayes)
By Laura Hayes Contributing Writer NORTHBOROUGH – Town Clerk Andy Dowd has worked for Northborough for 38 years, including serving as the Town Clerk for the past 21 years. In that time, he has navigated election reform, implemented mail-in voting, and ensured that elections were run smoothly. But soon, Dowd will walk into Town Hall for the last time. He’s set to retire in July. “I’m hitting that point where the combination of my age and my years allow me to retire. My wife retired last year. I’m looking forward to joining her in the retirees club,” said Dowd. “This has definitely been the best job I’ve ever had in my life. I really enjoyed it a lot,” he added.
Dowd began his career with Northborough in 1987, working as a dispatcher at the Northborough Police Department. But, after 17 years, he began to think about “doing something different.” With nearly two decades of experience around town — and a desire to continue helping residents — Dowd was drawn to the Town Clerk role and assumed the position in 2004. “In some ways, it’s a lot like the Police Department where people call there on the business line for a variety of reasons, looking for information about the town and certainly calling when they have an emergency in their life,” Dowd said. As Town Clerk, he’s the keeper of the town’s records, including documents related to Town Meeting, births, deaths, and marriages. The department issues a Dowd | 4
Saint John’s basketball staves off Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury | 22
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