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Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 51 | No. 19 | May 9, 2025
Both budgets pass at Hudson Town Meeting
With lemonade stand, autistic Marlborough child makes an impact
By Evan Walsh Managing Editor
MARLBOROUGH – He was never supposed to speak, let alone show empathy. But in April, 13-year-old Joey Lively stood on stage and accepted an award. After founding a lemonade stand that has raised over $2,000 for a local organization, Lively, who has autism, was recognized with the American Legion Auxiliary Good Deed Award, honoring his “heroism and leadership in community service.” “We were told he was going to regress. When he was first diagnosed at 3 years old, they told us he was never going to speak or show compassion,” said Joey’s mother, Meredith Lively. “He’s come so far today, I just couldn’t be prouder of him. He teaches us so much. Watch-
HUDSON – Hudson Town Meeting has left the override question to the voters. At the Annual Town Meeting on May 5, Hudson residents approved Article 3 (Budget A) and Article 4 (Budget B), effectively allowing voters to decide the budget at the town’s May 12 election, when a $3.95 million override question will be on the ballot. If the override passes, Budget B (Article 4 approval) will take effect. In collecting the extra $3.95 million, the average single-family tax bill would increase by $287 in fiscal 2026. About $2.3 million would be added to the FY26 tax levy, with $1.5 million held in reserves. Budget B still reduces the school budget by $1.1 million, eliminating 12 positions. If the override fails, Budget A (Article 3 approval) will be Hudson’s budget. The budget would reduce an estimated 5.6 fulltime-equivalent municipal positions. Hudson Public Schools would reduce approximately 30 positions in fiscal 2026, with further reductions required in subsequent years. The budget would result in staff reductions, increased class sizes, program eliminations, and increased fees. If the override does not pass, then it is possible that another override question will be placed on a ballot in coming months to restore services in Hudson Public Schools for FY27. In other news, after Town Meeting’s vote, Budgets | 8
Sunday, May 11th Celebrate mom with a special Mother’s Day dinner
By Evan Walsh Managing Editor
Lemonade | 7
Joey Lively running his now-iconic lemonade stand.
Marlborough takes free cash hit over health insurance By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor MARLBOROUGH – The city will have less free cash on hand for fiscal 2026, and municipal employees will pay more for their health insurance to help replenish the city’s Health Care Trust Fund. On May 1, the City Council’s Finance Com-
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mittee approved a free cash transfer of nearly $4.2 million after Comptroller-Treasurer Brian Doheny discovered that the trust fund was being drained by millions of dollars’ worth of claims over the past few years. “Several weeks ago, during the process of reviewing the recommendations from the health insurance administrator for the FY26 Insurance | 9
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