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HUDSON | 27
Marlborough Hudson An edition of the Community Advocate
Vol. 52 | No. 20 | May 15, 2026
Over $7M in He will ‘leave a big void’ After three decades, dedicated school roof repairs approved Hudson DPW worker to retire at ballot box By Paul Hopkins Reporter HUDSON — On May 11, Hudson residents approved a plan to repair (or replace) roofs at Hudson High School and C.A. Farley Elementary School at a cost of $7.25 million. According to the unofficial vote tally, 1,041 people voted to approve the roof work, while 670 were opposed. The debt exclusion will add approximately $97 to the average homeowner’s property tax bill, extending for a period of between 10 and 15 years. This was the second hurdle for the roof repair proposal. Voters at Town Meeting a week earlier offered overwhelming support, with only three of 162 voters voting to reject the roof repairs. At least a halfdozen attendees rose to speak in favor of the funding. The approval earned a round of applause. Superintendent of Schools Brian Reagan said the Hudson High School roof has exceeded its expected life and is experiencing “system-wide” failure, including punctures, failing seams, and leaks that have saturated insulation. The majority of Farley Elementary’s 26-year-old roof is in “poor” condition. The work will include $1 million to School Roof | 4
Manuel Ponte (Photo/Paul Hopkins)
By Paul Hopkins Reporter HUDSON – Manuel Ponte stood next to the Ford F-550 that he used frequently at work. He thought about his 32 years with the Hudson Department of Public Works. Ponte started as a laborer with the town in late 1993 and rose to crew leader in 2011. He knows as much as anyone about Hudson’s water and sewer system. Rajitha Purimetla, interim DPW director, told the Select Board that “there are very few people with the kind of institutional knowledge Manny has.” She said his “skills in hearing and pinpointing a water leak are unmatched,” and recalled a 12-inch water main break at Main Street and Broad Street about 20 years ago that necessitated Ponte’s “amazing skills.” Ponte has lived in Hudson since 1975, moving from São Miguel in the Azores. He did a brief stint with the DPW, later working for Silva’s Bakery before rejoining the town workforce. Hudson DPW | 4
Gov. Healey visits Assabet to announce $3.75M award MARLBOROUGH — Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School hosted Gov. Maura Healey and other high-ranking state education leaders as the governor announced $70 million in funding to support Career Technical Education (CTE) at 28 schools including Assabet. Assabet Valley will receive $3.75 million of the funding to develop two new CTE programs — Public Safety and Veterinary Science. The
new programs are expected to enable Assabet Valley to expand by about 160 students in the coming years. Statewide, the $70 million in additional CTE funding will create up to 2,500 new CTE seats by expanding 23 career tech programs, launching 27 new CTE programs, and updating equipment, technology, and lab spaces. Healey | 16
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