Westborough Today - Official Notices and Information Written by Webmaster    [accessed from http://www.town.westborough.ma.us/Public_Documents/WestboroughMA_BBoard/03C75D1E-000F8513 on Mon, Feb 4, 2013 -- webmaster]

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF WESTBOROUGH

OFFICE OF THE PLANNING BOARD

The Town of Westborough Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the in the Forbes Municipal Building, 45 West Main Street, Westborough, Massachusetts, in the Planning Board’s Conference Room, Suite 23,

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Westborough Zoning Bylaws Article 2, District Regulations, Section 2300, Use Regulation Schedule; Section 2620, Non-Residential Buildings in Non-Residential Districts; and by creating a new Section 5700, Medical Marijuana Treatment and Dispensing Facilities and Marijuana Cultivation .

or take any action thereon.

The intent of this bylaw to address possible adverse public health and safety consequences related to the passage of Question 3 on the November 6, 2012 State Referendum. It is the purpose of this section titled “Medical Marijuana Treatment and Dispensing Facilities and Marijuana Cultivation” to minimize any potential adverse impacts on property values, schools and other places where children frequent, residential neighborhoods and the quality of life in the Town. It is the intent of this bylaw to establish specific zoning standards and regulations for medical marijuana centers (treatment and dispensing facilities), medical marijuana infused products, medical marijuana paraphernalia, manufacturers, and medical marijuana growing and cultivation operations either related to Medical Marijuana Treatment Facilities and Dispensaries or the personal cultivation by qualified patients or cultivation by personal caregivers on the behalf of qualified patients or other users;

It also intends to regulate the siting, design, placement, safety, monitoring, modification, and removal of Medical Marijuana Treatment and Dispensing Facilities; and Marijuana Cultivation;

A copy of the entire proposed zoning amendment is on file with and can be viewed at the offices of the Westborough Planning Board and Westborough Town Clerk during their business hours. Any person interested or wishing to be heard on the proposed amendment should attend the public hearing indicated above.
WESTBOROUGH PLANNING BOARD

Lester Hensley, Chairman
Trevor Beauregard, Vice-Chairman
Joanne Mallozzi
Mark Silverberg
Brian Bush

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Schools - General School Written by Webmaster   

An excerpt from an email set to families with school kids, received from Marianne O'Connor, Superintendent of Schools.

"... We have been notified by the Dept. of Public Health and our local Board of Health that Westborough has been identified as being a high risk community for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). As a precautionary measure, the use of all school , town fields, and playgrounds after sunset is prohibited until further notice. 

Signs are posted at each of the schools to remind the community. All playgrounds and athletic fields will be sprayed on Monday 8/20. Additional information can be found on our website."

UPDATE: here are the three "Pesticide Standard Written Notification" document links, copied from the school's website containing information "for schools, day care programs, and school-age childcare programs":

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Westborough Today - General Town News Written by Webmaster   

Last performance of the 2012 summer season!  Join us Aug 5th to hear our very own Westborough Community Band, in the bandstand at Bay State Green.

In their fourth year under the leadership of Matthew Lefebvre, they will play from 5:30-6:30 p.m.   Rain location is the Forbes Municipal Building (where they did GREAT the week before!)

Over 60 musicians from various towns will play patriotic music, pop, American standards and more during the concert, often including a piece with a featured vocalist.  Musicians range from high school to retired professional musicians who enjoy playing and performing.  The band is thankful to the Westborough Cultural Council for their continued support through grants each year.  For questions about the band, please contact Kathy Cincotta at klcincotta@gmail.com.

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Westborough Today - Opinions and Editorials Written by Webmaster   

[An open letter received from Lester Hensley, Chair of our Westborough Economic Development Committee. -- webmaster]

Dear Westborough Residents --

On Tuesday, August 7th, there will be a Special Town Meeting at 7pm at the WHS Auditorium. On the warrant will be just two Articles -- so the meeting should be short. The Articles being put before the voters are part of a broader economic development and job retention strategy for the Town of Westborough. Summer is a cherished time, but 50 people are required for a quorum at this meeting. If you are in town next week, I hope you will consider coming to town meeting to learn more about the the articles and cast your vote.

Below is some optional background and brief response to some of the frequently asked questions about the articles on the warrant.

Background:

Westborough's Economic Development Committee (EDC) has been working since 2008 toward a goal of moderating our residential taxes by shoring up and expanding our commercial tax base. We do this by identifying existing businesses in Westborough that might be looking to expand or to leave, and encouraging them to stay and to grow right here in town. We also do this by proactively engaging new businesses who are looking at space in our area and convincing them that there is no better choice than Westborough.

One of the tools we have for retaining and attracting business and jobs is Tax Increment Financing or a "TIF". In short, in return for a company's commitment to stay and grow and pay taxes here in Westborough over a given period of years, we can offer a modest (and declining) adjustment to the taxes on their incremental growth. Even more important to the company, by being granted a TIF at the local level, they then qualify for state incentives to finance their growth and keep jobs right here in Massachusetts. Two companies will be committing to Westborough through a 15 years TIF agreement at this special town meeting.

FAQs

Q. Why a Special Town Meeting now, in the middle of summer, to act on this?
A. Time is of the essence when competing to retain or gain businesses in Westborough. Neighboring towns with City Councils can approve TIFs at regularly scheduled meetings. We need a quorum of 50 at a Special Town Meeting to approve a TIF. The timing of this meeting would allow these two companies to qualify for a state program this Fall.

Q: Why 15 years? and how much of a tax incentive would we be giving?
A. The basic tax revenues from the current value of these businesses would remain the same. The tax incentive Westborough is offering starts at 50% of only the added value of expansion. So with these agreements we'd be collecting new revenues immediately. The incentive declines by 10% per year and then remains at 10% from years 6-15. The 15 year timeframe keeps the business qualified for State incentives on future expansion and gives them incentive to grow again in Westboorugh instead of looking elsewhere.

Q. What accountability does the business have to Westborough?
A. These agreements include job creation targets as the company grows. If the company does not meet its job creation goals, then the incentive can be revoked by the Town and we have the right to recover what the company gained through tax savings.

For more information on the specifics of the agreements, you can come and hear our presentation at Town Meeting, or you can read about them on the Town Manager's blog at this link.

Thanks so much for your consideration, and hope to see you at Town Meeting on Tuesday!

Best regards,
Lester Hensley
Chair, Westborough Economic Development Committee

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