Boxborough Select Board Deadlocks on Fire Station Funding, Article Stays at $500,000

BOXBOROUGH -- April 22, 2024, Boxborough Select Board deadlocks 2-2 on fire station study funds, leaving warrant article at $500,000. The board split Monday on a motion by Chair Kristen Hilberg, seconded by member Priya Sundaram, to reduce Article 42 from $500,000 to $250,000; members Dave McKenna and Wes Fowler voted against, invoking the board's practice that a tied vote on the four-member body means no change is made. The article, which funds professional design services toward a new fire station, will go before voters at the May 13 annual town meeting at the original figure. Town Administrator Michael Johns said he had always believed $500,000 was the right number, telling the board, "Seeing the resistance that was put up to that, we've scaled back the scope of work and cut the funding in half to at least get us to fall town meeting." Resident and long-time building committee participant Maria called out a decade of delays and urged the board to lead public forums before a fall town meeting where a site recommendation and probable cost estimate are expected. The Finance Committee was set to meet the following night to consider whether to shift the funding mix between free cash and raise-and-appropriate.