Article 29: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow the sum of Three Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($315,000), or any other sum, for the purpose of funding drainage and sidewalk improvements, including but not limited to the repair, replacement, and maintenance of culverts, drainage outfalls, and sidewalks throughout the Town, including all incidental and related expenses, or take any other action relative thereto.
Explanation: The Town of Northborough is responsible for maintaining more than 75 culverts, 32 miles of sidewalks, and approximately 292 drainage outfalls; however, there is currently no dedicated capital funding source for their replacement or improvement. Existing operating funds provide only $14,000 annually for drainage maintenance and no funding for sidewalks, which is insufficient to address long-term infrastructure needs. As a result, drainage failures have occurred in multiple locations, including Rice Avenue, Lincoln Street, Davis Avenue, and more recently on Church Street and Howard Street, where culverts of similar age and construction failed. In addition, sidewalk replacement is currently limited to roadway reconstruction projects funded through the paving program, reducing the Town’s ability to proactively maintain its infrastructure system. This appropriation will allow the Town to address drainage deficiencies, prevent future infrastructure failures, and implement needed sidewalk improvements, supporting the long-term safety, reliability, and sustainability of the Town’s infrastructure.
Votes Needed to Pass: Majority
Brief Video Explanation From DPW Director Scott Charpentier
Presentation to Appropriations Committee by DPW Director Scott Charpentier: February 10, 2026 (Minutes)
Presentation to Financial Planning Committee by DPW Director Scott Charpentier: December 16, 2025 (Minutes)
Relevant Discussion for This Article
Financial Planning Committee Vote: February 19, 2026 (Minutes)