Southborough Trails Committee approves signage, schedules Dec. 15 bid opening for boardwalk project
December 11, 2025 | Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts
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The Southborough Trails Committee voted unanimously Dec. 10 to approve production of a set of trail kiosks and signs and set the bid-opening for the boardwalk/bridge project for Monday, Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. at Town Hall.
Committee members said the MassTrails grant will cover the signage hardware while the Southborough Trails Committee (STC) will pay a modest overage for one sign panel. Chair Kat McKee said the group will "purchase the hardware so that that order will come intact, and then we can do the sign design in early January," and that the town's Community Preservation Act funding will be used for installation in a later phase.
Why it matters: The approved signs and kiosks are a condition of the MassTrails grant closeout and are intended to provide orientation, local history and accessibility information for the Burrows Loop and the new Peninsula trail connector. The committee must ship materials this year to meet the grant timeline and complete installation when site and weather conditions permit.
Members reviewed design files from vendor Fossil and discussed readability, cultural-history language and attribution. Committee members praised the layouts and images while asking the vendor to keep font sizes legible on a 2x3-foot and 3x4-foot panel. The committee agreed to rely on QR codes to link to longer text and background materials, including a DCR QR that points to regulatory information, a Burrows Loop interactive map and a Southborough Trails page. Kat McKee said she will assemble a one-page documentation of image sources and permissions to address copyright and attribution questions.
The committee also discussed logistics and funding. McKee noted the front page of the Beals & Thomas contract lists an "original contract amount" of $81,000 but that the firm has referenced additional expenses elsewhere in the contract; she said that could create a gap between the budgeted figure and the project’s total cost. Visitor and procurement adviser Travis said municipalities often re-scope or remove nonessential elements if bids come in over budget and offered to help shepherd procurement steps while Melanie in procurement completes a handoff before her late-December departure. "I just wanna make sure I'm here to support you guys," Travis said.
On storage and installation, the committee agreed DPW will receive two outdoor pallets of signage and hardware (one pallet roughly 300 pounds) and that materials should be tarped until installation. McKee reminded members that MassTrails requires the grant closeout paperwork by Jan. 23 and that physical installation may be delayed until spring if concrete-temperature requirements prevent winter pours.
The committee clarified the bid process for the boardwalk/bridge project: hard-copy bids will be opened on Dec. 15; the initial check will identify the lowest bidder, after which the committee will review responsiveness and may follow up with bidders for clarifications before making a final selection. Travis said the town will need the contractor's signed contract and insurance certificate before work begins; Melanie is expected to assist in the handoff while she finishes her role at the end of the month.
The vote: A motion to "approve the signs as reviewed and move forward as discussed" was made, seconded and carried with recorded 'Aye' responses from Will Warren, Tom McCollier, Satyendra Sharma and Kat McKee.
Next steps: The committee will open bids Dec. 15 at 11 a.m., complete bid review and finalize contract steps shortly thereafter, ship signage and hardware before year-end for grant accounting, and plan field installation in spring if site conditions require. The committee also scheduled a brief follow-up meeting to finalize minutes and any outstanding administrative items before year-end.
No formal budget amendment was approved at the meeting; the committee indicated it would use an existing STC budget line to cover the small signage overage and seek additional approvals later if necessary.
Committee members said the MassTrails grant will cover the signage hardware while the Southborough Trails Committee (STC) will pay a modest overage for one sign panel. Chair Kat McKee said the group will "purchase the hardware so that that order will come intact, and then we can do the sign design in early January," and that the town's Community Preservation Act funding will be used for installation in a later phase.
Why it matters: The approved signs and kiosks are a condition of the MassTrails grant closeout and are intended to provide orientation, local history and accessibility information for the Burrows Loop and the new Peninsula trail connector. The committee must ship materials this year to meet the grant timeline and complete installation when site and weather conditions permit.
Members reviewed design files from vendor Fossil and discussed readability, cultural-history language and attribution. Committee members praised the layouts and images while asking the vendor to keep font sizes legible on a 2x3-foot and 3x4-foot panel. The committee agreed to rely on QR codes to link to longer text and background materials, including a DCR QR that points to regulatory information, a Burrows Loop interactive map and a Southborough Trails page. Kat McKee said she will assemble a one-page documentation of image sources and permissions to address copyright and attribution questions.
The committee also discussed logistics and funding. McKee noted the front page of the Beals & Thomas contract lists an "original contract amount" of $81,000 but that the firm has referenced additional expenses elsewhere in the contract; she said that could create a gap between the budgeted figure and the project’s total cost. Visitor and procurement adviser Travis said municipalities often re-scope or remove nonessential elements if bids come in over budget and offered to help shepherd procurement steps while Melanie in procurement completes a handoff before her late-December departure. "I just wanna make sure I'm here to support you guys," Travis said.
On storage and installation, the committee agreed DPW will receive two outdoor pallets of signage and hardware (one pallet roughly 300 pounds) and that materials should be tarped until installation. McKee reminded members that MassTrails requires the grant closeout paperwork by Jan. 23 and that physical installation may be delayed until spring if concrete-temperature requirements prevent winter pours.
The committee clarified the bid process for the boardwalk/bridge project: hard-copy bids will be opened on Dec. 15; the initial check will identify the lowest bidder, after which the committee will review responsiveness and may follow up with bidders for clarifications before making a final selection. Travis said the town will need the contractor's signed contract and insurance certificate before work begins; Melanie is expected to assist in the handoff while she finishes her role at the end of the month.
The vote: A motion to "approve the signs as reviewed and move forward as discussed" was made, seconded and carried with recorded 'Aye' responses from Will Warren, Tom McCollier, Satyendra Sharma and Kat McKee.
Next steps: The committee will open bids Dec. 15 at 11 a.m., complete bid review and finalize contract steps shortly thereafter, ship signage and hardware before year-end for grant accounting, and plan field installation in spring if site conditions require. The committee also scheduled a brief follow-up meeting to finalize minutes and any outstanding administrative items before year-end.
No formal budget amendment was approved at the meeting; the committee indicated it would use an existing STC budget line to cover the small signage overage and seek additional approvals later if necessary.
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