Westborough voters approve series of infrastructure and bylaw items; multiple nonbinding resolutions defeated

Westborough’s annual town meeting on March 23, 2024 approved a set of routine infrastructure and governance items and rejected a string of nonbinding social resolutions.

Major approved items included acceptance of Ed Waters Way as a public road following public‑works inspection (motion presented by Chris Payant); the motion carried 147–6. Voters approved an Assabet Regional Vocational School stabilization fund allowing that district to set aside funds for capital improvements and equipment (Ernest Toole gave the presentation); the motion carried 171–5. The town accepted multiple easements for the Boston Worcester Airline Trail and sidewalk easements along Otis Street after proponents clarified that the easements would be at no cost to the town; those motions carried 185–6 and 192–5, respectively.

Town meeting also approved municipal governance changes: an amendment separating the finance director position from the town accountant (219–12) and a corresponding amendment clarifying powers of the community development director (221–15). The historical commission’s modest change to demolition review timing (from 15 to 30 days) passed 234–9.

Several other warrant votes of note:
- Article 26 (Senior Tax Work‑Off program): approved; vote 196–3. Chief Assessor John Steinberg outlined state changes allowing up to $2,000 in tax credit for qualifying seniors.
- Article 27 (home rule petition for Affordable Housing Trust procurement exemptions): approved 203–16 after proponents said the change is narrow and aimed at enabling low‑income tax credit financing.

Not every proposal passed. A petition to transfer $3,500 for an Afro Caribbean Festival was defeated 25–338. A series of nonbinding education and social‑policy resolutions (including proposals to remove LGBTQ+ iconography from schools, end anti‑racism initiatives, ban gender‑affirming care for minors, and prohibit future public‑health mandates) were brought as citizen petitions and were decisively voted down by the meeting.

What’s next: Approved bylaw and zoning changes will be implemented through the usual town and regulatory processes. Nonbinding resolutions do not alter policy but reflect the meeting’s sense; most were rejected by large margins.