Southborough Trails Committee delays emergency MassTrails reapplication, endorses new member

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — The Town of Southborough Trails Committee on Jan. 27 voted to delay an emergency reapplication to the state MassTrails grant program after members said new ADA requirements, prevailing‑wage rules and uncertain engineering costs made a near‑term filing impractical.

Committee members discussed closeout work on an existing MassTrails award — notably installation of interpretive signage and a plan to add a QR code to provide accessible‑route content for users who cannot reach slope‑mounted signs — and reviewed partial reimbursement paperwork submitted to fully expend the grant. The chair said the final report has been filed and the committee is awaiting any follow‑up documentation requests from MassTrails.

Why it matters: The committee is seeking a way to complete a planned bridge and boardwalk as part of Phase 2 of the trail project. Engineering feedback from Beals & Thomas made full timber construction impractical for the 60‑foot bridge, but members discussed substituting wood decking for polymer decking to lower costs. The group said vendor quotes differ and that contingencies could push the price up, creating a funding shortfall the chair described as about $20,000 on the lower quoted figure.

"We can apply that to the install invoice instead of using CPC money," the chair said when outlining options for covering an outstanding town‑paid invoice; committee members said they would seek CPC support to move roughly $47,000 from Phase 1 into Phase 2 if CPC and town accounting approve extending the project spending deadline to 2028.

Members said a new MassTrails application could be allowed by the program, but the current solicitation adds an ADA emphasis — requiring measurements and documentation — and triggers prevailing‑wage requirements that committee members estimated would add thousands of dollars to labor costs. One committee member noted, "It would take Herculean effort" to prepare a complete, competitive application by the Monday deadline while other members estimated prevailing‑wage adjustments could add on the order of $8,000–$10,000 to prior estimates.

Given the compressed timeline and the need for updated vendor quotes and clearer cost breakdowns from Beals & Thomas, the committee agreed it was prudent to wait, prepare a CPC warrant request that would allow flexibility to use Phase 1 funds for a future MassTrails cycle, and pursue a possible MassTrails application in the next grant cycle if needed. The chair said next steps include asking Beals & Thomas for a detailed budget, checking with town accounting (Carla) and the town administrator (Mark), and coordinating with Recreation staff (Travis) and CPC.

The meeting also included routine business. Will Warren moved to approve the committee's Dec. 18 minutes; Tom McCulier seconded, and the minutes were approved unanimously. Later, the committee endorsed volunteer applicant Isabelle Murphy; Will Warren moved the endorsement, Tom McCulier seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The committee agreed to circulate dates for an early‑February meeting to finalize CPC materials and to ensure Satish/Sati can attend.

The Trails Committee adjourned at 7:07 p.m. The committee will report updated quotes and any CPC guidance at its next meeting.