Town seeks construction funding to remove North Reservoir Dam

Scott Sharpanteer, public works director for the Town of Northborough, said the town will seek construction funding at an upcoming town meeting to permanently remove the North Reservoir Dam.

The request would be presented to voters alongside an estimated 80% state grant to cover construction-phase services, Sharpanteer said, noting design and permitting for the removal were completed in 2021. "We're now going to see construction funding for uh the permanent removal of the dam," he said. He added the structure supports the North Reservoir "that has not been a drinking water supply for the town for almost 70 years."

The project responds to a state order to remove or repair the dam issued many years ago, Sharpanteer said. The transcript does not record a vote or additional details about the dollar amount requested; Sharpanteer described only that construction funding will be sought and that the construction phase is expected to be funded largely by the state grant.

With design and permitting complete, the next procedural step identified in the transcript is presentation of the funding request at the town meeting; the transcript does not specify a date for construction or the total project cost. The town did not record a formal vote in the provided transcript excerpt.