Town manager reports positive survey results, highlights concerns about sidewalks, utilities and World Cup impacts

Town Manager provided an update on community engagement and a statistically selected household survey at the June 9 Select Board meeting, reporting broad resident satisfaction with Foxborough while noting recurring concerns about sidewalks, street repair, utilities and event impacts from Gillette Stadium.

The manager described two engagement exercises at Founders Day: a budgeting exercise, in which respondents prioritized schools and essential services, and a postcard exercise capturing residents’ hopes for more walkable streets, bike lanes, and green space. The randomly selected household survey included 471 households with an approximate margin of error reported as 4.5 percentage points; results cited included 94% saying Foxborough is a great place to raise children, 93% feeling safe, and 91% calling it a great place to live.

Survey results on Gillette Stadium were mixed: 93% saw the stadium’s economic impact as positive, while respondents named traffic (69% negative) and noise (61% negative) as concerns; public‑safety perceptions around stadium events were split (67% positive; 30% concerned). The manager said traffic and utilities complaints sometimes reflect responsibilities that lie with utility companies, not the town.

The town also briefed the board on World Cup and event preparations: an MBTA notice warned residents near the rail line that trains would idle during matches and last departures could be after 3 a.m.; the police department is running alcohol‑service training and took over stadium security the night of the meeting. Staff distributed a World Cup resource document and advised residents to consult the town website for evolving information.

The manager announced a strategic‑plan open house scheduled for Sept. 29 and said work on MSBA school feasibility (Taylor and Burrough) is underway, with feasibility funds secured and documentation progressing. Board members praised Founders Day turnout and discussed upcoming open houses for town projects.