Select Board votes 3-2 to back $25 million road bond at Annual Town Meeting

SOUTHBOROUGH — March 31, 2026 — Southborough Select Board backs full $25 million road and sidewalk bond over two members' objections. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday to support Article 13 of the April 11 Annual Town Meeting warrant, which authorizes borrowing up to $25 million for a five-year pavement management program — the largest bond authorization in town history, covering roughly 33 of Southborough's 70.4 miles of road. Member Al Hamilton moved to strip approximately $1.5 million in routine and preventative maintenance costs from the bond and shift them to the DPW operating budget, arguing the borrowing violated the town's own financial policies; Cook agreed, but the motion failed when Chair Andrew Dennington moved to support the article as printed and Landry seconded. DPW Superintendent William Cundiff's five-year plan, developed with VHB, would cost an estimated $508 per year at peak debt service for a home valued at the town's median of $898,100. The board also appointed Robert Moss, Jason Malinowski, and Andrew Pfaff to the new Elementary School Building Committee on split votes after interviewing seven candidates in a joint session with the School Committee, which adjourned without voting and is set to appoint its two members Thursday.