Home Care In Northborough, MA

NORTHBOROUGH – The Select Board accepted a bid of $1 by Millie Milton to purchase the former Northborough fire station at 13 Church St. during its Nov. 6 meeting.

According to interim Town Administrator Mike Gallagher, this was the town’s second attempt to sell the Church St. property. He said the town received one bid for the property.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the location, the size, the lot, the lot structure and the fact that the existing fire station has some significant issues regarding the materials that are in the building itself and some potential hazards that might be on the site,” said Gallagher.

The site is 0.42 acres and served as the fire station between 1926 and 1976. According to the request for proposals (RFP) attached to the Select Board’s meeting packet, after the Northborough Fire Department moved to its current home at 11 Pierce St., the site was abandoned. It hasn’t been occupied since the mid-2000s when it was used for storage space. The RFP states that it was vacated over concerns about the building’s structural integrity and repetitive exposure to the elements.

According to Department of Public Works Director Scott Charpentier, there are two Army surplus generators in the building that have never run and cannot be removed. The garage doors, he said, can’t be opened and the ceiling and upper-floor supports are compromised.

Town Meeting gave the Select Board the authority to dispose of the property in 2020.

According to the proposal attached to the packet, Milton would develop the site in combination with two adjoining lots that she owns “seeking to develop a larger parcel in downtown for developing a mixed-use building, or combination of buildings.”

Specifically, the proposal calls for developing a multi-use property that would invite “uncommon, creative and original businesses that will bring unique experiences to the community and downtown.”

“With the newly constructed bridge (2016) over Cold Harbor Brook, this lot is part of a gateway into our downtown and should be a welcome entrance to what will hopefully become a vibrant and engaging part of our town,” the proposal reads.

The proposal notes that the current building has deteriorated “to the degree of being unsalvageable” in its entirety. It adds that the bricks are in decent condition and could be incorporated into the new building design.

“It’s very nerve-wracking to me to have a building that’s so unsafe in such a heavily-trafficked area of town. I’m grateful that we’ll have an opportunity to find a use for this property,” said Select Board member Laura Ziton.

NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough has a new town administrator.

The Select Board unanimously voted on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to make a conditional offer of employment to Tim McInerney. The offer is conditional on a background check and contract negotiation.

McInerney and the other two finalists, Jeff Bridges and Clancy Main, were interviewed by the Select Board that evening.

“Any one of these three, I would be happy to hire,” said Select Board Chair Mitch Cohen before the deliberations.

McInerney grew up in Lowell. He was the town administrator in Grafton from 2009 to 2020. Prior to joining Grafton, he served as the interim town administrator in Ware; interim town manager in Uxbridge; town administrator in Seekonk; and town manager in Salisbury, in addition to positions in Ohio and South Carolina. Most recently, he worked as the interim director of inspectional services in Worcester from January to September 2021.

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“When you look at my resume, it’s 20+ years of local government, but I worked at every level of government,” said McInerney.

During his interview, McInerney addressed why he left Grafton. He said there’s a strong charter relative to the town administrator. There’s a process to remove someone from a position, and the town administrator’s contract includes language for removal with a severance package.

The severance package, he said, can serve as a deterrent for a board.

Six months before he left Grafton, the sitting board extended his severance and contract because they were happy with his performance.

“They wanted to keep me, but they had an inkling that something might be changing in the wind, and it did. That board changed pretty much overnight in two election cycles over a two-year period. I left with that severance package, and always wanted to get back,” McInerney said.

According to an article by Grafton Common at the time, he stepped down as town administrator after reaching an agreement with the Select Board.

For the past two years, he said he’s been supporting his wife’s business and taking care of his sons.

“I had a great opportunity, and don’t get me wrong, I took advantage of it. I’m grateful I had it because I think that was a tender time in their lives, and I got a lot of five-star ratings on Yelp for driving them everywhere they wanted to go,” he said.

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Over his interview, the Select Board asked McInerney numerous questions, including about the budget, economic development, how to attract and retain quality talent, his management style and communication efforts.

During their deliberations, the Select Board narrowed the field down to McInerney and Bridges, noting their experience.

Select Board member Kristen Wixted praised McInerney’s demeanor and the Select Board’s rapport with him during the interview. She said she liked that he lived in Grafton, which is close enough that he knew Northborough.

“I like how he involved staff so much,” said Laura Ziton. “He wasn’t willing to just listen to us, he wants to make sure that we’re working together. I like that he’s willing to collaborate in such an open way together with the board and staff as we really establish what we want to look like going forward.”

NORTHBOROUGH – After a fire closed its doors in 2021, owners of the Motel 6 are hoping to reconstruct the hotel.

About two years ago, the Northborough Fire Department responded to Motel 6, which is located at 27 Belmont Road. According to Patch, firefighters went into a room on the first floor and found a fire on and around the bed.

Back in November, Motel 6 officials applied for a renovation/rebuild permit. The applicant Jay Patel went before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on Aug. 22 seeking a variance regarding septic.

The motel previously had 99 rooms. According to Patel, the current plan calls for 91 rooms.

“We have a real financial hardship,” Patel said.

Patel told the ZBA that they don’t have any income.

“We have [a] mortgage. We have insurance. We have property tax. We have all of the ongoing expenses,” Patel said.

He said they were asking to be able to use the existing septic system while working on a sewer expansion to serve the Lawrence Street area through private-public efforts with the town. If the town is unable to get a grant for the extension, Patel said he would pay for it.

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According to Inspector of Buildings/Zoning Enforcement Officer Bob Frederico, for a construction permit to alter a building, Northborough’s zoning code requires an approved plan from the Health Department or Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for a septic system or a sewer connection permit issued by the Department of Public Works (DPW) Sewer Department.

Whether the Northborough Health Department or MassDEP makes the approval depends on the septic flow. If the flows exceed 10,000 gallons, the approval would need to come from MassDEP. However, if the number of rooms is further reduced – also reducing the sewer capacity – it would be the jurisdiction of the town’s health department.

Specifically, Patel is seeking a variance that would provide relief from these requirements.

Patel told the ZBA that he didn’t know what the status of the septic system was, but it was working the day of the fire.

For a sewer connection permit, Frederico said the town would need approved plans.

“The plans that have been submitted up until now – none of it has been workable,” Frederico said.

He said that DPW Director Scott Charpentier has reviewed at least one plan “which failed.”

Patel said the plans were “very, very preliminary” and were submitted in May. Since, Patel said his team has done “extensive” work, including surveying, wetland delineation and grading.

That takes time, he said. Plus, they have a pump station that needs to be located and will require a meeting.

Patel said that work could be done over a 12-month period while the motel is reconstructed.

“The strict requirement that they have to have this permit now from the DPW or Board of Health, if we can waive this requirement and work with us so we can have the building because it’s going to take me 12 months to rebuild the hotel,” Patel said. “I want to use time effectively so we can work and get the projects moving.”

During the meeting, Planning Director Laurie Connors voiced concerns about what the status of the septic system and what would be done with the waste in the interim.

Patel said he could have a third party inspect his septic system.

If the variance is granted and Frederico issues a permit to allow Patel to work on the motel, and if there isn’t a viable and certified septic system or active sewer tie in at the end of that work, Frederico said he couldn’t give Motel 6 an occupancy certificate.

Ultimately, the hearing was continued to the ZBA’s meeting until Sept. 26.

NORTHBOROUGH — The Select Board has voted to hire a second interim town administrator as it continues to search for a permanent replacement for longtime Town Administrator John Coderre.

During a meeting on Aug. 16, the board appointed former North Attleborough Assistant Town Manager Michael Gallagher as its next interim administrator, pending completion of a contract.

Current interim Town Administrator Robert Reed will leave after a transitional period with Gallagher. Assistant Town Administrator Becca Meekins is leaving at the end of this month.

During the Aug. 16 meeting, the Select Board interviewed Gallagher and former Framingham Town Manager Julian Suso, who left in 2011 when the then-town opted not to renew his contract. More recently, Suso was town manager in Falmouth.

'Mutually agreed':Longtime Northborough administrator has left Foxborough job

The board unanimously voted to hire Gallagher.

Reed was originally hired as interim town administrator to replace Coderre, who left in April after 15 years to become Foxborough's town manager. Coderre has since reached a mutual agreement with the Foxborough Select Board to resign. His last day was Aug. 7.

First choice to replace Coderre withdraws from consideration

The town had previously conducted a search for Coderre's replacement and conditionally offered the job to Webster Assistant Town Administrator Courtney Friedland. But she decided during negotiations to withdraw from consideration.

During a Select Board meeting on July 31, board Chair Mitch Cohen said Municipal Resources Inc., a New Hampshire company that conducted Northborough's search for town administrator, had agreed to resume the search without any additional costs, other than for advertising. The board agreed.

'I hereby resign':What Foxborough's town manager gets paid as he leaves after just 4 months

Cohen said he would reach out to the members of the Town Administrator Screening Committee to see if they want to continue participating in the new search.

In addition, the board also agreed to have the search begin in early September.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

NORTHBOROUGH – The community is invited to attend the Taste of Northborough and silent auction on Oct. 28 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Melican Middle School.

The event is supported by Applefest, Northborough Knights of Columbus and the Algonquin National Honor Society.

Weather canceled several Applefest events this year, including the fireworks. According to Applefest Committee Chair Michelle Gillespie, Applefest Committee and the Knights of Columbus lost a lot of product because it was in the rain.

“No one was expecting this tsunami of a storm to arrive,” Gillespie said. “It just drenched everything.”

The event is the Knights’ major fundraiser for the year, and the National Honor Society gets three scholarships out of it. Plus, the committee, who lost income from the weather, still had to pay their bills.

So, the Applefest Committee decided to do something to help their fellow organizations and planned to hold the Taste of Northborough later in October.

About 15 eateries will be participating in the Taste of Northborough, and there will be a silent auction. Some of the participants include Lowe’s Meat Market, Monti’s Pizza Plus, Cellar Bar and Grille and Davidian’s Farm Market.

“I think people were disappointed that it was canceled due to the weather and all of the other events. So, to still bring it back to help highlight the restaurants and our small businesses is really what that’s about, as well being able to help, like I said, the Knights of Columbus and the National Honor Society and even ourselves,” Gillespie said. “It sort of completes what we tried to do on Applefest weekend but we couldn’t due to the weather.”

Tickets cost $15 per person and can be sold online at http://northboroughapplefest.com/ or at the door. Tickets will also be on sale at Lowe’s Meat Market on Oct. 21.

SHREWSBURY – This isn’t your traditional workplace.

When you walk through the doors of Control Point Mechanical, Inc. in Shrewsbury, you’re greeted by Kaiya, a golden retriever who takes her responsibilities as the company’s chief cuteness officer very seriously.

The donuts and pastries available to employees are pushed toward the back of the counter — Kaiya’s been known to jump up and take a bite.

Kaiya trots around the office greeting the company’s employees en route. After her journey around the office is complete, Kaiya heads to her owner — Director of Strategy and Business Operations Danielle Boland — and plays with her bucket of toys.

Kaiya’s presence is just one example of the office culture at Control Point Mechanical. The company is proud of the positive environment it has created, and now, Boland has taken one more step toward improving the workplace: giving employees World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10 off.

“I took the job in January, and in February I just said, ‘We’re giving our team World Mental Health Day off,’” Boland told the Community Advocate. “It wasn’t a question to me. It was like it makes so much sense. It affects so many people’s lives. Why would you not acknowledge this?”

The company — which has grown from 12 to 20 employees recently — gave employees the option of taking World Mental Health Day or the Friday prior to Columbus Day weekend. The gesture is done to foster a more mental health-friendly workplace.

“People don’t understand financially. When you have everyone off the road for one day, it’s like thousands and thousands of dollars, right? But, for us, it’s like how do you balance that high-level of performance that you’re going to get from people when they have more down time? We’re still navigating, but for me I believe so much in mental health,” Boland said.

Since becoming sober in 2013, Boland navigated corporate America, discovered the importance of mental health and balance, and “took a journey of self-development.” Boland focuses on supporting employees inside and outside the workplace.

“The mental health stuff and balance is huge to me,” she said. “Work is work… and everyone has their days. But, to the extent we can control, how can we make sure people leave here and are like ‘I’m really happy I’m at Control Point.’”

And that attitude — that happiness — has become pervasive.

“One of the guys — he’s been here nine years — said, ‘Friends that we have in the industry, they don’t know what it’s like to be at a company that you enjoy being at,’ ” Boland said.

SHREWSBURY – Central One Federal Credit Union employees recently partnered with an organization to construct beds for local children in need.

Through A Bed For Every Child’s Build a Bed program, Central One staff constructed 10 beds for local kids who were on a waiting list.

In a press release, Central One wrote that the federal credit union was “honored to aid in A Bed For Every Child’s mission to help ensure all children have a bed of their own, regardless of their family’s income.”

Central One Federal Credit Union also recently donated $2,000 to Safe Homes. Located in Worcester, Safe Homes provides support and resources to LGBTQIA+ youth and those exploring their sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions with a nurturing and safe space to be themselves.

In a press release, Central One wrote that they proudly support this mission.