Financials & Expenditures

The Select Board received an updated Cherry Sheet allocation of $272,000, which allowed for the restoration of several budget items. These restorations include the Select Board’s administrative assistant position to full-time, $45,000 for snow and ice removal, $42,000 for unemployment, an additional $100,000 for schools, and the Conservation Commission’s land manager slot.

The Board approved warrant articles for a Special Town Meeting, including:

• Appropriating $1 million from free cash to supplement the FY26 budgets: $650,000 for Health and Life Insurance and $350,000 for the Highway Department’s snow and ice budget.
• Appropriating an additional $150,000 from free cash for accrued employee benefits, funding a sick leave buy-back bank.
• Appropriating $75,000 from water retained earnings for a consultant to update the water department’s emergency response plan and Water Management Act permit.
• Appropriating $2,152 from free cash to pay a prior fiscal year water department bill, requiring a 9/10 vote.
• Appropriating $348,579 from wastewater retained earnings for the Mayflower Wastewater Department interceptor project.
• Appropriating $56,044 from free cash for repairs to the wastewater department’s VAC truck debris tank.

For the Annual Town Meeting, the Board approved articles including:

• A proposed FY27 operating budget of $109,445,314. Notable allocations include $7,383,137 for Police, $5,310,355 for Fire, $42,850,000 for Public Schools, and $1,228,211 for the Council on Aging.
• Transferring $800,000 from the sales of gas and electricity to the Assessors’ office to help fix the FY27 tax rate.
• Authorizing limits for various revolving funds totaling over $300,000, funded by fees, not taxpayer money.
• Appropriating $470,658 from the PEG access and cable related fund for the Middleborough Permanent Cable Committee (MKM).
• Appropriating $800,000 from free cash to the Debt Stabilization Fund to cover a past BP bill.
• Appropriating $19,904 from free cash for the Town Hall Chiller Pit project, now under the Town Manager’s budget.
• Appropriating $108,770 from wastewater retained earnings for a new one-ton truck with plow for the Wastewater Department.
• Authorizing up to $6 million, requiring a two-thirds vote, for the North Street Water Main Replacement Project, to be bonded and paid from water department revenues.
• Appropriating $68,005 from water retained earnings for a new one-ton truck for the Water Department.
• Authorizing $610,000, requiring a two-thirds vote, for a new vacuum truck for the Water Department’s East Grove Street treatment plant, to be bonded and paid from the water department enterprise account.
• Appropriating $113,700 from water retained earnings for a new generator for the Spruce Street Pump Station.
• Appropriating $518,000, requiring a two-thirds vote, for the replacement of the Pratt Farm large dam, which has a total project cost of $1.518 million and is considered a significant hazard.
• Appropriating $100,000 from retained earnings (split between water, wastewater, and sanitation) for new municipal utility billing software.
• Appropriating $550,000 from the Community Preservation Fund’s estimated FY27 revenues for administrative expenses and various reserves, including $370,000 for the general budget reserve.
• Appropriating $10,500 from the Historic Resources Reserve for the Robbins Museum Preservation Project.
• Appropriating $85,000 from Community Preservation Fund reserves for a new playground at 48 Worm Street, Mascot Park.
• Appropriating $60,000 from Community Preservation Fund reserves for invasive aquatic vegetation removal in ponds.
• Rescinding $2.2 million in borrowing authority for conservation land on Plymouth, Vernon, and Pleasant Streets, as the purchase did not occur.
• Authorizing $62 million, requiring a two-thirds vote, for a new treatment plant near Miller Street well to treat five wells for contaminants like PFAS. The project will be bonded, seeking State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans, with costs paid from water department future earnings.
• Authorizing acquisition of three parcels totaling 18 acres at Mill Street for $1.2 million (appraised value) for water supply protection and future well potential, funded by water department retained earnings.
• Authorizing acquisition of 5.1 acres at 155 Spruce Street for $210,000, adjacent to the Spruce Street well for protection and potential future satellite well, funded by water retained earnings.
• Authorizing up to $500,000, requiring a two-thirds vote, for the septic abatement betterment loan program, funded by borrowing from the Clean Water Trust.

The Finance Committee approved an emergency transfer of up to $32,500 from its $125,000 emergency fund for the repair of the fire department’s tower truck.

Zoning & Planning

The Board voted to accept Harvest Wood Lane as a town way, following previous work to ensure road safety and drainage.

The Board approved an amendment to zoning bylaws to replace the Open Space and Resource Preservation Development bylaw (Article 21). This bylaw offers developers an option for increased housing density in exchange for preserving more open green space and includes changes to setback requirements.

The Board approved an amendment to zoning bylaws (Article 22) to clarify that social consumption establishments for marijuana are not permitted in town, reinforcing an earlier Board vote. This amendment specifically excludes such establishments from the Cannabis Business District and general bylaw definitions. Police Chief Ferrara reported approximately 10-15 virtual currency kiosks currently exist in town.

The Board authorized acquisition of three parcels totaling 18 acres at Mill Street for water supply purposes and 5.1 acres at 155 Spruce Street for water supply protection, noting potential future well development. Resident Peter Angel highlighted the historic and spiritual significance of the Mill Street land for Rock Village Church, requesting consideration for open green space preservation rather than solely infrastructure development.

Resident Action & Public Hearings

The Select Board approved the formation of an eight-member Town Manager Search Committee. The committee members selected were Nancy Cephalus, McDonald Sprague, and Ed Medeiros, joining five others previously chosen. The committee’s meetings will not be public to ensure applicant anonymity and autonomy. The search firm will determine the format and timing of any public input, such as surveys or initial public meetings, before applicant review.

A Memorandum of Agreement for the layoff of four police officers was approved, with layoffs effective July 1, 2026. The officers have a ten-year callback right. Interim Town Manager Joseph Perkins was appointed as the Civil Service hearing officer for these officers in case they request a hearing.

The Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting will vote on the proposed warrant articles. Residents are encouraged to review the comprehensive Open Space and Resource Preservation Development bylaw (Article 21) and the Virtual Currency Kiosks ban (Article 28), which are available online.

The Hidden News

Mimi Muriel announced she would no longer be organizing the hanging flower baskets downtown after 20 years, citing an Economic and Community office layoff. This program, costing about $1,500 annually and reliant on donations and volunteers, may not continue without new support. An anonymous family later donated $1,500 for the flowers.

Resident Alexis Burrows, a teacher, expressed heartbreak over police layoffs effective July 1st, questioning whether free cash, stabilization funds, or smart growth funds could save jobs. She cited concerns about public safety and the loss of investment in trained officers.

Civilian dispatcher Brianna Brew corrected “inaccurate” statements made at a previous meeting regarding civilian dispatch roles. She clarified that dispatchers receive direct emergency calls, police do not have access to all fire department communication systems, and firefighters cannot easily abandon the desk. She emphasized that civilian dispatch, created after the 2024 Pearl Street Fire tragedy, improves resource availability and public safety by keeping firefighters in the field. She stated there are 4 full-time and 1 part-time dispatchers.

Paula Fay, a resident, advocated for re-evaluating an in-house town council position to potentially save legal expenses. She also questioned the use of town funds, specifically $5,000 to $6,000 annually, to pay a private landscaping company for public library grounds maintenance, suggesting it outsourced union jobs typically performed by custodians. She urged review of funds held by appointed committees not fully controlled by the town.

Nancy Cephalus presented a list of resident requests for town improvements, including bicycle lanes, level sidewalks for crosswalks, speed limits and bumps near the town annex, improved sidewalks near Central Cemetery, and pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure in high-traffic areas. She also requested the Board add the topic of 15-minute downtown parking spots to a future agenda for public discussion.

School Committee Chair Terri Lamkin thanked the Board for the $100,000 school budget restoration. She requested research into Smart Growth funds specifically earmarked for schools based on student growth from new residential projects like Pilgrim Junction, with potentially $315,000 available once certificates of occupancy are issued.