Historical Commission updates: town-common fencing contract, cemetery water-tower inspection, sign program donations

At its Sept. 15 meeting the Southborough Historical Commission provided status updates on several town preservation initiatives and the commission’s sign-donation account.

Town-common fence: The commission said it is co-sponsoring a town-common fencing project with the Select Board and that the town has drafted a contract with VHB to prepare bid documents, a restoration plan, construction-phase services and field inspection. Chair Kevin Miller said the contract was drawn up Aug. 19 and hoped construction could begin by spring to allow CPC funds to be returned to the community preservation coffers when possible.

Rural Cemetery water tower: Miller reported the commission secured a specialist inspection by Dennis Semprebon of Beacon Hill Restoration (Holliston). DPW will rent a lift to enable a thorough inspection of masonry and the roof; the inspection was scheduled for Friday morning following the meeting. Because the CPC application deadline fell the same day, Miller submitted an updated application in the commission’s name noting that the inspection would provide final cost estimates. Grant Farrington, the Historical Commission’s representative to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), said CPC received three applications this cycle, including the commission’s.

Sign program and donations: Commissioner Annie Pfaff reported the commission’s donations account held $750 and was expected to grow to approximately $850 once a recent homeowner donation posts. Pfaff said donations are being tracked in a master spreadsheet and that one donation remains unidentified ($175). The commission noted it has returned funds to the town in prior years when not spent, and members discussed outreach to solicit more sign applications and potential uses for the donation account (for example, tricentennial support or outreach costs).

Other updates: The commission reported the Boston & Worcester Railway sign is with DPW operations supervisor Chris Leroy, who offered to assist with mounting; the revolutionary-war veterans marker project remains under research by member Michelle Hokanson; and one seat on the commission is expected to be filled soon. Commissioners approved routine administrative items: authorization for Kevin Miller and Annie Pfaff to sign invoices on behalf of the commission (roll call 4–0) and the meeting minutes for April 3 and July 9 (April 3 approved 4–0; July 9 approved 3–0 with one abstention).

Why it matters: these administrative and project updates show progress towards small-scale preservation projects that rely on CPC funding, contractor assessments, DPW coordination and volunteer research. The commission sign program also continues to attract homeowner donations and is building an internal fund to underwrite future projects and outreach.