Trails committee gets update on mowing contract, budget ahead of next fiscal transition

The Town of Southborough Trails Committee received an update on the town’s mowing contract and related budget items at its Nov. 13 meeting.

Town staff reported the existing mowing contract (identified in the meeting as J and J) is about halfway through a three-year term and is scheduled to run through fiscal year 2027. The committee’s chair said that when the contract term ends, responsibility for trail mowing will move from DPW back to the recreation department, which will prepare a new scope of work and go to bid for mowing services.

The chair asked staff to provide a copy of the current mowing contract and a map of the trail mowing scope so the committee can prepare requirements for the next procurement cycle. Committee members discussed whether payment for the current contract was prepaid or structured as progress payments and noted that fiscal-year funding and accounting details would need to be confirmed with finance staff.

The chair also noted a budget figure in the meeting packet (transcribed in the packet as “$42.50”), which the committee flagged as unclear; the chair said she will follow up with staff to obtain a clear accounting and the contract documentation. Members agreed to improve communication with town staff, including more frequent follow-up emails or calls, to ensure oversight of mowing performance and contract compliance.

The committee set a follow-up meeting for Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. to finalize outstanding items and adjourned the Nov. 13 meeting by unanimous voice vote.