At its Dec. 30 meeting the Master Plan Implementation Committee for the Town of Southborough reviewed a draft of the committee’s 2025 annual report, discussed updates to several master-plan projects and approved meeting minutes.

The committee began by noting a personnel change on the report: "Melanie Atsuka has been handling the report, and Melanie has, resigned," a member said during the meeting; committee members said Vanessa will take over report responsibilities and the group retained a short window for edits before finalizing. Members debated how much numeric detail to include in the summary: one committee member reported completed master-plan goals moved from about 10% last year to 12.4% this year, and several members described the measurement as a high-level indicator rather than a precise audit.

Committee members reviewed a set of local project updates the report will highlight. A representative described regional transit improvements through the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA): three new routes are expected in 2026 linking the T station with Route 9 and a new 495 connector will improve north–south links and connections to commuter rail lines. The committee agreed to keep that connectivity progress on the tracker for 2026.

On infrastructure, the committee discussed a wastewater study committee formed to evaluate a wastewater system for Route 9 properties. A member proposed wording for the annual report that sticks to objective accomplishments ("formed and operating") rather than forecasting economic outcomes; others argued the study is intended to support future commercial development along Route 9 but cautioned that construction and costs remain to be determined.

The committee also heard updates on open-space and trail projects. Members reported the Breakneck Hill restoration is largely finished apart from final landscaping work and said roughly 90% of project funds have been spent. The Burrows Loop Trail was described as nearing closure of a regional gap with ADA-accessible elements in place; the committee noted that a bridge/boardwalk bid came in at roughly double the expected price and that the town will pursue options.

Pedestrian improvements were clarified: the group identified separate pedestrian improvement and transportation improvement projects and decided to cite the DPW’s pedestrian improvement plan in the annual report rather than list street names in the high-level summary. The committee also praised the recent rollout of electronic vote clickers at town meeting as making votes easier to record and agreed to include a short accomplishment note about the rollout.

Procedurally, the committee corrected and approved minutes for Oct. 23 and Dec. 4, 2025; the minutes were approved by recorded 'aye' votes from Demuria, Stivers and Will Warren. Because one member lost connection late in the meeting, the chair invoked the rule of necessity and the committee moved to adjourn; the motion passed with recorded 'aye' votes recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: the committee will present the revised annual report to the planning board (the chair said the committee expects to be on the planning board agenda in mid-January) and will seek a short presentation to the select board in the spring. Committee members set a tentative next meeting for Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m. and asked departments and committee chairs to submit brief, high-level bullets for inclusion in the report by the early-January deadline discussed during the meeting.

The committee did not take policy-level votes beyond approving minutes and adjourning; several members emphasized that wording in the annual report should be factual and high-level and that departmental follow-up will be needed for items requiring additional funding or formal approvals.