Planning board allows limited holiday construction at fire station and handles routine board business

The Town of Northborough Planning Board voted on Dec. 16 to permit construction work at the new fire station on two specific legal holidays — Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 15, 2026) and Presidents' Day (Feb. 19, 2026) — by temporarily removing the nonwork condition for those dates. Staff said it will cc the town administrator on the letter to the fire department and building inspector so other oversight bodies and the finance director have visibility.

Board members raised concerns about potential overtime/prevalent wage costs and whether the building committee or select board should also review the request; staff reminded the board that compensation practices and budgets are outside planning’s jurisdiction and recommended notifying the town administrator and building committee for additional oversight. After receiving that assurance the board approved the limited exception by roll call.

The board also approved the Nov. 18 meeting minutes as amended, discussed ensuring YouTube links point to the specific meeting recording rather than the channel, and received brief subcommittee updates. Updates included a Community Preservation Committee application for field renovations (~$300,000), open‑space outreach and the Beewalt Trail grant work, traffic safety recommendations to the Select Board (speed‑limit reductions on Crawford Street and Church Street), and a Central Massachusetts RPC grant presentation related to regional greenhouse gas reduction planning.

The board set its next regular meetings for Jan. 6 and Jan. 20, 2026, and adjourned for the holidays.