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Residents press Select Board to address ATSC member's role in neighboring Northborough grant effort
Summary
During open forum, residents asked the Select Board to investigate whether an Active Transportation & Safety Committee member improperly promoted a MassTrails application for a neighboring town while offering paid consulting services as matching funds—the speakers called the arrangement a potential conflict of interest and asked the board to exercise its oversight role.
Two residents used open forum to press the Select Board for clearer oversight of Westborough's Active Transportation & Safety Committee (ATSC). Kevin Barry read a letter he previously submitted to the planning department alleging that Don Burn, a member of Westborough's ATSC, repeatedly intervened in Northborough's planning process and offered to donate billable consulting hours as an in-kind match to secure a MassTrails feasibility grant. Barry told the board the pattern of presentations and meetings in Northborough raised transparency and conflict-of-interest concerns: "Mr. Burn... is effectively proposing to serve as both an advocate and paid consultant," he said in his prepared remarks.
Joanne Aramini followed, saying the Select Board promised over a year ago to clarify ATSC roles and responsibilities and that the board had made oversight of that committee one of its goals. Both speakers asked the Select Board to treat the matter as an agenda item and to provide a response on how the town will address potential conflicts tied to committee participation and outside consulting.
Board members acknowledged the concern and said staff and the planning board would have the opportunity to follow up. The Select Board did not take a formal vote on the allegations at the Jan. 27 meeting; staff noted the planning and oversight relationship between boards and said the matter could be scheduled for a future agenda.
Provenance: Open forum and public comment (SEG 062'221).
