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Placement of commissioned 12-foot sculpture in Northborough delayed after site-selection debate
Summary
The Select Board heard extended public and staff debate over two proposed locations for a commissioned 12-foot public sculpture and voted to table a final siting decision until June 8, asking staff for cost estimates and stakeholder coordination.
The Select Board on May 18 took up a lengthy discussion about where to install a recently commissioned 12-foot bronze sculpture funded under the town’s public-art plan. The work, commissioned by the North Arts Council from artist Dale Rogers, generated competing recommendations: Blake Street (high visibility from Route 20) and the Town Common (the public’s favored site in a survey).
Vic, president of the North Arts Council, described the project’s placemaking goals and survey process and urged the board to consider the artist’s preferences and community support. Public Works Director Scott Sharpente noted practical constraints at both sites — the presence of a declining commemorative tree and a Lions Club sign on Blake Street, and constructibility, access and banner-location conflicts on the Town Common.
Residents and committee chairs raised concerns about visibility, who owns or controls particular parcels, the fate of memorial features and the logistics and cost of removing an illuminated sign. Susan Sartori and others urged a policy-based approach for future public art on the common so new works do not crowd civic uses like farmers markets or music events.
After extended discussion and requests for cost estimates related to sign removal and site logistics, the board voted to table the siting decision until its June 8 meeting. Members asked staff to return with estimated costs to remove the Lions Club sign (town staff estimated roughly $1,200 for electrician disconnect plus about $1,000 for construction-demolition disposal), a proposed installation plan and an engagement plan coordinating Parks & Rec, the historic commission and other stakeholders.
What’s next: The board will revisit the placement question on June 8 with cost estimates and additional input from relevant commissions; board members said they want to preserve memorials and civic-event functionality while finding a visible location for the sculpture.
