Select Board approves Men’s Club beautification funding, flags DPW limits for watering support

The Upton Select Board on April 14 approved two Men’s Club requests from the Risteen Beautification Trust: up to $5,000 for seasonal planters, mulch and edging, and $12,295 for replacement of the town’s "Welcome to Upton" signs.

Member Brett Simas, who identified himself as a Men’s Club member, described the planter work as an annual, routine request and said one of the town’s welcoming signs had recently detached, prompting inspection of all signs that are now more than 20 years old. Town Manager Kristen Rubin told the board the Risteen Trust contains sufficient resources and may be used at the board’s discretion for beautification projects.

The board then heard from DPW Director Dennis Westgate about operational limits for watering and maintenance. Westgate said the DPW is fully staffed for year-round operations but this year’s seasonal workforce will consist entirely of new hires, creating gaps in continuity and training. He told the board the DPW can help water and maintain planters at locations where staff are routinely present and can access water easily—Town Hall, the Risteen Building and the Community Center—but that remote and high-traffic sites such as intersection planters, the Pratt Pond area and Westboro Road remain difficult to serve without additional equipment, for example a mobile tank or pump system.

Members approved the funding motion unanimously. The discussion concluded with board members and Men’s Club representatives expressing appreciation for the volunteers’ work and with DPW indicating it will assist where feasible for the current season while pursuing longer-term improvements.