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Congregational Church rep asks trustees to shift curb, add accessible parking on shared lot
Summary
A Congregational Church board member asked Westborough library trustees to realign a granite curb to the church property line and pave space for parallel parking with accessible spots; trustees urged town involvement, raised green-space and funding questions, and recommended bringing the matter to the selectboard.
Brett Borgland, who said he serves on the Congregational Church board, told the Westborough Public Library Board of Trustees during the public forum that the church would like to push the existing granite curb back to the church property line and pave the adjacent strip to create parallel parking, including two accessible spaces. He described sketches scaled at 1" = 20' and estimated 8–12 feet of usable curb edge at several points.
Trustees and Brett discussed how the concrete driveway apron from West Main Street into the church lot has been damaged and whether a contractor tied to the library construction might repair it. Brett said town staff had indicated the apron would be redone; trustees said they needed confirmation from town highway staff and the contractor. Concerns centered on who would pay for paving or curb relocation and whether such work could be treated as part of the library project or required separate town approval.
Board members repeatedly noted the property boundary issues have existed for decades and described an existing MOU that allows the library to use the church parking lot. Trustees urged Brett to coordinate with town departments, including highway/roads and the selectboard. Brett said he would try to get the matter on the selectboard agenda in early June so the town could clarify permitting, funding and whether the construction contractor might lawfully address the apron as part of its work.
Trustees also raised regulatory and policy issues: removing green space downtown would trigger rules about impervious surface and stormwater management, and state law may limit how some changes can be staged. The board urged staff to gather information on property deeds, the MOU terms, whether the contractor’s scope includes apron work, and any permitting or funding constraints before taking action.
Next steps: staff and trustees will seek clarification from town highway staff and the contractor, and Brett said he would pursue a selectboard agenda slot so the parties can discuss cost, permitting, and whether the project could proceed without using town funds on primarily private property.
