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Council accepts cultural grants and a $2,500 gift to launch police drone unit; one councilor expresses concern
Summary
The council approved several cultural grants and a $2,500 gift to establish a police drone unit; Councilor Presiato expressed concern about surveillance and the drone's role in the community before the gift was approved unanimously.
Marlborough City Council voted to accept a set of grants and a small private gift to establish a drone unit in the police department.
The council approved a $15,000 Massachusetts Cultural Council grant to the Morrow Downtown Village Association to support the annual food truck and artisan festival, and separate grants of $2,100 (Massachusetts Cultural Council) and $7,000 (Friends of the Malra Public Library) to the Malra Public Library to fund a mural for the children’s room and seasonal programming.
On a separate item, donors gave $2,500 to the police department to establish a drone unit. Before the motion to accept the gift, Council Presiato said she felt "definitely uneasy" about having a drone and surveilling the community. The mayor's communication and council discussion did not include technical drone policy detail; the council accepted the gift by unanimous vote.
Councilors approved the grants and gift by recorded votes and the items were placed on file per the motions on the agenda.
