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Mayor and council leaders caution against committing city resources before feasibility results
Summary
Marlborough’s mayor and council president told the Climate Resilient Council they are wary of using department time or city funds until a feasibility study clarifies costs and liabilities for a proposed wastewater thermal pilot.
Marlborough’s mayor and the council president urged caution during the Climate Resilient Council meeting, saying the city should not ask department heads to devote substantial time or resources until a technical feasibility study defines costs and risks.
The mayor said she is responsible for “protecting the city” and cautioned against committing staff or funds to a project that remains ill-defined. The council president similarly warned the committee is “way too early in the process” to request major city commitments and suggested engaging utility partners such as National Grid before asking the city to lead a pilot.
Committee members did not dispute the need for caution but emphasized the feasibility grant is a modest, technical step that would produce the information leaders want. Black Swan Labs and several councilors recommended pursuing only the Phase 1 technical-assistance grant and using the resulting report to determine whether to seek design or construction funds.
The committee agreed to have Black Swan draft an application for the feasibility study and to have DPW provide the limited technical data the application requires; members said they would review the draft prior to submission and would not authorize follow-on phases without additional approvals.
