Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 1/5/2023
WILBRAHAM – Town Administrator Nick Breault told Reminder Publishing about the changes and developments coming to Wilbraham in 2023. “There’s a lot of good projects that I think people will be pleased with,” he said.
Senior center
The biggest project on Wilbraham’s plate for 2023 is the new senior center. The site for the building, behind the Town Hall, has been cleared and construction is due to begin early in the new year. Breault said the expected completion date is November 2023, but he acknowledged that the timeline is weather-dependent.
The cost of the senior center has been a source of contention in the town, as inflation and unforeseen complications have led to a higher-than-expected price tag. Expenses related to the building will continue to be a focus in the year ahead. Breault said a warrant article seeking funding for aspects of the senior center is expected at the Annual Town Meeting. While Breault said it was too early in the process to provide a figure, he said that the funding would cover some of the items that had been eliminated from the plan that was approved in October 2022 with the intention of providing for them at a later date.
Town clerk
A change in the selection of Wilbraham’s town clerk will also be considered at the Annual Town Meeting. As Breault explained, the town clerk is currently an elected position, which means any resident could be selected by voters. However, the duties of the town clerk are highly specialized and require continuous training.
Also, as an elected position, the town clerk must live in Wilbraham. An appointed position would widen the pool of talent from which the town could select the most qualified candidate. Breault said the change is not being sought as a reflection on Town Clerk Carole Tardif and, if passed, would likely take effect upon her retirement.
Broadband
Wilbraham is in a multi-year process of creating a fiber optic system to bring broadband internet access to residents who want it. “We will own the infrastructure,” Breault said, and will lease access to one or more internet service providers.
During the next 12 months, the Broadband Committee will be designing the system and securing commitments from future customers. Breault said the system will not be built until the number of commitments reaches a “critical mass” that will make it a self-sustaining entity. Still, Breault cautioned, it will be two to four years before residential fiber optic connections come online.
Other topics
There are several other projects and changes that are smaller in scope. A design and feasibility study will be conducted to examine moving the Recreation Department offices to Memorial School. Breault said there are already programs that use the property, including a pickleball court.
Breault said the town would like to complete the sidewalk project on Stony Hill Road, connecting the Wilbraham Commons Apartments to Boston Road. Sidewalks are usually popular with residents, he said.
Finally, Breault said he expects an article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant which would seek to officially change the name of the Board of Selectmen to the more gender neutral and inclusive term Select Board, which is already in use in many towns in Massachusetts.