NORTHBOROUGH — The Fire Department saw its roster grow by 40% last week Northborough fire officials announced the hiring of nine new firefighters with the other eight added to the staff and having their salaries paid for — at least initially — by a federal grant The new hires bring the department to 28 positions, up from 20, Fire Chief Dave Parenti said The department last year received a federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant the grant will pay for the salaries and benefits (including 2% raises for each year) of eight new firefighters 'Been a long road': Northborough voters approve $41.3 million fire station After that, the town is responsible. At Town Meeting on April 28 voters will be asked to create a Special Purposes Stabilization Fund to help pay for the new firefighters' salaries and associated costs once grant funding ends A total of $400,000 from free cash is being requested for the fund Chief says bigger staff adds flexibility to emergency responseParenti said the new firefighters allow the department to schedule seven per each shift “There are studies that show that when you add one firefighter you actually increase your ability to do your task 1.8 times faster,” the chief said 'Quick thinking and teamwork': Woman thanks Northborough firefighters for ice rescue All firefighters are undergoing three weeks of orientation and will then be assigned to shifts. They will attend the Firefighting Academy later this year The additional firefighters will also allow the department to respond to multiple calls simultaneously just two firefighters remain at the station to respond to any other call they can better handle multiple calls and will also meet federal firefighting safety standards “It’s not unusual to have multiple calls at once,” Parenti said “This will allow us to handle things better.” Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application he was the devoted son to his parents Ora and Ernest Z the youngest and only boy of 6 children.  He was the cherished father of his daughter Deb and her husband Bob Reynolds He will lovingly be remembered by his grandchildren Mandy Fallon (Pete) Stefanie Aspero (Kevin) and Jeff Reynolds (Paloma) He was blessed with four precious great-grandchildren Sawyer and Lyla Fallon and Theodore and Benjamin Aspero Ernie was preceded in death by his sisters Corinne Ernie’s passions were his family and his six lane candlepin bowling alley He owned and operated Sawyer’s Bowladrome in the center of Northboro since 1953 He loved sharing the story of how he and his father dug out and created the basement for the alley with wheelbarrow and shovel He felt fortunate to work until the age of 95 caring and humble man with an unmatched work ethic who saw only the good in people.  The “dash” between Ernie’s years of life were well spent with love and hard work Ernie had an exciting baseball career as a pitcher and was the property of the Washington Senators He played in various places including Waterbury He was also known for his two handed set shot in basketball and was a talented athlete in any sport he played.  He served his country in the United States Army from 1948 to 1950 as a crypto specialist during the Korean War he was assigned to the 313th Signal Battalion located at Fort George Meade Ernie greatly appreciated his visits and the love he was given by Sandy His love extended to include his 23 nieces and nephews as well as all his bowlers creating strong bonds with those who bowled for decades.  Following Ernie’s wishes there will be no public services A private graveside service in Howard Street Cemetery will take place to lay him to rest beside his wife.  The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Sawyer Family with arrangements.  This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (This story has been updated to provide additional information.) NORTHBOROUGH — For the first time in 50 years the town will be getting a new fire station Turnout was strong — 9,071 of the town's 12,097 registered voters cast ballots or 75% — thanks to the presidential election “It’s been a long road, to cross the finish line is so exciting for the department and our community, to all who dedicated their time and efforts in making this possible and the citizens who supported the project, thank you, thank you, thank you," said Fire Chief David Parenti "Our focus now turns to ensuring that the design is translated from paper into brick Citizens can have confidence that we will continue to be just as diligent during construction as we were during the feasibility and design phases Earlier: Northborough has Nov. 5 ballot question seeking $41.3M to build new fire station Voters approved $41.3 million to use to build the new station The current station was built in 1974 and has been in use since 1975 the new station will be nearly three times as large as the current one at 11 Pierce St The new station will be built on town-owned property at 61-65 West Main St The current building was built when the department had just two firefighters on duty at each time and eight apparatus there seven firefighters per shift with 24-hour-a-day coverage and 18 pieces of apparatus The number of calls the department responds to has increased five-fold The new building will also be built to modern firefighting health and safety standards designed to expose firefighters to less harmful materials at the station It will include men's and women's bathrooms and showers and seven separate sleeping areas that can be expanded to house 14 firefighters at a time Parenti said the goal is to move into the building in September 2026 Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com NORTHBOROUGH — A house on Jenkins Drive was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon The fire at 1 Jenkins Drive was reported about 4 p.m Firefighters arrived to find flames filling the house At one point brush behind the house caught on fire Fire departments from surrounding towns were summoned to help at the scene The extent of the fire prompted firefighters to adopt a defensive attack; part of the house collapsed An excavator was used to dismantle the charred remains of the house (This story was updated because an earlier version contained an inaccuracy.) NORTHBOROUGH — The town is one step away from getting the go-ahead to replace its 50-year-old fire station On Oct. 7, Town Meeting voted 431-144 — easily exceeding a required two-thirds majority — to approve a debt override of more than $41.3 million to build the new station The proposal now needs to achieve a simple majority at the ballot during the Nov The new station is needed, according to Fire Chief David Parenti "The station we are in was built in 1974 and we occupied it in 1975," Parenti said will be nearly three times as large — 33,850 square feet Parenti said — and be built on a lot at 61-65 West Main St 'The best fit': Northborough Select Board chooses former health director as next town administrator When the current building was built, Northborough had two firefighters working daily and had eight apparatus. There are now seven firefighters per shift with station coverage for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the department has 18 pieces of apparatus. And the number of calls the Fire Department fields has increased fivefold and we have three ambulances," said Parenti the integration of EMS (emergency medical services) was just beginning Chief says new fire station would address longtime cancer risksThe new building would also take firefighters' health into consideration The new building would contain a room for turnout gear — the equipment firefighters wear while at fire scenes — so it will be cleaned and stored in a place other than where firefighters will be "We didn't know about the cancer risks back then," Parenti said "Our turnout gear was set right on the apparatus floor with no ventilation We used to take our turnout gear and keep it in our bedrooms The new stations are designed as a healthy station Parenti said another prominent cause of death for firefighters is suicide as many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder The new station will be designed to help firefighters deal with stress — rooms with more natural light Town Hall at White Cliffs?: Committee recommends municipal offices be moved to historic estate "When they (firefighters) come back from those really crappy calls they can sit outside in the quiet and look at nature," Parenti said "It's those little things that can make a difference." The new station would also have both men's and women's bathrooms and showers as well as seven separate rooms for sleeping but rooms would be large enough to accommodate two people once staffing expands further officesThe new fire station would also have six drive-through bays compared to the current four; an emergency operations center; a community room that can be used by those in the community; and administrative offices The building would also have a geothermal heating system solar panels and six electric vehicle charging stations that can be expanded to 11 Select Board Chairman Mitch Cohen said that the board voted to support the project Parenti said the building is designed to hopefully last at least another 50 years "Hopefully the bids are out in early 2025 and we break ground in March and move in in September of 2026." NORTHBOROUGH — The Select Board has chosen a familiar face to become Northborough's next town administrator The five-member board voted unanimously at its meeting on Monday to appoint Holden Assistant Town Manager Stephanie Bacon to the position Her appointment is conditional upon contract negotiations and a background check She was chosen over one other finalist, Marc Strange, who is Ludlow's town administrator Current Town Administrator Tim McInerney cited personal reasons in announcing on Aug 19 that he was resigning after less than a year on the job Town titles: What's the difference between town manager and administrator? Northborough Select Board members said during Monday's meeting that both candidates were strong and would make good administrators but added they felt Bacon had a bit of an edge "I think Steph having the background and knowledge of some of the staff and processes in Northborough… I would like to see her in that position just based on the fact she knows them and it would really help her hit the ground running and she can have a really smooth transition," said Select Board member Laura Ziton Board member Michael Tietjen said the decision was "hard," but that his vote was going to Bacon "I think both Stephanie and Marc could certainly step in and be the town administrator of Northborough," Tietjen said "But our job is to try to find someone who is going to be the best To be the best fit and the best person moving forward and right now that's Stephanie." Earlier: Northborough hires Tim McInerney to become its town administrator Board Chairman Mitch Cohen said both finalists met with town employees and department heads last week although Cohen said several staff members expressed having more chemistry with Bacon — something Cohen felt was the same during the interviews "I really like both Marc and Steph," said Cohen Bacon could not be reached immediately for comment on Tuesday WORCESTER — A Northborough man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $366,000 from a Sturbridge nonprofit organization U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Guzman also sentenced Kryriakos “Rick” Kapiris on Friday to five years of probation after his release His home and other property have already been seized and sold for the purpose of paying restitution Federal authorities said Kapiris was IT manager at Venture Community Services a nonprofit that assists people with mental and developmental disabilities He worked for the Sturbridge organization between April 2015 and May 2020 Earlier: Northborough man pleads guilty to stealing $366K from nonprofit, feds say Authorities said Kapiris created three false vendor accounts from which he arranged to have Venture Community Services make purchases Authorities said Kapiris used the more than $366,000 on personal expenses including a $200,000 renovation on his home on Westbrook Road in Northborough In June 2022, Kapiris pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Worcester to two counts of wire fraud and a single count of money laundering Prosecutors had requested Kapiris serve three years in prison to be followed by three years probation pointing out that he had previously been convicted of stealing from an employer with the first year being served in home confinement Olson said she requested no prison time due to severe medical issues that Kapiris developed after his 2021 arrest a disease that causes muscle weakness and tiredness doctors diagnosed Kapiris with thymoma cancer and he had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy The myasthenia gravis makes it difficult for people to swallow and Kapiris has lost 50 pounds She said he's undergoing a medication trial and the prison system is not equipped to care for him assuming the BOP (Bureau of Prisons) is willing or able to do so renders Kapiris poorly able to maintain his health in the unsanitary communal environment of a federal prison,” Olson wrote “These maladies are on top of his longstanding diagnosis of Crohn’s disease itself a formidable condition not conducive to adequate treatment in a carceral setting.” Kapiris is scheduled to begin his sentence on April 28 NORTHBOROUGH — Stephanie Bacon served as Northborough's health director from 2015 to 2017 she has returned to become its town administrator I knew they had a great staff and I loved the community when I was here." Bacon was a Select Board member in Rutland and that led to her career shift from municipal health to town administration "That opened my eyes to a whole new world in town business," Bacon said "It inspired me to go for my master's degree." Bacon earned a master's in public administration from Anna Maria College in 2018. She holds a bachelor's degree in regional planning from Westfield State College (now Westfield State University) More: Northborough Select Board chooses former health director to become town administrator She was assistant town manager in Holden when she applied for Bacon said her experience as a select board member will help her in her new role "I would say it's a benefit for me," she said "It makes me more well rounded because you've seen everything from every facet possible It really opens your eyes to your challenges in town government and what is needed to make a project successful and have everyone come together." Bacon said she wants to promote collaboration between all boards What's in a title: Municipal titles often — but not always — reveal extent of day-to-day responsibilities She also wants to work to bring more businesses and revitalize the downtown benches and other things to make it attractive while having more community building events "I'm the type who likes those Hallmark-style downtowns," Bacon said She also wants to examine the master plan and make sure the things residents wanted are getting done as well as working on developing more affordable housing options "There are a lot of people who have lived here for their whole lives and no longer can afford it," Bacon said "We're working on ways to make sure they can stay We're going to definitely look into affordable housing so people can remain in the community they love." Signing on for three years: Northborough's new town administrator has a contract. What's in it "A lot of the staff has mentioned that to me," Bacon said "I'm trying to reassure them I'm here for the long term a white GMC going nearly 111 mph passed a stationary officer on the eastbound lane of Interstate 290 The driver was pulled over and subsequently displayed signs of intoxication He was taken into custody and his vehicle was towed Newmeyer has two previous OUI convictions in Maine He was charged with OUI-liquor (third offense) speeding and negligent operation of a motor vehicle Read the full story at the Community Advocate Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. NORTHBOROUGH — The Friends of the Northborough Library announces that it will hold its annual book sale over a three-day period next month The Friends said its "big Big BIG Booksale" takes place from March 13-15 at the Northborough Free Library The sale will feature a variety of books and media for all ages The event kicks off with a member preview from 3-8 p.m. on March 12. Membership in the Friends of the Northborough Library costs $20 and can be purchased at the door or online Scholarship opportunity: Northborough library group to award graduating senior at least $750 on March 13 and March 14; and from 9:30 a.m will be "Bargain Day," with prices reduced and a bag sale starting at 3 p.m The sale will be held in the meeting room of the library museum passes and other expenses not covered by the town budget The library is accepting donations of books and media in good condition on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m Volunteers are also needed for setup and cleanup Interested individuals can email Ellen for available time slots This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more WESTBOROUGH — A Westborough police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave as he faces charges stemming from a traffic stop last Friday in Northborough Northborough police arrested William Kearney Kearney is charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor; carrying a firearm while intoxicated; and driving to endanger Police also cited him for a marked-lanes violation Westborough Police Chief Todd Minardi said the department is aware of Kearney’s arrest but could not comment on the allegation because it is a personnel matter “Officer Kearney is placed on leave upon the completion of the criminal case and an internal investigation,” Minardi said adding that Kearney joined the Westborough Police Department in 2018 Northborough Police Chief Brian Griffin Northborough police say they pulled Kearney over because his car allegedly crossed the center yellow lines his eyes were allegedly bloodshot and he was slurring Kearney’s service weapon was in the glove compartment of the vehicle Kearney had an automatic plea of not guilty entered on his behalf at his Westborough District Court arraignment on Monday Judge Jennifer Stark released him without bail but ordered him not to possess any personal firearms could not be immediately reached for comment Kearney is due back in court on March 14 for a pretrial conference NORTHBOROUGH ― Five members of the Northborough Fire Department were recognized Wednesday for rescuing a woman 13 months ago after she became in stuck in the ice and mud while chasing her dog Ryan Snee and Christopher Tetreault were presented with Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D Early Jr.’s Team Excellence and Merit Award for the “heroic rescue.” “The quick thinking and teamwork made all the difference in a very tough situation and leadership comes from the top,” Early told Parenti were safe thanks to the seamless coordination and skills of these firefighters.” members of the Northborough Fire Department had completed an ice rescue training exercise in Shrewsbury held by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services “What makes this rescue even more remarkable was that the Northborough Fire Department completed ice rescue training just the day before,” Early said “The preparation and the professionalism of the Northborough Fire Department is exactly what this award is meant to recognize.” firefighters responded to a 911 call from a woman who had gotten stuck in the ice and mud at Carney Park while trying to rescue her dog Katarzyna Okopien-Strite and her 3-year-old Australian shepherd which took place at the Fire Department on Pierce Street “Thank you so very much," Okopien-Strite told the firefighters you were great what you did but you were so nice to me I would never forget how you did not make me feel ashamed why I’m there Okopien-Strite said her dog was chasing after ducks and geese when she fell through the ice And then I couldn’t see her anymore,” Okopien-Strite said Although the water was no more than waist-deep Okopien-Strite said she got stuck in the ice and the mud I knew she would not come back if I called her,” Okopien-Strite said She’s just going to stay there and not save herself … I could not go to her and I could not go back.” Okopien-Strite said she wasn’t scared for herself But she did get scared when she could no longer hear Sydney It took five minutes for the firefighters to respond and it was minutes later that Snee went out into the water after Okopien-Strite Snee reached Okopien-Strite three minutes later and was able to bring her back to shore while Tetreault prepared to treat her and bring her to the medics for a full evaluation “I was directed to go to the emergency after I was safe to check me but I refused because she (Sydney) was still there trapped unless I see her safe,’” Okopien-Strite recalled “And one of the gentlemen just looked in my eyes and said Brindisi scouted access points to rescue Sydney retrieved Sydney and carried the dog on his back The dog was reunited with her owner a little after 11 a.m “It was an interesting day because that day was the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts professional development conference," Parenti said "And we ended up having someone not being able to come in to cover It will be a quiet day and I’ll let all the officers go,’ I was wrong But I had a very easy time doing this because of the experience I just had to go out there and stand there and say Select Board Chair Mitch Cohen and Town Administrator Stephanie Bacon also congratulated the chief and the four firefighters The incident didn’t scare off the woman and her pet Okopien-Strite and Sydney went back walking in Carney Park And the two companions did so hours before Wednesday’s award ceremony NORTHBOROUGH — The Police Department's latest recruit is young his partner says the newcomer is sort of a prodigy Detective Stephen Sullivan recently welcomed Marshall a chocolate Labrador retriever who is serving as a comfort dog "It's (the job) pretty much in their blood." Police Chief Brian Griffin said he got the idea to get a comfort dog after a traumatic incident in town "I've observed firsthand the connection a dog can bring to people and the comfort they can provide and the smile it puts on people's faces," said Griffin "I experienced it firsthand where we had an incident — it really impacted officers emotionally We had a dog come in from a different department and people just gravitated to it It definitely lightened the mood in the room." 'Officer Archie': Wayland police use 8-month-old Labrador to comfort students Sullivan was chosen to be Marshall's handler due to his role as school resource officer. Marshall, once he undergoes a 25-week training period to be certified, will then accompany Sullivan to all town schools, including Algonquin Regional High School Sullivan thinks the investment will be worth it "Northborough doesn't really have a great need for a traditional K-9 but everyone can use a comfort dog in a time of crisis," he said the natural presence of a dog will help relieve stress and anxiety for those who need it." 'Stuffed Frankies': Franklin Police Dept. fundraiser allows people to buy stuffed version of beloved dog Griffin said he has already started seeing a benefit from Marshall's presence "It's great for the overall sense of wellness for the officers dispatchers and the community," the chief said People gravitate toward Detective Sullivan." Marshall has already had his first big test He was among 15 comfort dogs that attended a National Adoption Day event in Worcester everyone was coming up to him and he was so good — it's like he knew what he was supposed to do," the detective said he'll remain at the station when Sullivan visits the schools To help spread awareness of Marshall's arrival Sullivan had 1,000 collectible cards of the dog made Marshall was appointed to the department by the Select Board during its Nov He was to be sworn in on Thanksgiving morning so he gets used to being around as many different people as possible," Sullivan said NORTHBOROUGH ― In 1953 Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to scale Mount Everest opened Sawyer’s Bowladrome in Northborough Center owned and operated the business from 1953 until last year longest-tenured small-business owners in Northborough Ernie — or "Junie," as he was called by friends and family — was a pillar of the New England candlepin bowling community He ran his quaint six-lane alley on Blake Street for over seven decades "He just loved the people and he loved the business He never wanted to retire; he only had to stop because of health reasons Sawyer started the business in 1953 with his father shortly after Sawyer returned from serving in the Army during the Korean War One of the fun facts he often would tell people is that he and his father dug out the basement of the business by hand "They didn't have any machinery that would be able to dig under the building so he and his father did it by hand," Reynolds said "Evidently that was something he was very proud of; he would tell anyone that walked through the door that they had done that." Sawyer was known for his calm demeanor and relationships with longtime customers Reynolds said plans to expand the business into a larger alley were eventually scrapped when customers from Worcester told him they were specifically making the trip out to Northborough to bowl in the intimate setting of Sawyer's and everyone would call him 'easy' because that was just how he was he was relaxed and friendly," Reynolds said Sawyer was a natural athlete. He played minor league baseball in the Washington Senators organization, playing as high as "B" level ball, which would be the rough equivalent of A-level today. His best season came in 1949 when as a 19-year-old pitcher for the Waterbury (Connecticut) Timers of the Colonial League golf — he was a very good pitcher and at one point during his career he threw an 11-inning no-hitter which he was very proud of," Reynolds said even making it to the state tournament and bowling on television the highest honor any New England bowler could aim to achieve Sawyer cultivated decades of fans and patrons who would visit the alley on a regular basis "It was the people he really loved the most There were customers who bowled their entire lives there from when they were children until they passed away," Reynolds said Candlepin bowling was invented in Worcester in the 1880s and became a staple of New England culture during the 20th century there were candlepin lanes in most towns across Central Massachusetts with some estimating as many as 40 lanes in Worcester alone at its peak More: The past, present and future of candlepin bowling in Central Massachusetts with estimates that there are only around a dozen left open across the entire state you can go in there today and it really isn't that different from when it first opened," Reynolds said "I have so many memories of Sawyers Bowling Many of us hung out there during the early 70's kindest people I have ever known," one person wrote "In my 40's I decided to take a trip to Northboro I walked in to Sawyers and right away Ernie knew who I was I told him how much he and his Dad shaped my teenage years I will always hold them close to my heart." "I always knew him as Junie," another person wrote "I spent a lot of days of my youth hanging out at the bowling alley learning the sport of bowling and socializing with the kids in town Those were some of my most cherished childhood memories." At home Sawyer was a devout family man and was married to his beloved wife worked at the bowling alley since 1975 and today the alley still hosts Sawyer's great-grandchildren a fifth generation of Sawyers at the bowling alley We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at news@communityadvocate.com or call us at 508-366-5500 NORTHBOROUGH — A Grafton man is accused of inappropriately touching a woman at Watson Park on Sunday Police arrested Walter Laskos, 70, after the alleged incident Sunday at the Lyman Street park, Police Chief Brian Griffin said in a press release a woman was walking on a trail at Watson Park when she was "indecently touched" by a man who was also on the trails Griffin said the woman did not know the man Police did not describe the nature of the touching but the victim provided police both a description of him and his vehicle Police put out an alert to surrounding communities 'No idea she was fighting cancer': Beloved Northborough police dispatcher, 36, dies after seven-year battle Laskos was arrested shortly after the alert in Westborough Police charged Laskos with indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14 Laskos pleaded not guilty Monday during his Westborough District Court arraignment He was released without bail and is ordered to return to court on Oct He did not have a lawyer listed in the court documents according to the Westborough District Court clerk's office Editor's note: This is part of a series on walking places in and near Worcester. Let us know your favorite walking places at wmeditor@gatehousemedia.com in that curious time between the last days of summer and the beginning of fall the fragrance of grass and wildflowers rose butterflies and grasshoppers leapt and flew in bright flashes of wings Clutches of wildflowers were shedding their blooms but no less beautiful than in their height of color With its entrance nestled within a busy thoroughfare through Northborough Carney Park may come as a surprise and a mystery to anyone not familiar With 92 acres of state wildlife land within the park offers sanctuary to humans as well sometimes as far as the skyscrapers of Boston The town website notes that the park includes the highest point in the town and looking to the future and the need to preserve land and natural habitat More: A passage through history awaits at Worcester's Beaver Brook Park More: Discover the mysteries of Gates Pond Reservoir Loop Trail A plaque affixed to a stone explains that the park was given as a gift to the town from Paul Gallagher An Eagle Scout project by Casey Russell Brown has afforded the park a trail guide sign duck huts and benches along the park's Cold Harbor Trail The much-varied landscape includes gently unruly fields woodlands that have claimed former farmland and of the beauty of the SuAsCo watershed area The Cold Harbor Trail meanders through the watershed to Cherry Street and on to Church Street It's worth noting that the road to the parking area lies close to the entrance of a private business office and it could be easy at first to confuse them it's good to use extra caution upon entering and drive very slowly; the entrance and parking are unpaved like the plants and animals that call this park home Carney Park is located at 386 West Main St., Northborough. For trail maps and more information, visit the town of Northborough website. Eight years after residents from the Town of Northborough banded together to convince the town to purchase the historic White Cliffs estate for $1.75 million The mansion is the last standing in a legacy of estates believed to be designed by the Herter Brothers firm whose clientele list includes the Vanderbilt family and the White House it hasn’t been restored since the town overwhelmingly voted to purchase the estate to fend off demolition back in 2016 many members of the town didn’t understand its steep renovation cost Multiple attempts to get funding grants have failed simply maintaining the estate costs $42,500 each year according to Public Works Director Scott Charpentier The White Cliffs mansion was constructed in 1886 for the influential American firearm designer Daniel Wesson and his wife Cynthia, according to the historical website Northboro History. Wesson had met Cynthia during an apprenticeship he did in the area she asked that their summer home be built on at least some of the land they owned The estate was around 100 acres and had fish ponds Most Northborough residents remember the mansion for personal reasons as its halls were utilized for dozens of weddings and celebrations “A lot of people in town didn’t really understand the historical significance of the building they just had a lot of happy memories there,” said Kristen Wixted who lived in Northborough for 20 years and previously served on the Select Board This sentimental appreciation for the building is what drove many residents to band together and form a committee, called “Save the White Cliffs,” to fend off its demolition in 2016 The committee was overjoyed when the town voted to purchase the property the one lingering detail of what to do with the space didn’t seem as daunting of a task as it turned out to be Many members of the committee were unaware of how much fixing up the mansion would cost Full restoration of the mansion carries a $10 million price tag “just to make it habitable,” Planning Director Laurie Connors said in an email Saturday Several attempts to fund the project have failed the nonprofit organization MetroWest Collaborative Development proposed restoring the mansion and constructing an adjacent building to create 52 affordable housing units This proposal was not well received by the neighborhood and resulted in the Select Board rejecting the motion in May 2023 after reviewing a 250-signature petition by residents living near White Cliffs who opposed the plan to construct housing units to demolish a 1960s cinderblock addition to the property that Connors said was “in deplorable shape” also went nowhere “I was told by grant program staff that the White Cliffs Mansion isn’t eligible for grant funds because the ultimate reuse of the Mansion won’t be affordable housing or a commercial use that will result in jobs,” Connors said Connors has since applied for funding from the Community Preservation Committee for the same project the committee wants the Northborough Select Board to identify a clear plan for using the building before it agrees to fund the project Her application is currently under review and will be considered at the Annual Town Meeting One bright spot is the $2.4 million Northborough received to purchase and stabilize the property from the Massachusetts’s Community Preservation Act Until a clear funding path presents itself the town has decided to maintain White Cliffs indefinitely Northborough residents haven’t given up on repurposing the mansion Northborough’s Feasibility Study Committee a group tasked with evaluating the practicality and implications of establishing town office buildings or facilities has put forward a plan to repurpose White Cliffs as a new and improved town hall hasn’t had work done on it in decades and is undergoing various maintenance issues even this option would happen years in the future Select Board member Mitch Cohen said the town doesn’t plan to consider construction plans for a new town hall — at White Cliffs or otherwise — until after they complete other pressing funding priorities including building a new fire station and reconstructing Marguerite E Cohen predicts the establishment of a new town hall will be addressed in 2030-2035 the select board has discussed releasing another request for proposals to see if any new ideas for White Cliffs have sparked in the last couple of years “That’s been put on a back burner but it was a very interesting idea and I think something that we should consider greatly,” Select Board member Julianne Hirsh said of the White Cliffs town hall proposal Alexa Coultoff can be reached at alexa.coultoff@globe.com. 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