The Annual Town Meeting for Northborough, Massachusetts, held on May 5, 2025, focused heavily on the future of the historic White Cliffs property. The meeting began with a motion to authorize the select board to convey the property through various means, including sale or lease, while ensuring a perpetual historical preservation restriction is maintained. This motion was seconded and received unanimous support from the select board.

The discussion highlighted the necessity of a preservation restriction due to the Community Preservation Act, which mandates that any property acquired with CPA funds must have such a restriction. The select board emphasized that this article is not about raising taxes; rather, it aims to alleviate the town's financial burden of approximately $45,000 annually in maintenance costs for White Cliffs. The goal is to transition from temporary fixes to a sustainable solution that would restore the property and potentially generate revenue through taxes.

In March, the town issued a public request for proposals (RFP) to attract qualified partners for the sale or lease of White Cliffs. The proposals were expected to align with community priorities, including reducing financial burdens, preserving the mansion, and enhancing public access. The select board received two viable bids: one from Nikki's Gardens of Hope, proposing to convert the mansion into a pub and event center while adding supportive housing, and another from Elegant Banquets LLC, which plans to restore the mansion and build a new ballroom.

The public raised concerns about the select board's authority to make decisions regarding the property without further town input. Some residents expressed a desire for any final decision on the sale or lease to return to town meeting for a vote, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in such significant decisions.

The select board reassured attendees that any final agreements would still require careful review and that community feedback would be considered in the decision-making process. The meeting concluded with a call for continued community engagement as the town moves forward with the proposals for White Cliffs, underscoring the importance of balancing preservation with practical financial management.