The Appropriations Committee discussed and recorded recommendations on the Town Meeting warrant articles during its April 3 meeting. The committee’s votes were advisory; Town Meeting and the select board retain final decision authority on articles that require their action.

Summary of committee recommendations (article number, short description, committee recommendation, roll‑call tally as recorded at the meeting):

- Article 5 — Town budget: Recommend approval (advisory). Committee roll call: 4 yes, 2 no.

- Article 6 — Northborough K–8 Public Schools budget: Recommend approval. Roll call: 5 yes, 1 no.

- Article 7 — Algonquin Regional School District assessment: Recommend approval. Roll call: 4 yes, 2 no.

- Article 8 — Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School assessment: Recommend approval. Roll call: 5 yes, 1 no.

- Article 9 — Water, sewer and solid waste enterprise funds: Recommend approval. Passed unanimously.

- Article 10 — Revolving funds authorization of expenditure limits: Recommend approval. Passed unanimously.

- Article 11 — Appropriations Committee Reserve Fund: Recommend approval. Passed unanimously.

- Article 12 — Stabilization Fund contribution: Recommend approval. Passed unanimously.

- Article 13 — Establish special purpose stabilization fund: Recommend approval. Passed unanimously.

- Article 14 — Senior tax relief updates and options: Recommend approval. Passed unanimously.

- Article 15 — Police body cameras (capital): Recommend approval. Roll call recorded as 4 yes, 2 no.

- Article 16 — Police cruiser replacements (capital): Committee recommended approval (vote recorded in meeting).

- Article 17 — Ambulance replacement (enterprise fund/debt): Recommend approval (vote recorded as unanimous).

- Article 18 — Fire department personal protective equipment: Committee did not recommend approval (recorded vote: 1 yes, 5 no).

- Article 19 — Town offices HVAC updates: Recommend approval. Recorded vote: 5 yes, 1 no.

- Articles 20–21 — Roadway improvements and drainage/sidewalk program: Recommend approval; recorded unanimously in committee.

- Articles 22–24 — Highway/DPW vehicle replacements: committee recorded mixed recommendations (some passed, some failed in committee votes); specifics:
- Article 22 (20‑ton dump truck): Recommend approval (committee vote recorded in favor).
- Article 23 (1‑ton pickup): Committee did not recommend approval (recorded result 1 yes, 5 no).
- Article 24 (1‑ton dump truck): Recommend approval (recorded 4 yes, 2 no).

- Article 25 — Aspinet Hill drainage and roadways (neighborhood engineering): Recommend approval (unanimous).

- Articles 26–29 — Water/Sewer equipment and downtown streetscape: The enterprise‑funded water/sewer vehicle (Article 26) and water‑main support funding (Article 27) were recommended by the committee (unanimous); Article 28 (broadcast/PEG server) recommended by committee (funded from PEG receipts); Article 29 (downtown streetscape planning) was not recommended by the committee (committee vote recorded as 0 yes, 6 no).

- Articles 30–34 — School capital items (technology, playground, retaining wall/stairs, roof design): Committee bundled the school capital requests and recommended approval (recorded unanimous recommendation).

- Articles 35–40 — Community Preservation Act (CPA) items and related appropriations: Committee took a mixed approach but recommended approval on most CPA articles relevant to affordable housing, conservation reserves, monument restoration and administrative funds. Notable votes:
- Article 35 (CPA — affordable housing project): Committee recommended approval (roll call: 5 yes, 1 no).
- Article 36 (Conservation Fund replenishment): Committee recommended approval (recorded 5 yes, 1 no).
- Article 38 (White Cliffs design): Recommend approval (unanimous). Article 39 (White Cliffs debt service): Recommend approval (unanimous).

- Articles 41–42 — Historic and other small CPA administrative items: Committee recommended approval (unanimous).

- Articles 43–46 — Disposition/TIF articles for Town‑owned properties (White Cliffs and 4 West Main) and related tax‑increment financing items: Committee recorded mixed responses and some members said they were uncomfortable voting in the absence of specific negotiated terms. The committee recorded the following advisory outcomes:
- Article 43 (lease or sale of White Cliffs): Committee recorded 2 yes, 4 no (did not recommend approval).
- Article 44 (TIF for White Cliffs): Committee recorded 1 yes, 5 no (did not recommend approval).
- Article 45 (lease or sale of 4 West Main): Committee recorded 1 yes, 5 no (did not recommend approval).
- Article 46 (TIF for 4 West Main): Committee recorded 0 yes, 6 no (did not recommend approval).

- Article 47 — TIF (9 Goddard Road / Project Evolve): The committee deferred a recommendation to allow time for the company to provide additional information; no roll‑call recommendation was recorded at the April 3 meeting.

How to read this list: These are advisory committee recommendations and recorded roll calls; final actions on articles will occur at Town Meeting or by other required Town bodies. The committee’s report accompanying the warrant will include narrative, reasons for split votes and areas where the committee asked for further work by the town administrator.