The Master Plan Implementation Committee voted unanimously April 14 to send a support letter backing grant applications and to mobilize outreach for a proposed Blake Street streetscape project in downtown Northborough.

The vote follows a presentation by Laurie (town staff) on the project, which she said grew out of a downtown revitalization plan and a community workshop held Feb. 26 that drew “about 50 people in attendance.” Laurie said the project team is pursuing two grants — the state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program and a federal Complete Streets construction grant — while asking Town Meeting to fund a reduced local contribution after earlier budget proposals failed to win committee support.

Committee members said they support applying for grant funds and agreed to write and send a committee support letter. The committee also discussed a short advocacy campaign ahead of Town Meeting to explain the project and its costs to residents.

Laurie told the committee she had originally requested $1,800,000 at Town Meeting but reduced the town ask to $1,100,000 after discussions with the DPW director, town administrator and finance director. She said a consultant cost estimate for the full streetscape was about $2,000,000. Laurie said she intends to apply for the full $500,000 available through the Complete Streets program and plans to seek a competitive MVP award; she described a likely MVP request in the “$600 to $750,000 range.” She also said the town secured a $30,000 economic development earmark and can use remaining ARPA funds and in‑kind staff time as part of required matching contributions.

Laurie warned the committee that both the Complete Streets and MVP grants have specific spending and scheduling rules. She said MVP requires a minimum match (she estimated the program’s required match at about 10%) and that grant timelines can force construction within a narrow season — making it costly and impractical to split large construction into multiple years.

Committee members raised concerns about private‑property constraints. Laurie said one owner (represented locally by a property manager named Josephine) who had been expected to make frontage improvements has decided not to proceed; the owner lives in Hong Kong and communications have been difficult. Because some parking on Blake Street is on that private parcel, Laurie said the sidewalk will have to be placed behind existing perpendicular parking on that lot and the design was being adjusted accordingly.

Several members urged active outreach to voters before Town Meeting because the Financial Planning Committee and Appropriations Committee voted not to recommend the article. John Campbell said he is “not optimistic that it would pass a town meeting” without outreach and suggested yard signs, social media, flyers and town events to educate residents. Fran Baxter and others endorsed applying for the grants even if the town contribution is uncertain; Baxter said, “I think that, we should be very supportive of Laurie going out to get this money.” The committee agreed to form a small working group (fewer than a majority) to help with outreach and agreed Laurie should include the committee’s letter with her grant packet.

Laurie described implementation choices and tradeoffs: if grants were awarded but the town funding did not pass at Town Meeting, the town could be left with partial improvements (for example, new sidewalk and curb but no paving or parking‑lot elevation), which could leave downtown in an incomplete state that would still require additional funds later. She said the project team expects to put the work out to bid in January of the year in which construction would occur.

Action taken: a motion to authorize Laurie to send the committee’s support letter passed unanimously by roll call vote. Laurie said she will include the committee letter with her grant applications and staff will coordinate outreach materials and a brief cable/YouTube information session for residents. The committee agreed to reconvene the small volunteer outreach group early next week to plan public materials and events prior to Town Meeting.

Next steps: Laurie will submit grant applications (MVP and Complete Streets) and include the committee support letter; the volunteer sub‑group will meet to draft outreach materials; the MPIC will monitor grant outcomes and town meeting preparations. The MPIC’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 15.