Town Meeting approved Article 34, a $100,000 appropriation from free cash to fund a feasibility and schematic design study for replacement of the Marion E. Z. Elementary School roof at 33 Howard Street. The study is part of the process after the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) invited Northborough into its accelerated repair program for the Z School.

Becky Pellegrino and school staff explained the Z School roof is original to the 1998 renovation, about 58,250 square feet, and currently exhibits leaks, failed seams, open flashings and ponding water. The MSBA’s accelerated repair program requires a study; the town will conduct the feasibility and schematic design in partnership with an MSBA-assigned owner’s project manager and designer. Pellegrino said the MSBA typically reimburses a portion of study and capital costs; the district’s current estimated reimbursement rate is 45–50 percent but final reimbursement percentage will be set by the MSBA when the project funding agreement is negotiated.

Nut graf: Town Meeting approved the appropriation to allow the required study to proceed; if the MSBA later invites the town into the full program, any design and construction costs will be subject to the MSBA project funding agreement and to subsequent Town Meeting approval of any larger appropriation.

Appropriations and Financial Planning committees recommended approval; the school committee voted unanimously in favor. Municipal staff noted the Proctor roof had recently been replaced using ARPA funds, which enabled solar panels to be added; a new Z School roof would similarly permit future energy upgrades.

Implementation: If MSBA collaboration proceeds, the MSBA will lock in a reimbursement percentage in a project funding agreement; the town will remain responsible for any costs in excess of any MSBA grant. The feasibility study and schematic design are intended to produce bid-ready documents and an updated estimated project cost for presentation to Town Meeting in a later fiscal year.

Sources: School presentation and Town Meeting transcript.