New Town Hall Passes Special Town Meeting

FOXBOROUGH, MA - After years of work, Foxborough is getting a new Town Hall.

The project passed a final hurdle Tuesday night during a quick Special Town Meeting which needed less than 90 minutes to approve eight articles.

Passing 201-12, the article will see the $7.4 million project completely funded. About $6.86 million in work remains, including the demolition of the old building and the construction of a new 16,476-square-foot building to be built in the current Town Hall parking lot.

Two requests from the town will now head to the state house. With the approval of Article 1, the town will request that the definition of a mandated reporter in Foxborough be expanded to all public and private school employees, child care workers, all town employees, and all town volunteers that work with children.

According to Selectmen Chairman Jim DeVellis, the town’s training program has already trained with about 1,000 coaches, youth group leaders, scout leaders, and town workers.

Also heading to Beacon Hill will be a petition for two new liquor licenses. Both all-alcohol licenses will be designated to Forbes Crossing, which is scheduled to start construction next month.

Also passing Town Meeting was the new police contract, a collective bargaining agreement between the town and employees across several departments, the new library employee’s contract, the removal of future police chiefs from civil service, and the funding of a water main to be placed on a portion of Main and Lakeview Streets.

Unofficial turnout was 249 residents.