Legacy Farms residents push for early street acceptance

Residents of Legacy Farms North, frustrated with the lack of progress on the bus stop issue in their community, sought to take advantage of the Dec. 9 Special Town Meeting by pushing to have Legacy Farms Road North approved as a public road via a town-wide vote.

Having the road approved — from Frankland Road to Wilson Street — would allow school buses to travel into the development to pick up students closer to their homes. Currently residents drive their children — some more than a mile — to the edge of the development, at the corner of Legacy Farms Road North and Frankland Road, clogging the road and creating a potentially unsafe situation, especially for those children who walk to and/or from the bus stop. The road is used as cut-though for drivers to get from Route 135 to Route 85 headed toward Southborough, and there have been complaints about cars speeding along the nearly 2-mile road.

A number of Legacy Farms North residents spoke during a public hearing at the Select Board meeting on Nov. 19 and encouraged the board to support the plan.

Legacy Farms developer Roy MacDowell also appeared at the meeting and offered his assistance.

“I understand the neighbors’ frustration, and frankly I don’t disagree with it,” he said.

MacDowell explained that his plan is to pave the road in the spring, ideally before Annual Town Meeting in May. Responding to concerns from the Conservation Commission that the town might get stuck with the bill if it approves the road before it is finished, MacDowell insisted that wouldn’t be the case.

“I have no problem in signing a contractual letter that if there’s anything that needs to be complete we will take the responsibility of that even if the town will approve the road,” he said.

Planning Board chair Muriel Kramer said the road has essentially been treated as a public way since a ribbon-cutting ceremony there more than two years ago.

“I think there is some responsibility on all of us to find a way to increase the safety here on the road,” Kramer said.

Select Board member Brian Herr expressed concern that supporters were not going to be able to meet certain legal requirements that would allow the project to move forward.

“Our challenge is we’ve got to find a way to help, but we also have all these laws and rules we have to follow,” he said.

All parties expressed hope in finding a resolution, but, said Herr, “I’m not sure if we can pull that solution off at Special Town Meeting.”

Town confirms new treasurer

At its Nov. 19 meeting, the Select Board voted to confirm the town manager’s appointment of Chris Heymanns as treasurer/collector.

Heymanns, a Framingham resident, previously worked a few financial jobs in the private sector.

“His experience in the private sector proved to be what we are looking for to continue to improve our treasury and collection function in town,” town manager Norman Khumalo said before the board approved Heymanns unanimously.

Regional YMCA seeks input

The MetroWest YMCA is seeking input as it makes plans for a new center that will serve the towns of Hopkinton, Holliston and Ashland. The facility will be built on 12.5 acres of land near the Ashland MBTA commuter rail station that was donated to the organization.

The YMCA is asking area residents to share their thoughts on what they would like to see in the new center. Results from the survey will be shared during community forums in January.

To participate in the survey, go to metrowestymca.org/survey by Dec. 15.