Marlboro council rejects communications director funding, adopts $195.9 million budget

MARLBOROUGH — May 20, 2024 — Marlboro City Council adopts $195.9 million budget after killing communications director funding 2-9. The council voted 11-0 to approve the Finance Committee's $195,893,154 fiscal 2025 budget, a 4.3 percent increase, after stripping $717,732 from Mayor J. Christian Dumas's original $196.6 million proposal. An effort by At-Large Councilor Mark A. Oram to restore $73,000 for a new communications director — backed by six residents citing missing Portuguese and Spanish outreach to 42,000 residents — failed 2-9. Ward 6 Councilor A. Trey Fuccillo said existing social media already covers road-closure graphics and "it doesn't take a communications director to make those alterations." Vice President Sean A. Navin cited looming 8 percent water and 9 percent sewer rate hikes. The council also opened a hearing on rezoning Donald Lynch Boulevard to allow restaurants, drive-throughs and multifamily housing, and approved a special permit for an Alta Behavioral Health outpatient substance abuse clinic at 400 Donald J. Lynch Boulevard.