Billerica Select Board Approves Pride Proclamation 3-0, with Two Abstentions

BILLERICA -- May 22, 2023, Billerica Select Board approves Pride Month proclamation 3-0 with two abstentions, then spends an hour on $20 million Town Center design. The board split May 22 on language directing municipal departments to ensure "adherence" to the LGBTQ Pride proclamation, language Selectman Michael Rosa called inconsistent with every prior proclamation the town has issued and potentially at odds with the town charter. Selectman Ryan Deloria defended it, saying "encouraging conversation is exactly what a municipality should do." Selectman George Burroughs also abstained; Selectwoman Corinne Conway and Chair Dan Keenan voted yes on both the proclamation and a separate resolution condemning anti-transgender legislation nationwide, both passing 3-0. Town Manager John Curran then outlined a funding strategy for the $20 million Town Center renovation combining a pending $5 million MassWorks grant application, a $3 million federal earmark being explored through Congresswoman Lori Trahan's office, $6 million in free cash over three years, Chapter 90 road funds, and $4 million in unspecified "other sources." Traffic engineers from Beta Group defended a parallel-parking design along Concord Road against Rosa's challenge that the project's own delay data shows longer vehicle wait times under the build configuration than under existing conditions. No vote was taken on the design; a Select Board design vote is targeted for August 2023 after two public input sessions and stakeholder meetings with more than a dozen town committees.