Billerica Select Board elects Riley chair, rescinds $38,000 charity award unanimously

BILLERICA — April 3, 2023 — Billerica Select Board reorganizes, accepts 15 roads, and rescinds a $38,000 community funds award in one session. The board elected Mike Riley as chair on a 3-2 vote over incumbent Andy Deloria, with Kim Conway elected vice chair unanimously and Deloria elected secretary 3-2, at the April 3 reorganization meeting held days after a Town Election that returned John Burroughs and Rosa to office. DPW Director Fred Russell walked the board through 15 roads accepted unanimously as public ways, 13 of them tied to Sewer Contract Area 38 currently in design, with two added by citizen petition. The board voted unanimously to rescind a $38,000 community funds grant to Community Caregivers after Town Manager John Curran reported that a police investigation found the application had listed two individuals as board members without their knowledge or consent; both corporate sponsors, EMD Serono ($35,000) and E Inc. ($3,000), agreed to allow the funds to be redistributed. "There's not only significant inconsistencies but flat-out lies," said Rosa, citing contradictions between the applicant's emails and statements from the individuals whose names were used. The board also unanimously recommended four DPW warrant articles to Spring Town Meeting totaling $3.45 million — including $3 million for water tank restoration — and continued a National Grid utility petition to April 24 pending resolution of a DPW conflict-of-utilities concern.