ORANGE, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Orange Selectboard will be asking residents to borrow up to $1 million to cover the costs of building a water tower for the industrial park businesses and a portion of the town. The project was allocated $2 million originally from a MassWorks Infrastructure grant and ARPA funds, but now the construction estimates exceed that figure by at least 25%.
Currently, the industrial park businesses do not have sufficient water and Seamen Paper are reportedly paying higher insurance premiums as a result. If the water tower doesn’t get built, it is possible Seaman Paper, the largest employer in Orange, could move out of town. Selectboard Vice Chair Pat Lussier was the only Selectboard member to not vote in favor of adding the borrowing request to the Town Meeting warrant, saying in a previous Selectboard meeting that the water tower is not a pressing need.