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WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — See a pothole, snap a picture — at least that will be the new process in Westborough.
Selectmen have approved a contract that will allow the town to pilot the Commonwealth Connect smartphone app for three years at no cost.
"We get to try it out first and see if it's a great tool, or if people don't use it," said Town Manager Jim Malloy.
The app allows residents to take pictures of town maintenance issues, including potholes, broken streetlights and graffiti, and sends a work order to the DPW. Users can track the status of the work orders through the app.
"I think it's really exciting. I can hardly wait to put my first pothole in," said Selectmen Chair Leigh Emery.
Westborough was selected for the trial period along with 35 other Massachusetts communities. After the initial three years, the service will cost about $5,000 to continue.
Selectman George Barrette said he wanted to emphasize that if the service isn't used, it won't be continued, noting that it's become a running joke that every time the town receives a grant, it eventually finds it's way into the budget.
"I like the fact that we definitely get to try something out, and, if it's not highly utilized, I think it should go away," he said.
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