Town approves permits for Boston marathon
NATICK, Mass. -- Despite budget woes in towns along the course of the Boston Marathon there will be no changes to the famous route.
The Natick Board of Selectmen voted Monday night grant a permit to the Boston Marathon.
Business owners were concerned about how closing their establishment for the race could affect their business.
"One day of not being able to pay bills, you know, definitely does hurt," said Anthony Matarazzo, a business owner along the route.
Four of the eight towns that host the run delayed issuing the race permits because of budget concerns.
"With inflationary factors...we thought it was a good year to ask for a little bit more," said Martha White, Natick Town Administrator.
White joined officials from Wellesley, Framingham and Ashland to ask for more funding.
The towns will get $29,000 for the marathon to pay police officers for crowd control, paramedics for medical emergencies and DPW crews for cleanup. That number is up $3,000 from last year.
The Boston Athletic Association said that is all it can afford, but the executive director said they wouldn't want a change to the course.
"It's history. It's legendary. We wouldn't allow that under any conditions," said Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association.
Town of Natick says they hope to use some of that extra $3,000 to help some of the businesses affected by the race.
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