Cultural council seeks members

The Amesbury Cultural Council is seeking new members to fill available three-year terms beginning this June. The council, appointed by Mayor Thatcher W. Kezer III, is responsible for awarding grants each year to support cultural activities in Amesbury, using the annual funding the city receives from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The council also runs an annual gallery tour each November. Members meet approximately 10 times a year and work one weekend during the gallery tour, serving approximately 20 hours in all. Contact Amy Sherwood at 603-380-1676 or amy@sherwoodstreet.com. - John Laidler

POLICE STATION REDO UNDERWAY - Workers began a $229,000 renovation project at the Beverly Police Station last week. The cost will be split between the state and the city. The work will include installing a central air conditioning system, adding a new interview room, new windows, new lockers, repairing the locker room showers, and renovating the dispatch center. This is the first major renovation project for the building, which was constructed in 1939 to hold 17 police officers. Now, 69 officers, 13 reserve officers, and 10 civilian employees work inside the station.

- Steven Rosenberg

TOWN MODERATOR'S FORUM THURSDAY - Voters are invited to this spring's town moderator's forum Thursday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. At the session, Moderator Gerald Johnston will review all articles on the warrant for the May 13 Annual Town Meeting. Johnston holds such informational forums prior to all town meetings to give interested voters a preview of matters that will be coming before them.

- John Laidler

MONSTERS ON DISPLAY - Art students from the Holten-Richmond Middle School have developed a gallery exhibit that brings to life the Greek myths. Under the direction of teacher Jeff Surrette, the students created works related to myths, including 7-foot-tall statues of Greek monsters - Cyclops, Minotaur, Medusa, and Centaur - masks of the Greek gods, and illustrated storybooks recounting the ancient tales. The exhibit will be displayed at the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers starting Thursday. The public is invited to join the student artists at a free opening night reception from 7 to 9 p.m.

- John Laidler

43 ARTICLES FOR TOWN MEETING - There are 43 articles on the warrant for the Monday Town Meeting. Eleven of the articles deal with changes to zoning, including a citizen petition article for creating a residential-agricultural overlay district in the area around John Wise Avenue, a section of Route 133. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Essex Elementary School, Story Street. - David Rattigan

'STRONG' FIRE CHIEF ADVANCES - The town is one step closer to hiring a part-time "strong chief" and three per diem firefighters, thanks to legislation recently approved by the Legislature and Governor Deval Patrick. The legislation was required due to the makeup of the Georgetown Fire Department. Last year, the town voted to change to a strong chief model. A $91,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override to pay the salaries of the chief and firefighters and other associated expenses will be up for a vote at the May 12 election. The jobs will be posted on the personnel board at Town Hall, and a committee will begin searching for a new chief if the town votes in favor of the override. - David Cogger

CITY SOLICITOR MOVES ON - City Solicitor Linda Lowe, who served the city for 19 years, has taken a new job with a private law firm. Lowe, who left her post last week, will join Petrini & Associates, P.C. Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Lowe's position would not be filled, citing the hiring freeze she implemented in January to respond to the the city's financial crisis.

- Steven Rosenberg

TOWN MEETING OK'S OVERRIDE - By voice vote, Groveland residents voted in favor of a Proposition 2 1/2 override for $172,340 to continue the town's road improvement program at Town Meeting last Monday. The paving program had been funded through a continuous series of one-year capital exclusions that passed in some years and not in others. With no other override this spring and the town expecting a slight decrease in its fiscal year 2009 budget, the Board of Selectmen opted to present the road improvement program as a permanent override. The override must next pass at the town's spring election, scheduled for Monday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street. Also at Town Meeting, attended by 144 residents, the town voted to make roads commissioner, tree warden, the Cemetery Commission, and Planning Boards appointed, not elected, positions.

- David Rattigan

OVERRIDE VOTE TOMORROW - Town Meeting is scheduled for tomorrow with votes on proposed Proposition 2 1/2 overrides for the town ($177,444) operating budget and Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District ($1,288,322). While the group Support Our Schools has been supporting stronger school funding for several months, in recent weeks a group opposing the override has been holding informational pickets. "We're not against the schools," said Jim Kent, cochairman of Enough Is Enough, who argues that the flawed educational funding system has put too much strain on residents' income. "Economically, working people are up against it." Among the other articles for residents is one proposing changes to the senior housing bylaw. Town Meeting is scheduled for Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, Bay Road, at 7:30 p.m.

- David Rattigan

BORDEN BECOMES PERMANENT CHIEF - Richard B. Borden, Haverhill's acting fire chief for more than two years, last week was appointed permanently to the position. Haverhill's Fire Department has been run by an acting chief for the past four years, since the last permanent chief retired. "Mr. Borden was unanimously recommended by the retired fire chiefs on our Fire Deparment Selection Committee," Fiorentini said in a statement announcing Borden's promotion. Also promoted were Robert Irvine, now a lieutenant, and Paul Wienburgh, now a temporary captain. Borden, whose father also was a Haverhill fire chief, first started working for the department in 1983. He will be sworn in Tuesday. - Erin Ailworth

TOWN LAND AUCTION WEDNESDAY - The town has scheduled a tax title auction of six land parcels for Wednesday. The sale of the properties will bring in a small amount of revenue for the town, Treasurer/Collector Kevin Merz said, and also put the land back on the tax rolls. While Merz said some of the parcels are of interest primarily to abutters, others could be developed, including a 5,053-square-foot lot on Great Neck, and one parcel on Lafayette Street has a five-bedroom house already on the property. The auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Town Hall, Green Street. Visit sabids.com - David Rattigan

RETIRED POLICE CHIEF TO BE HONORED - At its meeting tomorrow, the Board of Selectmen will hold a recognition ceremony for Alan Gilson, who recently retired as a Manchester police sergeant. Gilson, a Manchester resident, began his career with the Manchester Police Department as a patrolman in 1967. In 1981, he became a sergeant. His retirement was effective March 30. Also at tomorrow's meeting, selectmen will hear an update from Public Works director Steven Kenney regarding the town's road paving program and other matters. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. - John Laidler

TOWN MEETING MULLS BUDGET TOMORROW - The Annual Town Meeting that convenes tomorrow will consider a proposed $68.4 million spending plan for fiscal 2009. The plan includes a $65.8 million operating budget and $2.7 million in individual appropriations. The meeting will also take up three spending requests for which approval would be contingent on passage of debt exclusions at a special election in June. Included are proposals by the School Committee for $19.6 million to pay for an overhaul of the Village School building, and $395,000 for a feasibility study and project manager related to the proposed construction of a new elementary school to replace the Eveleth and Glover schools. The third proposal, submitted by citizen petition, would authorize the town to purchase for approximately $1.3 million a 2.2-acre wooded parcel off Long View Drive West from Mario and Camille Angenica, of Lynnfield. The parcel has been permitted for a seven-home subdivision, according to Jeff Stracka, who organized the petition. Town meeting the last two years narrowly rejected similar proposals to buy the land. In other business, the meeting will consider creation of an affordable housing trust fund, and a measure providing for the town to pay town employees activated for military service the difference between their civilian and military salaries. The meeting will be at the Veterans Middle School at 7:45 p.m. - John Laidler

WARNING ABOUT NOVELTY LIGHTERS - Today marks the beginning of National Arson Awareness Week. In honor of the event, the Fire Department is reaching out to educate citizens about the dangers of "toy-like or novelty lighters" that have been responsible for hundreds of injuries, deaths, and accidents across the nation. Certified firefighter Michael McLeieer said the goal of this year's event is to focus public attention on the dangers of these lighters in the hands of children. In 2002, the National Fire Protection Association estimated that 13,900 structure fires in the United States were caused by children playing with fire, with associated losses including 210 civilian deaths, 1,250 injuries, and more than $330 million in damage to property. Several states, including Maine, have either banned the sale of novelty lighters or limited their distribution. For further information, contact Michael McLeieer at 978-346-4731, ext. 1, or e-mail Michael.mcLeieer@merrimacfire.com. - David Cogger

PHOTO CONTEST - Residents who enjoy taking pictures of natural scenery have a chance to win cash prizes for their talents. The Middleton Stream Team is seeking entries for its 2008 photo contest. Participants need not be Middleton residents, but pictures must be taken along a Middleton waterway. Cash prizes will be awarded for the winning photos ($200 for first prize, $100 for second, and $50 for third), provided by the Middleton Board of Trade. Contest rules and entry forms are available in the Middleton Post Office lobby or by e-mailing middletonstreamteamphotos@gmail.com. -John Laidler

BOARD TO PUSH VILLAGE AT LITTLE RIVER - The planning board will pursue two zoning proposals at the Annual Town Meeting on May 27 that will allow the town to move forward with the development of the Village at Little River. One bylaw would establish the Little River Smart Growth Overlay District. Under "smart growth" zoning, towns can create zones with streamlined permitting and dense residential and mixed-use developments and ultimately receive incentive payments from the state. The other provision would allow retail, office, and residential uses in an area currently zoned for industry. Boston-based Beacon Communities Development LLC and Coastal Partners Inc. have proposed the development, which would include 150 homes, a 5,000-square-foot senior center, two plazas, a village green, and walking trails spread out over 100 acres. The land is near the intersection of Route 1 with Middle Road and Hanover Street. For more information on the project, visit villageatlittleriver.com. - Taryn Plumb

WATER BILL DECISION DUE - Homeowners reeling over higher water and sewer bills may find out May 14 whether the city will provide relief. There is a joint meeting of Newburyport's Water and Sewer Commission slated for 5:30 p.m. in City Hall that day to debate whether the city should change its billing policy. Some residents last month received bills thousands of dollars higher than usual because a project to replace all water/sewer meters with modern ones detected and billed for chronic under-reporting in about 4 percent of households, some going back years, according to city officials. City policy has long required that a customer be billed for the amount the meter measured, but some officials have argued the problem was partially the city's fault and customers should not be stuck with huge bills. - Kay Lazar

BACK TO DRAWING BOARD - A proposal to spend nearly $1 million to renovate the Coolidge Road Water Treatment Plant and to remove sludge from nearby lagoons will be debated by the City Council's Finance Committee on May 15. The panel will make a recommendation to the council that night, and the council is expected to vote on it at its May 22 meeting. Two similar proposals to renovate and clean the plant were rejected by the council this spring. - Steven Rosenberg

TOWN ELECTION TUESDAY - Residents will elect two new selectmen and vote on a $2,735,000 Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion override at the Tuesday annual town election. Ellen Canavan, Christopher Lewis, and Andrew Heinze are running to fill seats on the Board of Selectmen being left by Joseph Lisi and Roxanne Tieri. In the other race, School Committee incumbents Melissa Tingley and Brian Sullivan are challenged by Jonathan Ring. The debt exclusion will fund repairs and capital needs. - David Rattigan

TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS - Planned traffic improvements have started around the courthouse project in Salem, according to a notice to residents posted on the city's website. Work will be taking place in several areas, including on North Street from the Bridge Street overpass to Essex Street, and on the West Ramp from North to Bridge. Improvements are expected to be complete by the beginning of November. Workers may have to reroute travelers around the construction at times, and city officials are recommending that drivers use alternate routes when able. For more information, contact Bill Trombley, the contractor site superintendent, at 978-745-0671. - Erin Ailworth

WEIGHING IN ON LIBRARY - The town library is seeking the help of residents as it weighs its building needs. Salisbury last June was awarded a $40,000 state grant -- after $20,000 was appropriated by Town Meeting last October -- to study the feasibility of expanding and renovating the current building or constructing a new library. The library trustees appointed a Library Vision Committee to undertake the work. As part of that effort, the committee is conducting a survey of town residents to see what they would like to see in an expanded or new library. According to library director Terry Kyrios, the public feedback will help the committee assess how to allocate the space in the future facility, and choose between building new or expanding. She said responses to date indicate the public would like the library to remain in its current location on Elm Street. The survey is available at the library, the town clerk's office, the Hilton Senior Center, and online at salisburylibrary.org. The deadline for returning it is Saturday. - John Laidler

SPENDING TO BE CONSIDERED - A proposed $52.9 million operating budget is among the major items that will come before the Annual Town Meeting that convenes at 7:15 p.m. tomorrow at the high school auditorium. The meeting will also take up approximately $2 million in requests for capital projects. Separately, it will consider appropriations subject to Proposition 2 1/2 capital exclusions at a special election that would be called prior to Sept. 15. One is for $150,000 for road repairs, and the other for $300,000 to buy a fire engine. Also, the meeting will hear a presentation from the Town Building Study Committee on its plan for the disposition of 14 town properties, including proposals to build a police station on the site of a sewage pumping station, and to sell the former Temple Israel, middle school, and Philips Avenue fire station. - John Laidler

BUDGET, ZONING ON AGENDA - Voters will consider a proposed $21.5 million spending plan at the Annual Town Meeting that convenes at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Proctor School. Included is an operating budget of $14.7 million, and $5.7 million to fund the town's share of the Masconomet Regional School budget. The meeting will consider 14 zoning articles. Among them are proposals to create elderly housing districts that would allow for two proposed 55-and-over condominiums; a 52-unit development off Route 1; and a 24-unit development next to the New Meadows Golf Club. The annual town election is Thursday. - John Laidler

NEW TOWN HALL GETS RAVES - The town offices have all been transferred to the newly renovated Town Hall, which is getting great reviews, according to Board of Selectmen chairman John Clemenzi. "It took a lot of work to get over there, but it's working well," he said. "It looks wonderful." An open house for the public to tour the building is scheduled May 31. - David Rattigan

TEST DRILLING ON MULLEN PROPERTY - Selectmen are allowing the Board of Water Commissioners to do test drilling on the former Mullen property off Church Street. Water commissioners have said that they believe the property could be a potential well site for the town, which now purchases its water from Newburyport. Bids are out for the drilling, which will cost roughly $10,000; that money will come from the water department budget. Selectmen are giving the water department until June 21 to come back with a definite answer on whether the property could be a well site. Commissioners said the savings to the town would eventually be $200,000 a year. Selectmen, however, pointed out that after adding in the cost for the land and a pumping station, it would be several years before such savings would be realized.

- Taryn Plumb

TRITON TEAMS MAKE FINALS - Two Triton Regional School District teams have recently achieved some notable success, and it's not on the playing field. The district's middle school and high school Destination ImagiNation teams placed second in their respective categories at a state competition April 12 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Both earned the opportunity to join 30 others representing Massachusetts at the Destination ImagiNation 2008 Global Finals May 21-25 in Knoxville, Tenn. The event will feature 18,000 students from 40 countries. DI is the world's largest creative problem-solving program for young people from kindergarten through college. To cover the cost of their trip, teams need to raise $14,000. Members are seeking donations. Donations can be sent as a tax-deductible check payable to Triton DI, c/o Barbara Mann, Triton Regional Middle School, 112 Elm St., Byfield, MA 01922. - John Laidler