Berlin-Boylston schools redraw budget plan

The latest budget proposal for the Berlin-Boylston Regional School District would trim Berlin's bill by $65,000 for next fiscal year, according to School Committee chairwoman Christine Keefe. The reduction is Berlin's share of the $200,000 in cuts that committee members made to the district's initial $6.9 million spending plan, which Berlin voters approved in May but which Boylston voters rejected. Keefe said the cuts were made to make the fiscal year 2009 budget more palatable to Boylston voters. If Boylston Town Meeting on June 30 rejects the pared-down budget, Keefe said, the district could convene a special joint meeting where residents from both towns would vote on a final budget for the year starting July 1. - John Dyer

TIMETABLE FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT - Brian McDermott is scheduled to begin his job as superintendent of the Berlin-Boylston Regional School District on July 1, said Christine Keefe, chairwoman of the district's combined school board. McDermott, hired by the board in March, is leaving his job as assistant superintendent of the Ayer school system. - Matt Gunderson

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PLANS - The town's Energy Committee is looking at reworking Bolton's bylaws to promote the local use of alternative energy sources, said Laura Kischitz, chairwoman of the committee. The bylaw changes, which would need Town Meeting approval, could require developers to build south-facing homes to reduce heating costs, and also may address such topics as the placement of wind turbines and solar panels, she said. - Matt Gunderson

REPRIMAND FOR HORSESHOE PUB - The Board of Selectmen on Monday issued a letter of reprimand to the Horseshoe Pub on South Street at a hearing to review the tavern's alcohol license. The board was investigating an alleged violation related to a drunken-driving incident in April, said Executive Assistant Paul Blazar. The pub allegedly had served alcohol to a motorist who was later pulled over by police on suspicion of driving under the influence, Blazar said. The tavern may keep its license and remain open, but the letter is filed to document the incident, he said. - John Dyer

WATER RESTRICTIONS - The Board of Selectmen has issued an alternate-day system of outdoor watering restrictions covering the hours between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. The move on Monday came after residents were asked to forgo nonessential water use because two of the town's five wells were out of service during hot weather, said Anthony Marques, the town's Department of Public Works director. One well was closed for routine maintenance, while another was taken offline because it hadn't been working properly, and is expected to be overhauled in the next few weeks, he said. The first well has since been returned to service, but residents might still experience drops in water pressure until the conservation measures have time to work, Marques said. - John Dyer

AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDY - The town has published a study exploring the possibility of offering group housing for the disabled as a way to increase the town's stock of affordable housing. The study outlines state laws about affordable housing, explains the concept of group housing, and discusses common concerns raised by such developments, including traffic, safety, and property values. The study was sponsored by the Lincoln Housing Commission, Affordable Housing Trust, and the Lincoln Foundation, and can be downloaded at the town's website, www.lincolntown.org. - John M. Guilfoil

FREE LUNCHES FOR KIDS - For the third year, Marlborough is offering free lunches during the summer to any Marlborough child 18 or under. Although the program, which starts tomorrow, targets children who get free or reduced-fee lunches during the school year, any child can participate, according to Peggy Ayres, chairwoman of the Mayor's Youth Commission. In the first year of the program, about 220 lunches were served weekly, she said, and the number went up to about 350 last summer. Organizers are expecting higher participation rates this year because of the sluggish economy. The city has more than 1,600 children who qualified to receive free or reduced-fee school lunches, said Ayres. "We'd like to reach as many of those kids as possible," she said. The all-volunteer program will run Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays through Aug. 22 at the Richer, Jaworek, and Kane schools, as well as the First United Methodist Church on Church Street, the Boys & Girls Club on Pleasant Street, and Countryside Village, a low-income housing complex on Route 20. - Lisa Kocian

OFFICERS STILL FACE DISCIPLINE - Selectmen have ruled against two police officers who challenged the way they were disciplined by Chief James Corcoran for their alleged violation of departmental procedures in response to a recent teen drinking party, Town Administrator John Curran said last week. After a June 12 closed hearing, the board voted that the officers should be disciplined but they modified the chief's ruling, Curran said. Because the case is a personnel matter, Curran would not name the officers, or specify what the alleged violation was or how the chief responded to it. Corcoran declined to comment. Curran said the officers have the option of appealing the selectmen's decision to an independent arbitrator, either from the American Arbitration Association or the Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations. - Matt Gunderson

NEW TOWN ACCOUNTANT FOR THE DOGS - The new town accountant, Kevin Flynn, is a self-proclaimed dog fanatic. The former town accountant in Braintree for five years and West Bridgewater for four years, Flynn also serves as a judge in dog shows and other canine events. For years, he and his wife were dog breeders, but they have since given that up to raise their three dogs and judge contests, he said. Selectmen appointed Flynn, 57, on June 9 to replace Ahmed Elmi, who worked for Northborough for almost 20 years before retiring. Flynn said he hopes to expand his new office's use of computer databases to generate more precise financial reports. - John Dyer

LOCAL WATER SHOW - Shrewsbury will be hosting its own water show this summer. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9:45 p.m., the fountains at Dean Park will offer a colorful show, set to classical, patriotic, and popular tunes being broadcast on 91.7 FM, according to an announcement from the town. The fountains were a gift in 2004 from Barbara Donahue and her family in memory of her husband, Irving J. Donahue Jr., a former selectman and local businessman. While Donahue had been active in a number of local organizations, he is probably best known for a $900,000 donation toward the Lake Quinsigamond rowing center, the largest in the country, according to the town's announcement. - Lisa Kocian

FORMAL SEND-OFF FOR FLAGS - Local veterans burned around 2,000 old American flags during an official retirement ceremony on Flag Day at Southborough's Rural Cemetery, said Steve Whynot, commander of the town's Veterans of Foreign Wars Choate Post 3276. Around 700 of the flags had been replaced on veterans' graves this year, while the remainder were dropped off at the town's transfer station, where the post has set up a collection box. He and four other veterans conducted a short ceremony on June 14 before burning the flags, Whynot said. - John Dyer

CHERRY TREE DONATED - Drivers pulling into the driveway of Hale Middle School may notice the new weeping cherry tree that stands near the school's parking circle. The tree was donated by this year's class of graduating eighth-graders. A delegation visited the Stow Gardens nursery this spring to select a tree, and the class voted to purchase the cherry, the school newsletter reported. - Matt Gunderson

GUILTY PLEA IN FRAUD CASE - Stephen L. Hochberg, 60, pleaded guilty June 13 in Boston federal court to defrauding investors out of $1.6 million, which authorities said he spent on himself. The Sudbury resident admitted to 17 counts of wire and securities fraud committed between 2002 and 2007, according to a statement from US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan's office. Hochberg faces a $5 million fine and up to 20 years in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for Oct. 16. - John M. Guilfoil

LIBRARY SEEKING OLDER ADULTS - The Wayland Public Library recently received a $5,000 grant from the state Board of Library Commissioners to start new programs and services for the town's active older adults. To meet a grant requirement for feedback from patrons, officials are seeking residents in their 50s and 60s to take part in a focus group on the library and its services. Those interested are asked to call library director Ann Knight at 508-358-2311. The survey may also be downloaded from the library's website, waylandlibrary.org. - John M. Guilfoil

EMC TRAFFIC TO GROW - EMC Corp.'s proposed new world headquarters on the Westborough-Southborough border could draw as many as 15,000 additional vehicles to the area, once the 2.5-million-square-foot project is completed, said Westborough Town Planner Jim Robbins. But Robbins cautioned that those cars would not be on the road for 10 to 15 years, based on EMC's construction plans. The first phase of the project would redevelop the existing buildings on the site, and bring around 5,500 cars to the area near Washington Street and Crystal Pond Road in roughly five years, he said. Final plans for EMC's new campus include substantial renovations to the intersection of Crystal Pond Road and Route 9, including a flyover bridge for westbound traffic, said Robbins. -John Dyer

OPENINGS ON TOWN BOARDS - Officials are seeking residents to serve on a number of town boards. The Council on Aging, the Country Club Operating Committee, and the Youth Commission each need one member. One veteran is needed to serve on the Trustees of Soldiers' Memorials. The Sandra Pond Conservation Area needs two wardens, and the Open Space Preservation Committee needs three members, including one nonvoting associate member. Interested residents should send a letter and resume to the Board of Selectmen, which is responsible for appointing the positions, at Town Hall, 34 West Main St., Westborough, MA 01581. - John Dyer

SETTLEMENT ENDS COOLIDGE LAWSUIT - A Mt. Auburn Street property owner has settled his lawsuit against the town over zoning issues at the former Coolidge School. Francis Mastroianni, who had voiced concerns about the area's parking woes, confirmed last week that he reached an agreement with the developer, Mitchell Properties LLC, but declined to discuss details of the settlement. The lawsuit was dismissed from Middlesex Superior Court on June 3 at the request of Mastroianni's company, Trilogy Mt. Auburn LLC. -Christina Pazzanese