Builder honored

Local resident Yvon Cormier was honored recently by the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts for his work over the years as a "builder, developer, and community leader." Cormier's developments include the Andover Country Club site, several commercial buildings in the Billerica Industrial Park, shopping centers in New Hampshire and Vermont, and apartment complexes throughout New England. Cormier is also a philanthropist who has organized fund-raisers and donated more than $1 million to a wide range of local charities. He was honored at the State House in Boston, and received a Legend of the Industry Award. - Brenda J. Buote

REIMBURSEMENT FOR SCHOOL WORK - The Massachusetts School Building Authority's board of directors has awarded $8.7 million as reimbursement for the renovation of Chelmsford High School, part of a $31 million project that upgraded the McCarthy and Parker middle schools as well. Completed in April 2007, the high school's $18 million improvements included a new science wing and the addition of a performing arts center. Town officials are planning to request a grant of $7.5 million for the McCarthy project during this fiscal year, said Town Manager Paul Cohen. In fiscal 2010, they will request $5.5 million for reimbursement of the Parker project, Cohen added. - Joyce Pellino Crane

MOSQUITO TROUBLE - Members of the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project will be in town to investigate residents' complaints about local insect populations tomorrow and Aug. 25. According to the regional agency, its 38 member communities receive regular inspections to check for viable places for mosquito activity, including wetlands. If found appropriate, insecticide may be used in specific areas. Dates are tentative and weather-permitting. To file a complaint about mosquitoes, contact the project at 508-393-3055 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. - Rocco Colella

REGISTRATION DEADLINE - Residents have until Tuesday to register to vote in the special town election on Sept. 8, and until Thursday to register for the Special Town Meeting on Sept. 2. The election is to decide a proposal to pay off a $2.5 million bond for an eminent domain case involving the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District. Voters in the election and Special Town Meeting will also act on a $220,768 Proposition 2 1/2 override request, with the proposed tax increase earmarked to cover last winter's snow- and ice-removal deficit. - Matt Gunderson

INSURANCE CREDITS - The town has received a $8,838 credit on its insurance premium from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, as a reward for efforts to limit liability, according to town officials. Groton officials have been implementing new practices and policies that strive to reduce injuries, accidents, property damage, and lawsuits against the town, according to an announcement. Over the last six years, officials have been able to reduce the town's insurance costs by $48,172 through their liability-reduction steps. - Matt Gunderson

PRIVATIZATION CONSIDERED - The City Council will review a proposal on Tuesday by Mayor Michael Sullivan to have the day-to-day operations of the city's water system run by a private company, according to the council's president, Patrick Blanchette. The council will review bids by five companies, including Woodard & Curran, an Andover engineering and consulting firm that has been running the city's water system since February under an emergency appointment by Sullivan. The appointment was based on an order by the state Department of Environmental Protection in October, Blanchette said. The agency had cited the city's new water-treatment plant for violating safe drinking water standards. Blanchette said he expects the proposal to be referred to a council committee for review. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers. - Kate Augusto

STUDYING APPOINTED SCHOOL PANEL - Mayor Edward "Bud" Caulfield said he is interested in looking into the idea of eliminating the city's elected School Committee and moving toward an appointed board. Caulfield said he's heard many complaints from residents after the school board awarded salary and stipend increases to the district's four assistant superintendents. He said he doesn't think an elected board should be negotiating contracts. Caulfield said he considered placing a nonbinding referendum on the November ballot asking residents if they would support having an appointed committee, but there was not enough time to get it done. To place a question on the state ballot, the Legislature must approve a home-rule petition and then the question must be submitted to the secretary of state's office by Sept. 5. Caulfield said he might look to place the question before voters in next year's municipal election. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

CHURCH GETS NEW PASTOR - A Navy veteran of the war in Iraq has been named pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. The Rev. Marc Bishop, a former lieutenant in the Navy Chaplain Corps, will lead a church that was formed about 10 years ago when parishes in Lawrence and Methuen were combined. - Russell Contreras

NEW TRUSTEES FOR COLLEGE - The Merrimack College trustees recently appointed five new members, the Catholic school recently announced. Joining the board are the Rev. Joseph L. Farrell, the Rev. William T. Garland, Karen Kalil-Brown, Marybeth McInnis, and Brian C. Mitchell. - Russell Contreras

PLANS FOR PAPER MILL - A study committee researching potential uses for the site of an abandoned paper mill on Main Street is investigating a marketing plan for the property, said Town Administrator Robert Hanson. Voters approved an article this spring designating the site as an "economic target area," which enables the town to negotiate tax breaks with commercial developers in an effort to draw their business into town, said Hanson. The designation has been filed with the Legislature for approval. In the meantime, the study committee is drafting the marketing plan, which will investigate various commercial models that might work for the site, said Hanson. - Matt Gunderson

INSURANCE REWARD - The Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, the nonprofit insurance arm of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, has given Tewksbury an insurance-premium credit of $18,990 in recognition of the town's loss-prevention and risk-management programs. Overall, the insurance group this year awarded $1.9 million in credits to 350 association members through its program to reward efforts to limit claims. - Brenda J. Buote

SCHOOL SPRUCE-UP - In his first correspondence to school staff, Superintendent Darrell Lockwood noted that the town's three public schools are being painted, washed, and waxed in preparation for the start of classes on Aug. 26. Lockwood took over in July after David Hawkins retired. His letter, posted on the school district's website, tyngsboroughps.org, also encourages all members of the school system, from students to top administrators, to strive toward personal growth, saying it is the key to a successful year. - Joyce Pellino Crane

WATER TEST RESULTS DUE - When perchlorate was first discovered in 2004 in one of the town's drinking water supplies, a handful of private wells were also found to have higher levels of the contaminant than state regulations allow. Those wells were tested in June and July and again last week, according to the interim town manager, Norman Khumalo. On Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the J.V. Fletcher Library, Khumalo will lead a public meeting on the topic. Test results from the private wells will be presented and a discussion about extending the public water supply to homes will take place. Khumalo said officials are exploring emergency funding options through the state Department of Environmental Protection. Perchlorate, a salt derivative, was found after blasting chemicals were used while building the town's new Highway Department garage on North Street. The contaminant was first discovered in the Cote Well, which supplies Westford's Nabnasset section. Under state supervision, a filtering system has since been installed. High quantities of perchlorate in drinking water can affect thyroid function, officials said. - Joyce Pellino Crane

LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION BEGINS - It's official. Construction on the George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library is underway, with the foundation now in place. In November, selectmen and library trustees accepted a $4 million donation from two brothers, G. Philip and Alvin H. Rodgers, to build a new library on Derry Road. Their only condition is that the building be named the George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library, in memory of their late parents. - Meg Villeneuve

MALL DECISION NEAR? - The town's Planning Board continued last week to trudge through a series of reports on a proposed outlet mall. The board accepted Chelsea Property Group's application to build a 135-store complex on Commerce Drive. During its meeting Tuesday, the board tabled discussions again and may make its final decision at this week's hearing, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Town Hall courtroom. - Meg Villeneuve

CANDIDATES SPARSE - Only two candidates filed the necessary paperwork to run for a vacant seat on the city's Board of Education. The filing period ended Monday with just Daniel Hogan and Charles Katsohis vying for the interim position, according to City Clerk Paul Bergeron. The special election will be held Sept. 9, the same day as the state primary. The seat became vacant when Edwina Kwan resigned from the board on July 1. The election's winner will serve until Jan. 10, 2010. - Meg Villeneuve

OK FOR FARM PURCHASE - At its meeting Monday, selectmen gave the town's Conservation Commission the go-ahead to purchase Hawkins Farm. The board voted 4 to 1 to acquire the 15-acre property for $950,000. Selectman Pat Hargreaves was the lone dissenter. The agreement calls for the commission to pay $750,000 to landowner Ed Hawkins at the closing. The board will then have three years to give him the remaining $200,000. However, if the balance is not paid off, the commission has agreed to subdivide the property to allow a single-family home and turn it over to Hawkins. - Meg Villeneuve

LESS BACTERIA IN RIVERS - E. coli bacteria levels in the Souhegan and Merrimack rivers dropped substantially in the last two weeks, according to tests done recently by the Souhegan Watershed Association and Lower Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee. The heavy rainstorms of recent weeks had abated somewhat prior to the testing, which probably accounted for the drop in E. coli, according to Karen Mattor, coordinator for the program. E. coli levels at popular swimming holes on the Souhegan were acceptable, at 133 and 127, respectively, for the Boston Post Road Canoeport in Amherst and the Turkey Hill Bridge area in Merrimack. George May, president of the Souhegan Watershed Association, which has sponsored the water testing program for the last 12 years, said the bacteria levels were acceptable but noted that anything above 88 may cause ear infections. - Meg Villeneuve