Board picks consultant

The Essex Board of Selectmen plans to sign a contract with consultant Horsley Witten Group of Sandwich to identify the options for subdividing a portion of town-owned land at Conomo Point, south of Robbins Island Road. Funding was approved at Special Town Meeting this month. -David Rattigan

THROWING TRASH OVER THE BORDER - The city recently issued about $1,800 in fines for illegal dumping. According to Matt Laidlaw, Everett's communications director, code enforcement officers issued the fines to Malden residents caught dumping trash on the properties of Everett homeowners near the Everett-Malden line. Laidlaw said the violators may have been attempting to avoid trash disposal fees in Malden, which recently instituted a "pay as you throw" policy. Everett officials have been monitoring areas along the border since Malden started charging residents on Oct 6. "I applaud the efforts of our code enforcement officials, " Mayor Carlos DeMaria Jr. said in a prepared statement. "We can't have people from other cities using Everett as a dumping ground." - John Laidler

BEARDSLEY NAMED CHIEF - Albert B. Beardsley has been sworn in as the town's new fire chief. Beardsley was chosen by a 2-1 vote of the Board of Selectmen, with Evan O'Reilly voting for acting chief Mike Anderson. Beardsley will serve as the town's new strong chief, a full-time position that was approved at Town Meeting in May. Beardsley was a captain with the Boxford Fire Department. - David Cogger

ONE BID FOR FIRE PUMP - At $384,989, Bulldog Fire Apparatus of Woodville was the lone bidder for the triple combination fire pump. The firm was tentatively awarded the contract when bids were opened this month, contingent on technical approval from the Board of Fire Engineers. -David Rattigan

RICKER ON PLANNING BOARD - The Board of Selectmen recently appointed Marcie Ricker to the Planning Board. Ricker replaced Dorothy Stookey, who resigned in September for personal reasons. -David Rattigan

TEACHERS PUSH FOR NEGOTIATIONS - The Lynn Teachers Union has asked the School Committee to begin contract negotiations with teachers, aides, and therapists. Contracts for all three bargaining units expire Aug. 31. Also at tonight's meeting, the School Committee will receive a Framework for Strategic Planning from Superintendent Nicholas P. Kostan. Other agenda items include the appointment of Mark Johnston as head of the science department at Lynn Classical High School. The committee will meet at 7 at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, 90 Commercial St. - Kathy McCabe

TOLERANCE FORUM - The 22d Forum on Tolerance will be held today at North Shore Community College on Broad Street. "Immigrant Rights and Human Rights" is the topic. Aviva Chomsky, a history professor at Salem State College, will be the guest speaker. She is the coordinator of the Latin American studies program at the college, and author of " 'They Take Our Jobs!' And 20 Other Myths About Immigration." The event is free, and will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Kathy McCabe

CEMETERY REPAIRS - Emergency repairs to the walls at Bell Rock Cemetery will be made after the City Council's Cemetery Committee determined that damage to the walls, portions of which have collapsed, poses a public safety hazard. The finding prompted the Finance Committee to vote unanimously to repair the walls. The work is expected to cost $2,675 and require about a month to complete. Officials also are considering making repairs to the Salem Street Cemetery, which is in need of new wrought-iron gates. Work at the Salem Street Cemetery is expected to cost about $55,000. - Brenda J. Buote

LIQUOR SALES APPROVED - City voters last week approved two local ballot questions that will expand liquor sales in the city. The first authorizes the Liquor Licensing Commission to allow up to three retail stores to sell beer and wine. The second gives smaller restaurants that have 50 to 99 seats the right to apply for a beer and wine license. Voters in all wards approved both questions. Brenda J. Buote

DRAGONAS HONORED - Phyllis J. Dragonas, a former deputy superintendent in the Melrose public schools, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association. The award is given to an educator for "exceptional and meritorious service." Dragonas was honored at the association's 42d annual conference, held recently in Sturbridge. She worked in the Melrose school system for 37 years, including 30 as director of foreign languages, before retiring in August. - Kathy McCabe

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK - Merrimac Citizens for a Strong Community is conducting a survey to provide feedback to the Board of Selectmen concerning resident concerns and priorities for the coming year. The five-minute survey can be accessed at the town's website, www.merrimac01860.info. CSC will forward the results to selectmen. - David Cogger

LIBRARY REDEDICATED - About 500 people turned out on Nov. 8 for a rededication ceremony marking the completion of the $7.2 million renovation and expansion of the Flint Public Library. Em Claire Knowles, a member of the state Board of Library Commissioners, was among those speaking at the ceremony, held in the library's new meeting room. Other speakers included state Senator Bruce E. Tarr; state Representatives Brad Hill and Brad Jones; Lois Lane Gianni, chairwoman of the library board of trustees; and selectmen chairman Kosta Prentakis. Following a ribbon cutting, members of the public were able to take a look around the building, which is expected to reopen for regular use on Monday. - John Laidler

REINSTEIN TO FIGHT FOR SLOTS - Revere State Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein, an advocate for slot machines at racetracks for more than a decade, said she will refile her bill in January in response to the results of Question 3 banning dog racing in the state. Reinstein also indicated she will appeal to her State House colleagues about possibly overriding the results of the question, but acknowledged it would be an uphill battle. By 56 percent to 44 percent, Massachusetts voters approved a ban on dog racing starting Jan. 1, 2010, essentially putting the state's two dog tracks, Wonderland Greyhound Park and Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park, out of business. Workers at both tracks, upset that they'll lose their jobs, indicated the only way the tracks would survive is if the Legislature approves slot machines. Reinstein said she is "obviously very disappointed" with the results of Question 3, which "criminalized" workers at the tracks, while at the same time voters approved another ballot question decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. "It's crazy," she said. "We can tell people they can smoke marijuana but they can't race dogs? It's devastating." -Katheleen Conti

BRIDGE WORK CONTINUES - The Board of Selectmen reported the Taylor and Dodge Road bridge projects are well underway. The Taylor Bridge has been dismantled and removed, and water is being diverted through a temporary plastic pipe to allow for construction of the new bridge. The contractor has completed driving the I-beam piles, and excavation of the area for the footings has begun. National Grid has installed a temporary gas line around the old Dodge Road Bridge, and L&M Holdings began diverting water through one side of the present bridge to accommodate demolition. Check www.town.rowley.ma.us for updates. - David Cogger

MORE RECYCLING - A public hearing will be held Monday on a proposed solid waste ordinance that will give selectmen the authority to begin mandatory recycling in town. The ordinance will be presented to voters in March. It is intended to cut the town's solid waste 50 percent, saving about $1 million a year. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall as part of the selectmen's regular meeting. - Tom Long

BUDGET INCREASE REQUESTED - Town manager Barry Brenner has set the town's operating budget for fiscal year 2009 at $18,044,805. It is a $1 million increase over the amount requested for fiscal year 2008, which failed to win voter approval in March. The default budget was $16.7 million. The state will set the tax rate on Dec. 1. - Tom Long