Decision coming on town hall upgrade

Selectmen are expected to decide March 24 on whether to accept a potential donation to upgrade the Town Hall's public meeting room into a performance space. At their meeting last week selectmen examined the nearly $120,000 in costs to upgrade the auditorium's wiring and ventilation systems and discussed the appropriateness of allowing performances in a room originally designed for civic and governmental meetings. A cost analysis from McGinley, Kalsow and Associates, the firm handling the Town Hall renovation design, estimated that increased ventilation, conduit system, and electrical wiring would cost approximately $100,000, with a contingency bringing the total to $115,000. The funding for the upgrades would come from contributions by residents and matched by Needham Cooperative Bank. The bank has been working with the Citizens for the Preservation of Town Hall to raise the money, according to Selectwoman Denise Garlick. The upgrades would be in addition to changes planned during the Town Hall renovation project. - Kathryn Eident

COUNCIL CONSIDERS MONEY FOR ABANDONED PETS - The City Council is considering a request from the police chief for an additional $5,000 to help deal with the rapidly increasing number of abandoned pets. The request first went before the council Monday night, when it was referred to the Finance Committee, which is standard procedure for money requests, according to City Clerk Russ Malone. City Councilor Ed Tarallo said the sharp increase in abandoned pets is related to the economic downturn. The money would go to the Natick Animal Clinic, which boards strays from Waltham until they are adopted or euthanized. - Lisa Kocian

ASSISTANT IS FINALIST FOR TOP SCHOOL JOB - As many expected, Assistant Superintendent Ann Koufman-Frederick was unanimously selected by the School Committee as a finalist for the position of superintendent of schools last week. If formally chosen for the job, Koufman-Frederick would replace Superintendent Steven A. Hiersche, who takes over the top spot in the Framingham school system on July 1. The committee will host two public forums this week for school staff, parents, citizens and interested groups who wish to hear from Koufman-Frederick and ask questions about her vision for the district. The first session is slated for Tuesday in the Watertown High School auditorium at 7 p.m. The second session will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Hosmer Elementary School. Koufman-Frederick has served as assistant superintendent since July 2006. She also lectures on education technologies at Harvard University Extension School. Before coming to Watertown, Koufman-Frederick was a curriculum and technology administrator for the Marblehead Public Schools; a director of curriculum and instruction at the Carroll School; and director of technology initiatives for the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. - Christina Pazzanese

SHOVELING MEASURE OFF THE TABLE - A controversial plan to make home owners shovel the sidewalks around their property or face fines was taken off the table last week. Councilor Susan Falkoff said she decided to withdraw the proposed ordinance after a council subcommittee on rules and ordinances met last Monday night. Though the crowd at the meeting was equally divided among supporters of the measure and opponents, Falkoff said it did not appear there were enough votes among the councilors to pass. "My goal is to get the sidewalks shoveled, not to get the community upset," said Falkoff. Though most agree sidewalks ought to be cleared promptly after storms, not everyone thinks having the town make homeowners do the work is the best way to handle things, she said. Instead of requiring people to shovel, Falkoff said she would support a resolution to seek volunteers or possibly paid shovelers through the School Department, the Wayside Multi-Service Center, the Watertown Ministerial Association, and the local food pantry and match them up with residents who need shoveling help through the Council on Aging and other local groups. - Christina Pazzanese

PAYING MORE FOR GREENER POWER - Starting later this month, Wellesley residents will find in their utility bills a postcard offering them an opportunity to pay more for their electricity. The idea, said Michael Humphrys, board chairman of the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant, is to have residents and businesses in town volunteer to pay 5 cents more per kilowatt hour on some portion of their bill. That voluntary increase, he said, will be directed toward developing or acquiring energy from renewable sources, such as solar power. An average household using 970 kilowatts per month could opt to pay the green surcharge on 10 percent of its bill and thus pay an additional $4.85 extra per month. Households will have three other options: 25 percent, 50 percent, and 100 percent, the latter of which amounts to an extra $48.50 per month for an average household. Customers can also sign up at www.wellesleyma.gov/Pages/WellesleyMA_WMLP/conservation. - Lisa Keen

SCHOOLS UPDATE - How well are the Weston Public Schools doing? The School Committee and administration have released its annual report on how the system fared in 2008. Among the key events, the two top posts were filled by Superintendent Cheryl Maloney and Assistant Superintendent Amber Bock; the teachers union helped pave the way for the town to join the state Group Insurance Commission, which will save $1.3 million in fiscal 2010; and the administration returned a $200,000 surplus to the town for use in 2010. It currently costs taxpayers $12,827 to educate each student. With state, federal, and other funding factored in, per pupil spending is $16,463, the second highest statewide. School spending consumes a steady 57.5 percent of the town's yearly budget, with an average annual increase of about 2 percent over the last decade. Typical class sizes are under 21 students for kindergarten and first grade and less than 24 for all others. While alcohol and binge drinking are down among high schoolers, marijuana, cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco use are all up in the past three years. The full report is available at www.westonschools.org. - Christina Pazzanese

FREE MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY - The Anthony Duo will perform in concert March 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Ashland Public Library's community room. The program is a mix of Renaissance arrangements for the lute and flute, modern Spanish guitar music, and more. The concert will be followed by a reception and is free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at 508-881-0134 or visit www.friendsoftheapl.com or anthonyduo.com/index.html. - Rachel Lebeaux

NEW TOWN MANAGER - Selectmen on March 7 voted to hire Norman Khumalo as Hopkinton's next town manager, pending successful contract negotiations. Khumalo is assistant town manager in Westford. Selectmen chairman Brian Herr said he hopes to have Khumalo officially hired by the end of this month, with a start date around May 1. Khumalo would replace Anthony Troiano, who according to town documents stepped down in October after admitting to viewing pornography at home on a town-owned laptop. Clayton Carlisle is serving as interim town manager. - Calvin Hennick

APPLIANCE RECYCLING - Electronic equipment and appliances will be collected at the Hudson Catholic High School parking lot at 198 Main St. on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The Hudson Catholic Boosters Club and school parents are organizing the drive, which will raise money for the school. Equipment of all kinds will be accepted, from computers and printers to kitchen appliances and humidifiers. Fees range from $5 to $35. Pickup can be arranged for $15 by calling 978-562-9700. Visit www.stmikes.org/ElectronicRecycle.pdf. - Julia Rappaport

FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT - The Lincoln School will hold a family science night for K-4 students on March 24 at 6:30. in the Smith Gym. Aimed at involving parents and making science fun and educational, the event will have students taking part in six wacky experiments and getting to take home four projects to do at home. The school teamed with a company called Top Secret Science in the hopes of creating a fast-paced and fun educational environment that mixes chemistry and physics. The cost is $5 per child and participants must preregister. Payment to the school by Wednesday in an envelope marked "family science night" must be received by Wednesday. - John M. Guilfoil

FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE FINED - The State Ethics Commission on March 4 fined former city Department of Community Development finance assistant Maureen Brennan $5,000 for violating the state's conflict of interest law. The commission found that in September 2002, Brennan processed a housing rehabilitation loan for her then fiancé Keith Wheeler. The loan was for improvements to a house Wheeler owned in Marlborough. Brennan and Wheeler wed in October 2002. According to the commission, Brennan approved several increases in the amount of rehabilitation assistance for Wheeler between 2002 and 2004. State ethics laws prohibit a municipal employee from participating in matters in which a family member has a financial interest. Although Brennan did not participate in the city's initial decision to make the loan, the commission says that she participated in the distribution of the loan. - Julia Rappaport

NEW POLICE STATION - A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will be held at the Maynard Police Station March 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. to celebrate the new Main Street building. The event, hosted by selectmen, the police department, and the Public Safety Committee, will include refreshments and station tours. - Calvin Hennick

DESIGN FOR WEST NATICK COMMUTER GARAGE - Jockeying for the 178 fast-filling parking spots at the West Natick MBTA commuter rail station may be tamed if the recently announced state-funded design of a parking garage on the site is chosen by the MBTA for completion. The state's Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works announced they will pay $33,000 for the design of a 500-space garage that would be located on the site of the current surface-level lot. The project plan is part of the MBTA's effort to increase commuter rail parking by 1,000 spaces by the end of 2011. The West Natick proposal will be in the running with projects in other communities like Salem, Acton, and Beverly. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will consider project cost and readiness, community support, and regional impact when making selections. The town has promised to help with interim parking during the construction phase. - Megan McKee

ANIMATION SESSION AT THE LIBRARY - The Sherborn Library is holding an animation movie making workshop for kids Wednesday, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event, which is hosted by the Children's Technology Workshop, a Toronto-based company that encourages applied-technology curricula, is for children in grades 2 through 8. The purpose of the workshop is to teach these children to write, direct, shoot, and edit their own movies. Those interested in attending must sign up by contacting the children's librarian, Cheryl Ouellette at 508-653-0770. - Anna Fiorentino

PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR LEAVING - Nancy Allen, director of public health in Shrewsbury, said her final day on the job will be March 31. Allen said that her 20-year tenure would be marked by a staff luncheon and retirement dinner. A new health director will not be appointed until at least July 2010, said Allen, due to the town's budgetary constraints. In the meantime, duties are to be divided among building inspector Ronald Alarie, sanitarian Robert G. Moore, and assistant town manager Michael Hale, who will oversee landfill and solid waste operations. Food inspection will continue to be done by a person under contract. For acute public health incidents, said Daniel J. Morgado, town manager, Allen would be brought back on a per-day basis. "The department should get along in this way just fine for the time being," Allen said. - James O'Brien

SENIOR CITIZENS TAX PROGRAM - Senior center director Pam LeFrancois said she expects to have more seniors sign up for the town's senior tax work-off program than there are slots available. Up to 30 seniors can sign up for the program, which allows them to work for 100 hours in town departments to earn $750 off their property tax bills, starting April 3. LeFrancois said the town has been able to accommodate all seniors who wanted to work in the past, but she has received more inquiries about the program than usual this year, and she thinks the poor economy may drive more people to try to sign up. The work-off slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, but seniors with a household income of below $45,000 are given priority, LeFrancois said. - Calvin Hennick

YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WANTS SOME CUTS RESTORED - Officials from Westborough Youth and Family Services told selectmen last week that they are willing to give up their "Hot Summer Nights" youth program if needed, but they lobbied to keep full staffing for their counseling services. In his initial budget proposal for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins July 1, Town Manager Henry Danis suggested cutting the department by a third, from $161,000 to $108,000. The cut would eliminate the summer program and would also force the department to lay off a part-time counselor and a part-time administrative assistant. Youth and Family Services director John Badenhausen proposed funding the department at $152,000 to keep avoid layoffs. - Calvin Hennick