Bailing out budget in Abington

Special Town Meeting on April 6 will feature seven articles, including a petition to infuse the town's 2009 operating budget with $250,000, as well as fund the inspection of a small but aging dam at the end of Ralph Hamlin Lane. The Finance Committee is recommending voters approve the transfer of $250,000 from the town's stabilization fund into the operating budget. The stabilization fund is at $650,000 and the town is facing a shortfall in receipts of $300,000, according to the committee. The board also is recommending voters transfer funds totaling $7,500 to cover the cost of the dam study. Special Town Meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Abington High School, 201 Gliniewicz Way.

- Robert Carroll

NEW TOWN WEBSITE - The town has a new website, because "the old site was outdated and not user-friendly," said Mayor Joseph Sullivan in a statement. He said the new site, www.braintreema.gov, is more technologically advanced and allows residents to more easily navigate town departments. It has information about town departments and boards, an up-to-date calendar, and a news section.

- Matt Carroll

QUIET ELECTION - Candidates get an apparent free ride at Saturday's town election, which has no contested seats. But Assistant Town Clerk Carol St. Pierre cautioned: "Anything can happen. Two years ago it was an uncontested election, yet a write-in won that we didn't know about." Two newcomers to town politics - Helene Lieb and Paul Schubert - are running for two open seats on the School Committee. Kathryn Lydon is running for an open seat on the Recreation Commission. Jean Healey Dippold - a lawyer whose father, Paul, is a longtime member of the Hingham Planning Board and whose mother, Esther, serves on that town's School Committee - is on the ballot for the Cohasset Planning Board. The polls will be open at Town Hall from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- Johanna Seltz

NO DROP IN TAX SURCHARGE - Annual Town Meeting failed to back a proposal to reduce the town's Community Preservation Act property tax surcharge from 3 percent to .25 percent, cutting taxes for the average taxpayer by about $160. Proponents argued that taxpayers needed a break in view of tax hikes officials are seeking to fund infrastructure improvements, including a new police station and extensive renovations to the town's fire station. The CPA provides funds, currently matched by the state at 35 percent, to be spent for open space and recreation, historic preservation projects, and affordable housing. Supporters argued that CPA funding has allowed valuable preservation projects such as the restoration of the Wright Building, the purchase of the O'Neil farm, and new turf for school playing fields.

- Robert Knox

FOOTBALL TEAM WITHOUT A FIELD - The town's decision to build a new high school won't come without sacrifice. While residents will field a portion of the construction costs of the $63 million project, the Hanover High football program will literally be without a field. "This upcoming season we'll have to play our home games at other schools," said athletic director Fran Coyle. "We have no choice." Workers are expected to break ground on a new septic system for the high school in June. The system will be connected to the current high school's septic pipes and run directly through the athletic fields. "We're able to move our other sports [soccer, baseball, softball] to other fields in town," said Coyle. "But we don't have another football field in town." Likely sites for Hanover's five scheduled "home" football games, he said, include Pembroke, Whitman-Hanson, or Rockland. He said the team will be able to practice on a small, unlined field at the high school during construction. "What I am concerned with is how much we might lose at the gate," said Coyle, who estimated typical home games bring in around $3,000. "I'm not sure how many people will be willing to drive to see those games." The new high school is expected to open in September 2011.

- Robert Carroll

TRIATHLON SEMINAR - Hingham High School's new cycling club will hold a beginner's seminar on how to train for the bicycle portion of a triathlon from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at the school. Beth Kenney, a Duxbury resident and renowned coach, will lead the seminar, which is limited to 100 people. Kenney placed 10th in her age group in the 2002 Ironman USA and mentors her daughter, Caitlin Shea-Kenney, a professional triathlete. Anyone interested in participating should contact Shawn Nugent, the club's faculty adviser, at snugent@hinghamschools.com or 508-685-1831.

- Johanna Seltz

NEW WATER TESTS TAKEN - School and town officials are awaiting the results of a second round of environmental testing to determine if they have remedied the high levels of lead and copper that were found in two water samples taken from the Kennedy Elementary School in October. The annual state-mandated testing found unacceptable levels in water taken from a bubbler and a kitchen faucet at the school, which was built in about 1963, according to Town Administrator Mike Yunits. Yunits said the bubbler - where water was just at the limit for lead - has since been taken apart and rebuilt, and the water lines are being flushed daily in hopes of meeting the stringent drinking water standards for schools and daycare centers. The Kennedy School has about 450 students in prekindergarten through Grade 3. The testing is being completed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Drinking Water Program. "I know the school is taking precautions and having the levels tested again. We're being cautious and taking all the precautions we can," Yunits said. Health agent Mark Taylor said on Tuesday said he had not yet received the results of the second round of testing. He said letting the water run for a time each morning is often effective in reducing copper and lead levels in buildings with older plumbing. - Elaine Cushman Carroll

THEY DO, AGAIN - Bernadette Tobin, 63, saved her ex-husband's life by donating a kidney to him 10 years ago. They celebrated by remarrying last week in a ceremony at their Hull home attended by their two daughters' families and officiated by Town Clerk Janet Bennett. After the traditional vows pledging to stay together in sickness and health, Jim Tobin, 64, added a more personal note: "I'm here today because of your compassionate heart. You saved and changed my life forever, and I will always be grateful for that." The couple, who had been high school sweethearts in Cambridge, were married 25 years before divorcing. She donated her kidney when Jim found out he and his twin brother had a lethal kidney disease. "I guess she still loved me," he said. "Making this commitment - 44 years since we first took our vows - must really mean we love each other even more. Sometimes you have to work at it for many years before you get it right." - Johanna Seltz

TOWN MEETING TO CONVENE - Kingston residents will face a 25-item agenda, including a proposal to move town elections to the first Saturday in May, at the annual Town Meeting that begins Saturday. Town elections are now held in April. The Town Meeting warrant also includes a measure to create a revolving fund for town recreation programs and a proposal to reduce the Community Preservation Act surtax from 3 percent to 1 percent. Town Meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Kingston Intermediate School, 65 Second Brook St.

- Robert Knox

CLEANING UP - The Chamber of Commerce, Department of Public Works, and Beach Commission are seeking volunteers to participate in the town's Annual Rid Litter Day on Saturday. Starting tomorrow, trash bags will be available at Roche Bros. service desk on Route 139, McSweeney & Ricci Insurance Agency at 2021 Ocean St., and at the Shaw's Supermarket service desk at Webster Square. Volunteers can stop by any of those locations before Friday and receive two bags to use during the cleanup. On the day of the event, trash bags and gloves will be distributed at Town Hall between 9 a.m. and noon. Volunteers will pick up garbage in their neighborhood and other designated areas and then drop off the bags at the Town Hall parking lot by 1 p.m. For more information, call the chamber at 781-834-8911 or recycling coordinator Debbie Sullivan at 781-831-3134.

- Emily Sweeney

POETRY JAM - Milton High students are holding their annual Poetry Jam at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday in the school auditorium. The show will be made up of 35 poems and musical performances written and performed by students. Money raised will support Close 2 Home, a nonprofit in Boston that works to prevent domestic abuse. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. For more information, call Steven Collyer at 617-696-4470, ext. 5211, or Deidre-Ann Fuller at 617-230-4938.

- Matt Carroll

BIGGER TO LEAD BOARD - The Board of Selectmen has chosen Thomas J. Bigger to serve as its chairman for the coming year. Bigger, a former School Committee member, is completing the final year of his first three-year term as a selectman. He served as the board's vice chairman this past year. Richard Merritt, who had been the board's clerk the past year, became vice chairman. John Mariano, who had been chairman, will serve as clerk. - John Laidler

WATER RATES UP - Department of Public Works commissioners recently increased water rates for fiscal 2009. Under the new rates, which are effective with the April 1 billing, it will cost $3.76 per 1,000 gallons for the first 30,000 gallons of usage, up from $3.14 per 1,000 gallons. For the next 20,000 gallons, the price is $4.98 per 1,000 gallons, up from $4.15. For usage above 50,000 gallons, it will cost $7.56 per 1,000, up from $6.30. The semiannual basic charge for regular accounts also was increased from $10 to $15. Senior accounts remained at $5. The increases were needed to cover rising water system costs, according to the DPW. - John Laidler

PAYING TO PARK - Starting Wednesday, motorists will once again be required to pay to park at the meters and lots downtown and along the waterfront. Parking lot permits for local merchants, residents, fishermen, and boat owners can be purchased online at www.parkplymouth.com. "This is the last week to get the permits at half price. It's a really good deal," said Leighton Price, president of the Plymouth Growth and Development Corporation, which operates the parking program. For more information, call 508-747-5929. - Emily Sweeney

HEARSE ON THE LOOSE - A thief in Quincy is tooling around on some unusual wheels - a hearse. The Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home, the oldest in the city, had a silver 2004 Chrysler Town & Country hearse stolen from outside the funeral home late at night. Owner Dennis Sweeney assumed kids stole it. "Who else would want it?" he asked. It still had not been recovered as of late last week. The funeral home began operations in 1917. - Matt Carroll

NO SPRING LEAF PICKUPS - The spring yard waste collection, scheduled for four Saturdays in May, has been canceled, announced the Board of Health. John P. McVeigh, director of public health, said the town's economic situation drove the decision. "We were told to cut costs wherever we could, while making sure it's not affecting critical services," he said. Canceling the leaf pickups will save $30,000 to $40,000, he said. Residents have called to complain. "Some are frustrated by it, no doubt, but they understand once we explain the situation to them. All of us are being asked to make sacrifices." McVeigh said he doesn't think the fall yard waste schedule will be affected, but said, "It's conceivable. Next year we need to cut $80,000." Residents can take bagged leaves and brush to the landfill at Johnson Drive. Stickers cost $20, $10 for seniors. They can be purchased at the Board of Health during regular office hours and at the landfill on the Saturdays it is open, 8 a.m. to noon every other Saturday beginning this week. - Wendy Chow

500 HELP FIX TAX ERROR - The town has taken a key step toward rectifying a bookkeeping error that threatens to cost Rockland $638,000 in potential tax money. A two-article Special Town Meeting Monday made the fix. The town inadvertently reported it would use all of a one-time receipt of $1.26 million this year in mitigation money for the development of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station instead of applying half to the budget this year and half next year, as the town intended, said Allan R. Chiocca, town administrator. That error meant the town would raise $638,000 less in taxes than it was allowed at a time when the town is scraping by financially. "We had almost 500 people come out and we had a 12-minute Special Town Meeting," said Chiocca. "And it was a unanimous vote." Because some of the funding deficit was thought to impact renovation of the high school science lab, critical to continued accreditation of the school, parents had been interested in the issue and turned out in force. Chiocca said the turnout was a "broad cross-section" of parents, other residents, and town employees. The first article asks that Governor Deval Patrick file a special act with the Legislature to allow Rockland to set a "supplementary tax rate," which would restore the $638,000. The second article modifies department budgets to allow cuts resulting from reductions in local aid from the state. - Steve Hatch

SELECTMAN'S RACE FIZZLES - There will be no contests on the ballot of the May 9 annual town election. Ten candidates are running unopposed. A potential contest had emerged for a seat on the Board of Selectmen when incumbent Richard W. Murray and challenger Matthew G. Scheppard Jr. filed nomination papers. But Town Clerk Bernice R. Brown said Scheppard did not turn in enough certified signatures to qualify for the ballot. As a result, Murray, who did turn in sufficient signatures, will be the only name on the ballot for selectman. - John Laidler

COMMUNITY SEDER - South Shore Hospital invites the public to a community Passover Seder from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on April 7 in the hospital dining room. The ritual banquet features the reading of the Haggadah, relating the events of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Rabbi Deborah Mangan, a member of the hospital's pastoral care service, will officiate. There is no cost but, because of limited seating, registration is required by calling 781-340-8272. The hospital's Cultural Diversity Committee sponsors the event as a way to recognize and celebrate the diversity of patients, their families, hospital colleagues, and the community. - Johanna Seltz

PARKING DETOUR - Parking will be limited around Endicott Commuter Rail Station beginning tomorrow while drainage work is done on Grant Avenue. Work is expected to go on three to five days, weather permitting. For questions, call Joe Flanagan, public works director, at 617-799-9940 or e-mail jflanagan@dedham-ma.gov. - Michele Morgan Bolton

MYSTERY OFFICIAL - The annual report, published each spring and including all the important town business from the previous year, will have an unusual entry included in the selectmen's account for 2008. Board members have decided to include a few sentences on the ghost investigators who checked out the possible presence of spirits in Town Hall. Chairman Patrick Rogers, who authored the selectmen's entry for last year, noted two different groups of investigators agreed there were spirits in the walls of the 100-year-old building, but who they were or why they were there remains a mystery. - Christine Legere