In Andover, finding money for projects

ELECTION RESULTS - In Tuesday’s election, Michael Cahill topped the councilor at large ballot with 6,842 votes. Former city councilor Paul Guanci and incumbent Patricia Grimes also won seats on the board. In other contested races, James Latter defeated James Modugno to capture the Ward 3 City Council seat, and in the Ward 4 School Committee race, Karen Fogarty defeated Gail Burke. - Steven Rosenberg

HEARING FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL - The Finance Committee tomorrow will hold a public hearing on the single article that will appear on the warrant of the Nov. 16 Special Town Meeting. The article seeks an appropriation of $79.8 million for the renovation and expansion of the high school. The state’s School Building Authority has committed to covering about $42 million of the project costs, so the town’s overall share would be close to $38 million. The town plans to cover that cost without a tax increase by tapping an existing fund it maintains to help repay school project debt. Tomorrow’s meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Holten-Richmond Middle School. The Nov. 16 meeting will be at 7:30 p.m., also at Holten-Richmond.

INCUMBENTS DOMINATE - The city has released final results from last Tuesday’s election. Mayor Carolyn Kirk, who ran unopposed, was reelected with 3,402 votes. Dan Ruberti, who ran as a write-in candidate for mayor, got 249 votes. Sefatia Romeo-Theken, Joseph Ciolino, and Bruce Tobey were reelected as councilors at large, and Robert Whynott also won a seat on the board. In other contested races, five incumbents on the School Committee, were reelected: Nancy Harrison, Melissa Teixeira, Michelle Sweet, Amy-Beth Healey, and Valerie Gilman. Also, Roger Garberg won a seat on the board.

DOWNTOWN ATTRACTS NEW BUSINESS - Global communications company Homisco, Inc. is bringing 40 jobs to downtown Haverhill. A global provider of software solutions, Homisco has been in business since 1981 and is moving to the Nofsker building on Essex Street. “I love what Haverhill has to offer,’’ owner Ronald Contrado said in a written statement released by the mayor’s office. “A great building in a great downtown, expedited permitting, a talented workforce, and competitive real estate. Haverhill definitely represents a situation in which we can further grow our company.’’ - Brenda Buote

UMASS-LOWELL TAKES OVER ARENA - UMass-Lowell has reached an agreement with the city to acquire ownership of the Tsongas Arena, a 6,500-seat venue with an assessed value of $24 million. Included in the acquisition is a 3-acre parcel of land adjacent to the arena, which will be developed into commercial property, as well as the surrounding park and grounds. The university plans to continue using the venue for UMass-Lowell and Lowell Devils minor league hockey, plus additional sporting events, family shows, concerts, and student-based events such as open houses and commencement. The deal must next be passed through the City Council and state Legislature, and be approved by Governor Deval Patrick. The transfer is expected to be completed in January. The city is expected to receive $800,000 and will no longer bear the costs of the arena’s upkeep.

CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY - On Veterans Day, Wednesday, town offices at Abbot Hall and the Mary A. Alley Municipal Building will be closed. Office hours for the rest of the week will be: tomorrow, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Steven Rosenberg

SAVING PLUM ISLAND - At a Special Town Meeting late last month, residents showed their unflagging support for the eroding Plum Island. Voters at the meeting granted the use of $135,000 in town funds to help with the ongoing beach nourishment project, and also gave selectmen the authority to take whatever means necessary to protect it. As outlined in a citizens’ petition, the latter could include eminent domain-taking or acquiring temporary construction and permanent access easements as required by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Conservation and Recreation to protect life, property, and public safety, as well as the Plum Island sewer and water lines. After approving this order, voters immediately authorized selectmen to use it “on, over and across’’ portions of properties at 58 and 60 Northern Blvd. Voters also approved several measures that will enable officials to grapple with shrinking budgets, including taking $115,000 from the stabilization fund to fill in a Fiscal Year 2009 deficit and fund unemployment compensation; and reducing the conservation commission agent salary line item by $37,500 and the conservation commission wages line item by $7,500 in the FY 2010 budget.

FILLING A GAP - The city has hired an interim deputy director for the Department of Public Services to fill the position vacated by Andrew Lafferty, who is on a military deployment. Former deputy director Anthony Furnari has accepted a one-year appointment, according to Mayor John F. Moak. Furnari currently holds a similar position with the town of Danvers. He will begin his interim post in Newburyport on Nov. 16. - Brenda Buote

CHIEF ARRANGEMENT REVIEW - The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Town Hall to review how the arrangement of sharing its police chief with Wareham has been working out. Since August, Chief Richard Stanley has added part-time duties as the interim chief in Wareham to his full-time duties in North Andover. For the most part, Stanley, who is using vacation time to work in Wareham, spends Fridays and Saturdays in Wareham. The board is also expected to discuss a request from Selectman William F. Gordon on whether the board can place term limits on the Planning Board, or whether it is something that must be presented as an article at Town Meeting. Currently, Planning Board members are appointed to three-year terms without limits, said chairwoman Tracy M. Watson.

FOOD FOR FINES - Patrons at the Peabody Institute Library can satisfy their library fines while helping those in need. The library is again offering its Food for Fines program this holiday season. From Nov. 23 through Dec. 23, the library will accept canned goods and other nonperishable foods as payment in lieu of fines for overdue books and other materials from the library’s collection. All donations will benefit Haven from Hunger, the food pantry on Wallis Street. The program will be in effect at the main library and the two branch libraries. For more information, call 978-531-0100. - John Laidler

HELP WITH COLLEGE - Salem CyberSpace, the nonprofit community technology center on Lafayette Street, has launched an initiative to help low-income students succeed in college. College Success will assist participating high school juniors and seniors in navigating the college testing, selection, application, and financial aid process. It also will offer continuing services to college students to help break down any academic, financial, or other barriers that might keep them from graduating. The center last year began informally assisting high school students with college preparation. The new program formalizes that service and extends it to the college level. Salem State College is assisting by providing space and equipment on campus for a Salem CyberSpace counselor to serve students in the program attending Salem State.

CYBER SAFETY FORUM - The Westford Parent Connection, in partnership with the Police Department, is inviting parents and educators to a discussion on cyber safety at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Stony Brook Middle School. Steve Hoctor, who works in the Middlesex district attorney’s office, is scheduled to speak at the event. His presentation will focus on the online issues young people face, such as predators and “sexting. The discussion will outline prevention and intervention strategies for parents, teachers, and other school staff. The talk is free and open to the public. It is geared primarily to parents and teachers of middle school students, but parents and teachers of upper elementary and high school students may also find the presentation helpful. For more information, contact Mary Anne Seraphin at mseraphin@comcast.net, or visit the Westford Parent Connection’s website at www.westford.com/wpc.

NEW JOBS COMING - A South Korean solar company has announced its intention to open its first US plant in town. Uni-Chem said it will open a plant in Sagamore Park, which will employ about 150 when it opens next year. The company will manufacture solar cells and modules at the site of Spire Solar Systems, which the Korean firm has acquired. The 20 people currently working at the site for Spire are expected to retain their jobs. - Tom Long

FASTER PARKING - The city has introduced two new twists to its “pay and display’’ parking system, an electronic parking pass and a prepaid parking coupon. A new iPark 2.0 electric parking pass the size of an E-ZPass transponder will allow the holder to prepay for parking online, then place the device on the dashboard when parking and avoid a round trip to the pay and display parking kiosk. The device is available for $25 at City Hall, where prepaid parking coupons may also be purchased. They are available in sheets of 10 for $15, with each coupon worth two hours of parking. They also allow the parker to skip the trip to the kiosk. - Tom Long