Library expansion plans

ASHLAND

Town officials have decided to begin negotiations with New England Design Associates of Worcester for the planned expansion and renovation of the town library, said library director Paula Bonetti. The company bid a little less than $3.7 million for the project, the lowest of 10 bids, she said. The budget construction estimate was about $4.1 million, Bonetti said. The project, which could start soon, is expected to take 15 to 17 months. -- Matt McDonald

DOVER

WARRANT COMMITTEE HEARING -- The Warrant Committee will hold its hearing on the spring Town Meeting articles at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Town Hall. The committee chairman, David Heinlein, met recently with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the amount of free cash that is appropriate to complement a Proposition 2 override, which residents must approve at the polls to increase property taxes above a state-mandated ceiling. Dover has about $3.2 million in free cash, Heinlein said, and could prudently contribute about $800,000 to hold the override amount down. A figure was to be finalized during meetings last week. Other warrant articles of interest include one that could bring revenue to the town by allowing more companies to occupy space on a renovated cell tower at or near the present Highway Department garage site on Haven Street, and a request by the regional schools to increase the construction budget to allow complete renovation of athletic facilities. Town Meeting is set for May 3 at Dover-Sherborn Regional High School.

-- Alison O'Leary Murray

FRAMINGHAM

FIRE DISPLACES 13 RESIDENTS -- A fire shortly after midnight Wednesday heavily damaged a 2-story rooming house in South Framingham owned and operated by the South Middlesex Opportunity Council, displacing 13 residents there, said Charles Gagnon, chief operating officer for the nonprofit organization. One firefighter injured a knee and another twisted an ankle while fighting the blaze at 14-16 Gordon St., said Framingham Fire Marshal Joe Leone, but no residents were hurt. The cause was under investigation but was not considered of suspicious origin, Leone said. The 14-unit rooming house was used as transitional housing for people who have recently been living on the streets, Gagnon said. All the residents have been placed elsewhere in Framingham, but the council is seeking donations to help the victims of the fire. "A lot of these folks lost everything they had," he said. For more information, call the council at 508-879-6691 . -- Matt McDonald

HOLLISTON

BUDGET INCREASE PROPOSED -- The school administration is proposing a 3.8 percent increase in the budget for the public schools' next school year, an increase of about $850,000. The proposed $23.2 million budget would add several positions but not require an override, in part because the school system has realized savings in utilities costs, school officials say. The School Committee is planning to hold a budget hearing at its meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday. -- Matt McDonald

LOSCOCCO TO RUN AGAIN --State Representative Paul Loscocco, a Holliston Republican, announced last week that he will run for a third term in the 8th Middlesex District. Loscocco has said that one of his priorities this year is maintaining state aid and Chapter 70 education funds to cities and towns. Loscocco said he had briefly considered running for the state Senate following the decision by state Senator David Magnani not to seek reelection this year, but he said he feels at this time that he can better serve the state and his communities as a representative. Loscocco is the ranking minority member on both the Transportation Committee and the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. He also serves on the Commerce and Labor Committee. In additional to Holliston, Loscocco represents residents in Hopkinton, Southborough, and Westborough. -- Franco Ordoez

HOPKINTON

NEW PARKING PROPOSAL --The Planning Board is sponsoring a measure that would set new parking requirements. The proposal would allow one space for every 10 children in a day-care facility, plus one for each staff member during the largest shift. It would also allow one parking space for every two beds in a nursing home plus one for each staff member during the largest shift, and one parking space for every five occupants of a building designed for recreational use. The warrant article is planned for Town Meeting, set to begin May 3. -- Matt McDonald

ASSESSORS' OFFICE OPEN LONGER -- The town assessors' office plans to stay open until 7 p.m. Tuesdays starting this week, for a three-month trial period, said Bob Bushway, the town's principal assessor. The office will maintain its regular hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on other weekdays. The hope is to provide residents who work during the regular business day an opportunity to file for abatements and do other business, he said. -- Matt McDonald

LINCOLN

TOWN SPOOFS ITSELF -- The Lincoln Historical Society is sponsoring an event next weekend poking fun at the town. Called "Silly Songs and Spoofs of Lincoln Over the Last 50 Years," the hour-and-a-half event includes original lyrics to old songs, said Barbara B. Sisson, who is directing. "It's very much an upbeat little spoof of our life," Sisson said. The event, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. next Sunday, follows a 2 p.m. Historical Society meeting at the Stone Church on Bedford Road. --Matt McDonald

NATICK

WARRANT CONTROVERSY --Selectmen have decided to press forward with a Town Meeting warrant article that has already generated controversy -- it would prohibit elected or appointed officials from holding Town Meeting seats. The issue is particularly difficult in Natick because the entire School Committee hold Town Meeting seats, as do members of the Planning Board and about 28 other elected or appointed town officials. In a 3-2 vote, the selectmen decided to support article 24 for discussion purposes at Town Meeting. Selectmen Jeffrey Stern and John Ciccariello voted against the article, which originated with Selectman Paul McKinley. -- Alison O'Leary Murray

LIQUOR VIOLATION TO BE DISCUSSED -- Because of the town election set for Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen has scheduled an additional meeting for March 29 to deliberate and decide on an alleged liquor license violation by the American Legion post last fall. At their last meeting, the attorney for the Legion, Theresa Capobianco, said the full board should vote on a decision and that elections could jeopardize her client's right to a fair hearing. She has also asked that charges against the Legion, that police searching for a suspect in an assault were improperly denied entry to the club, be dismissed. Two members of the board, Jeffrey Stern and John Ciccariello, are up for reelection against challenger John Connolly. Other seats up for grabs at the election include three on the School Committee, held by Henry Haugland, Ted Wynne, and Michael Cashman. They are being challenged by David Murphy. -- Alison O'Leary Murray

SHERBORN

BUDGETS DISCUSSED -- A lengthy Advisory Committee hearing on the Town Meeting warrant focused on the probable amount of a Proposition 2 override. The Advisory Committee discussed two budgets, a non-override budget and an override budget, which would go into effect if the measure passes. Sherborn has faced four consecutive operating overrides. Including this year's approximate $250,000 amount, together they would increase each resident's property taxes by about $1,000 a year due to escalating debt service, said Advisory Committee chairman William Wise. He noted that Sherborn has the second-highest average tax bills in the state, of more than $9,500 per household. Sherborn Town Meeting will vote on the budget at its April 27 meeting.

-- Alison O'Leary Murray

SUDBURY

STUDY FOR NEW POLICE STATION ON WARRANT -- Voters at annual Town Meeting will consider a measure asking for $25,000 for a feasibility study for a new police station. Police say their station is inadequate because it is too small and cannot support proper electrical and temperature control systems. Town Meeting is set to begin April 7.-- Matt McDonald

TWO CONTESTED RACES TOMORROW -- Two contested races highlight the annual town election ballot tomorrow. For selectmen, Peter S. Glass, a member of the town's Pay As You Throw Advisory Committee, is running against Planning Board chairman William J. Keller Jr. to replace Kirsten Roopenian, who is not running for reelection. For School Committee, Roger J. Van Duinen opposes incumbent Jane S. Santinelli. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall and Fairbank Community Center.--Matt McDonald

WAYLAND

VET DONATES TOWARD MEMORIAL -- Town resident and Vietnam veteran Richard P. Turner has donated $2,000 to the planned Wayland Veterans Memorial, bringing the total to more than $84,000 toward the $120,000 goal, organizers said. Turner received a Purple Heart and other combat medals for his service. He currently volunteers for town committees and groups and often helps broadcast selectmen's meetings on local cable access TV. -- Matt McDonald