Teaming up for savings

Seeking innovative ways to save money and resources, town officials have informally approached their counterparts in Holbrook to explore the possibilities of joining forces in some way. "We think about pooling regional resources," said Frank Hegarty, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. "What if two towns buy a single piece of large equipment. Would it be cost-effective?" For Avon, which is almost totally built out and thus unable to expand its tax base, rising costs and a constant demand for services means something has to change, said Hegarty. - Joan Wilder

ELECTION MATCHUPS - Three contests have developed for the April 26 town election, according to Town Clerk Ron Adams: a three-way race for a selectman's term, a contest for a year's unexpired term on the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee, and a four-way race for three seats on the Board of Library Trustees. Longtime volunteer Marilee Hunt and former Advisory Board chairman Michael Demos have challenged incumbent Mark Oliari for his selectmen's seat. For the regional School Committee, M. Patricia Leighton and Michael Spagone will face off for a single-year slot. The opening was created by the resignation of longtime member Donald Delutis. Incumbents Carlton Hunt and Rosemarie Schmitchel, along with Harry Bailey and Ellen M. Chiocca-Carey, will run for three available seats as library trustees. - Christine Legere

ACT LOCALLY - City leaders are turning Earth Day celebrations into the city's own "Keep Brockton Beautiful Day." Residents and officials will participate in a citywide cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon on April 26. Volunteers are being asked to help pick up trash in parks, school grounds, and public spaces. Anyone interested should contact the Department of Public Works at 508-580-7135. - Milton Valencia

RUBBER MATCH - At their meeting Tuesday, selectmen are expected to take an official position on the warrant article to rezone the former Plymouth Rubber Co. site, that would make way for constructing nearly 500 apartments and condominiums. "I don't think anyone among the elected officials likes the density, but we all would like the site cleaned up. It's an environmental concern," said Bob Burr, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Burr said Napleton Co., which purchased the 42-acre property in a foreclosure sale, is proposing that half of the residential units be apartments, a decision that has caused concern among town officials who prefer owner-occupied condominiums. The Planning Board has voted, 3 to 2, to send the article to Town Meeting, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. on April 28 at the high school. - Elaine Cushman Carroll

WIND POWERED - The town has awarded the first permit under its wind-turbine bylaw to resident Jack Ferreira of North Main Street. Ferreira built four small turbines for use in his home before the town created its wind-turbine bylaw a little over a year ago. The Planning Board approved permits for the wind turbines as built, but restricted their use to Ferreira's home. - Robert Knox

DOUBLE DUTY - Town Administrator William Keegan's proposed $83.5 million budget for fiscal 2009 goes before Town Meeting for a vote on May 19, but one proposed change has already taken effect temporarily. Following the retirement on Feb. 29 of longtime town Treasurer Frank Geishecker, Tax Collector Robin Reyes became interim treasurer on March 1 and will handle both jobs. In addition to imposing a hiring freeze, town officials will call for an amendment to the town charter that permanently combines those posts, similar to more than 250 other Massachusetts communities. Any such charter change, though, would require an additional vote of Town Meeting. - Michele Morgan Bolton

RABIES SHOTS - The Board of Health will hold a rabies clinic for dogs and cats, from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 31 at the Secret Garden Pet Resort at 1040 Central St. Each shot is $15. For more information, contact the board at 508-378-1612. - Christine Legere

BORROW AND SPEND - Town Administrator David Colton has proposed borrowing $1.6 million under a capital projects budget to pay for a new boiler system at the Parkview Elementary School and renovations to the Muscato Stadium bleachers and press box that are required under the federal disabilities act. But Colton said the town should wait until the fall to decide on other capital projects, since officials could have better plans for funding at that time. Colton has proposed using incentive payments the town will receive from the state if Easton agrees at the May Town Meeting to create a "smart growth" overlay district. Town departments have proposed using the capital budget to buy a new ambulance, dump truck with a sander and plow, a chip truck for the forestry crew, and two new police cruisers. - Milton Valencia

HELP FROM THE WEB - The inspection department, busy with activity at Patriot Place, the Chestnut Green development, and the Lodge at Foxborough (now breaking ground on 250 units), is finding its new website a time saver. "We don't have to fax forms, we don't have to explain procedures, it's very helpful," said Building Commissioner William Casbarra, who added that permit applications and other forms and procedures can be found on the site. The department's site can be found at foxboroughma.virtualtownhall.net. - Joan Wilder

DISPUTE OVER ACCOUNTANT - Selectmen are sticking with their choice for town accountant, after members of the Finance Committee questioned her lack of municipal accounting experience. At a recent selectmen's meeting, the members said Suzanne Moquin, who holds an accounting degree from Bridgewater State College and has worked part time as an accountant, will be overwhelmed in the new position and overpaid for her level of experience. Selectmen tapped Moquin for the post after being turned down by two top candidates for the post, which has been open for several months. "We're comfortable that given the available candidates that we made the right choice," said Selectwoman Jean Fox. Moquin has also worked for the past 10 years as a dispatcher with the town's communication center and her new salary is expected to be at least $50,000. - Elaine Cushman Carroll

UNFINISHED ROADWORK - Since the developer of Autumn Lane, a subdivision off Pond Street, abandoned the project before roadwork was completed, residents of that neighborhood will look to the town to take over the task. According to Executive Administrator Charles Seelig, two petition articles have been submitted for consideration at the May 12 annual Town Meeting. One asks voters to accept Autumn Lane as a public way, meaning the town would accept responsibility for maintaining the street. The second article asks for up to $100,000 to get the roadwork finished. Seelig said the Planning Board withheld one lot, instead of requiring a bond from the developer, when the project was first approved. While the town still holds the lot, Seelig said he doubts it will cover the cost of getting the road finished. - Christine Legere

OPEN SPACE PLAN TAKING SHAPE - A town consultant is preparing an initial draft of an update to Hanson's Open Space and Recreation Plan. The town last fall awarded a $20,000 contract to Map Works Inc., of Norwell, to work with the Conservation Commission and the Open Space Committee to develop the update. The recent survey of about 200 residents, and "visioning sessions" with town staff and the general public have been held to solicit opinions. The consultant will draw from the results in preparing the draft, which is due for completion in late spring. Hanson last updated its plan about 2000. - John Laidler

CLEANUP STARTS AT HOME - Area residents are invited to clean out their reusable clutter and donate it to good causes, during Mansfield's third annual Earth Day event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 19 at the Tweeter Center parking lot. Building materials, books, clothing in good condition, eyeglasses, reusable furniture (no mattresses), linens, housewares and appliances that work, and sneakers, are among the items being sought. Organizations that will find a new use for the donations include Afrihope, Kites Not Bombs, Building Materials Resource Center, Big Brother-Big Sister, Cradles to Crayons, Dress to Impress, Got Books, N. Attleboro Animal Shelter, and Salvation Army. Northeast Data Destruction will also shred files for people in a secure, environmentally friendly way while they watch. - Christine Legere

VOTERS GET RECALL PROPOSAL - Though selectmen recently voted to not include an article on the spring Town Meeting warrant to create a recall provision, some residents feel otherwise. They have submitted a petition article to the board to put the matter to a vote at Town Meeting May 19, and the article will appear on the warrant. A recall provision allows residents who want to remove an elected official from office to use an official recall process to do so. None exists now. - Paul E. Kandarian

SUMMER INTERNS FOR LAND TRUST - The Mattapoisett Land Trust has openings for three summer interns who will help the trust to document property conditions, sample water, and record history of parcels the trust owns. For information, contact volunteer coordinator Jenny Mello at 774-377-3305. For information on the land trust, visit mattlandtrust.org. - Paul E. Kandarian

SCREENING FOR PRESCHOOLERS - The public schools will conduct screenings of preschool-age children on the first Wednesday of every month at the Willett Early Childhood Center, located at 100 Westover Parkway. A screening looks at a child's developmental skills in the pre-academic, speech and language, fine motor and gross motor areas aimed at identifying those children with special educational needs. Anyone with a child age 3 and older who suspects potential difficulties can call the center at 781-762-6805, ext. 111, to schedule a screening appointment. - Michele Morgan Bolton

NEW POLLING SITES SOUGHT - Randolph students will not have classes on the day of the annual town election April 1. The School Committee voted to close schools on election day following an accident on the day of the presidential primary that seriously injured an 8-year-old student at Lyons Elementary School. School officials plan to work with town election officials to find alternative polling places to the Lyons and Donovan elementary schools and Randolph High School so schools would not have to close during elections. -David Connolly

SCHOOL COMMITTEE RACE - The annual town election on April 26 will be a quiet one: There are no questions to settle on this year's ballot, and the only contest to have developed is for a one-year term, to be held by a Bridgewater resident, on the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee. Voters from both towns cast ballots for all openings on the regional school committee. While Raynham Selectman John Donahue announced early on that he would not seek another term on his panel, the opening drew only one candidate, Marie Smith. She is a former selectwoman. - Christine Legere

CHURCH GAINS HISTORIC STATUS - The East Rochester Church and Cemetery on County Road have been approved for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as recommended by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. According to the commission, the church and cemetery have been the symbolic public center of the area since 1828, when the cemetery was established. The Greek Revival church was built in 1857. - Paul E. Kandarian

MISSION TO NEW ORLEANS - The First Congregational Church of Sharon is looking for donations as members prepare to trek to New Orleans and help rebuild the homes and schools lost in Hurricane Katrina more than two years ago. The congregation has launched a "Buy a Brick, Build a House" campaign to gather resources for their weeklong excursion to help the victims of Katrina. Donations can be made to the First Congregational Church of Sharon, PO Box 423, Sharon, MA 02067. The progress of the trip will be recorded on fccofsharon.org after it gets under way. - Franci Richardson Ellement

UNWANTED ACTIVISM - A Department of Public Works employee has been disciplined for allegedly stealing a $5 campaign sign from a resident's yard. Department Superintendent Larry Barrett refused to release the employee's name or details on the punishment. "Appropriate action has been taken," said Barrett. "He admitted wrongdoing." The incident this month apparently was witnessed by a resident, who told town officials and police he saw the employee take the sign promoting Gerald Goulston for selectman from a Turnpike Street home and throw it in the back of a town-owned trash truck. - Robert Carroll

ZONING BYLAWS - Special Town Meeting last Monday unanimously approved the rewrite of the town's zoning bylaws, but rejected an amendment that would have altered the bylaw's table of business usages, which lists the types of activities allowed by right in Walpole, said Town Clerk Ron Fucile. The zoning rewrite took more than a year to complete, and the amendment was included recently, largely to block the building of a power plant proposed by Competitive Power Ventures. Debate on the merits of the amendment, which would have prohibited such usages as the bulk storage of fuels in excess of 50,000 gallons, continued until 11:30 p.m., and was defeated on a 74 to 50 vote. The amendment will go back to the Planning Board, which will rewrite the table for future approval by Town Meeting. - Joan Wilder

POLICE TURNING TO EBAY - The Police Department plans to continue selling unclaimed property on eBay, according to Lieutenant Irving I. Wallace. Since January, the department has been posting items for sale under the name "warehampolicedepartment." After selling dozens of bicycles, the auctions have "now expanded to other unclaimed property," and there will be plenty more to come, said Wallace. As of last week, the Police Department had 56 items on the auction block, including a Hitachi nail gun (starting bid $15); a Black & Decker electric drill (starting bid $25); and a batch of Motorola and Nokia cellphones, accessories, and parts (starting bid was $25 for a lot of 13 phones). To browse the latest items, visit myworld.ebay.com/warehampolicedepartment. - Emily Sweeney

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE - Town Clerk Nancy L. Morrison is reminding residents that Friday is the last day to register to vote for the April 12 annual town election. The clerk's office will be open extended hours that day, until 8 p.m. to register voters. Residents may also register before the deadline during the clerk's regular business hours. Mail-in registration forms must be postmarked by Friday's deadline. Registration is necessary only for new voters. - John Laidler

SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR COMMUNITY CHEST - Nominations are being sought for officers for The Westwood Community Chest's 2008/09 executive board. Available positions include president-elect, assistant treasurer, administrative secretary and general secretary, along with volunteers for publicity, and the Web site. The WCC is a not-for-profit organization that offers money and other assistance to needy town residents. Nominations should be forwarded to westwoodcommunitychest@gmail.com by March 24. - Michele Morgan Bolton