Change in facilities command

Town officials have chosen Charles J. Laffey, who has worked at the town recycling transfer station for the last 13 years, as new director of facility operations. He replaces Mark LaFleur. Laffey, who has served as the superintendent of the transfer station for the last eight years, will continue in that capacity until a replacement is found. - Laura Colarusso

CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP MEETS TODAY - A new 14-person citizens advisory group will begin its task of identifying cost efficiencies and new revenue streams for the city today at 3 p.m. at the Newton Senior Center. The meeting is open to the public and will kick off a monthslong process of identifying long-term solutions to close the growing gap between city revenues and expenses. The committee is expected to present its findings in time for the preparation of the fiscal 2010 budget. - Rachana Rathi

RESIDENTS RALLY TO SAVE BRANCH - A group of citizens is protesting the city's impending closure of the Auburndale Branch Library with an online petition, phone calls to residents, and a letter writing campaign. Auburndale is among the four library branches that will be shuttered on Friday. The closures of the city's only remaining branch libraries, in Waban, Nonantum and Newton Corner, are a result of a failed $12 million Proposition 2 1/2 override for next fiscal year, which begins July 1. The closures are expected to save the city about $115,000 in heating, maintenance and overtime pay. Newton closed six branches in 1991 when its main library opened. The main library will also reduce its Sunday hours. The petition is posted at petitiononline.com/SABL.

- Rachana Rathi

A CHAPTER CLOSES FOR LIBRARY - Tom Jewell, director of the Waltham Public Library for 32 years, is retiring next month to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. In a letter sent to members of the library's e-mail list, Jewell gave special thanks to the Friends of the Library for raising funds to help pay for improvements. "To have had the privilege of presiding over the revitalization and expansion of this wonderful institution has been deeply satisfying," Jewell wrote. He said the search is already underway for his replacement, whom the trustees hope to select by October. Assistant director Kate Tranquada was encouraged to apply, Jewell said, but she decided to remain in her current job.

- Stephanie V. Siek

VISITS TO FINALISTS' DISTRICTS - School Committee members will visit the home districts of the three finalists for the superintendent position within the next two weeks, said School Committee vice chairwoman Susanne McIvor. Public interviews conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday narrowed the field to Peter Azar, superintendent of Winchendon schools; Lynne Sarasin, Lexington's deputy superintendent; and Kriner Cash, chief of accountability and systemwide performance for the Miami-Dade County public schools in Florida. McIvor said Thursday it had not been decided which committee member would be visiting which district or whether they would substitute a visit to Kriner's former district of Martha's Vineyard for a trip to Florida. The committee has tentatively decided to select the new superintendent by June 18. The committee dropped the fourth finalist, Kathleen Skinner, who is director of the Massachusetts Teacher Association's Center for Education Policy and Practice. McIvor said members believe the other three have broader educational and administrative experience. A contentious vote at the committee's May 21 meeting also offered internal candidates not named as finalists a chance to interview, but the only one who stepped forward, Waltham High School principal John Graceffa, withdrew from consideration on the first day of interviews.

- Stephanie V. Siek

COUNCIL TO VOTE ON RAISE - How well is Town Manager Michael Driscoll doing on the job, and does he merit a 9 percent raise? The Town Council will take up the issue and get its first crack at evaluating Driscoll's job performance for the current fiscal year at a public hearing and vote on June 10. In light of a largely positive review from the previous council, Councilor Stephen Corbett, who heads the council's Committee on Personnel and Town Organization, has proposed that Driscoll receive two retroactive 4.5 percent raises covering fiscal years 2007 and 2008, which ends June 30, bringing his salary from $126,778 to $138,445. Councilors Angeline Kounelis and Marilyn Petitto Devaney have argued that Driscoll's unrestricted use of a town-owned vehicle, along with free gas, maintenance, and insurance, should be factored into the discussion on his compensation. Kounelis has asked for an accounting of the mileage on Driscoll's hybrid SUV, as well as how much fuel he's used and the date the vehicle was put on the road, before next week's vote. - Christina Pazzanese

STORAGE UNDER SCRUTINY - The town's building inspector is looking into whether the owner of a parking lot at Howard and Pleasant streets is improperly storing construction materials there. Inspector Kenneth Thompson said he checked the lot Wednesday and found a trailer with some pipes and several piles of materials. Thompson said he's now trying to find the owner to determine whether he has obtained the necessary permits from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Thompson's inspection came a day after the Town Council discussed renewed complaints by resident Grace Fazzi about the parking lot as well as a property across the street known as the old Haartz-Mason building. Fazzi, a sister of Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney, had first urged town officials in 2006 to compel the owner to demolish the vacant building or to at least secure it from teenagers who were starting small fires there and sneaking inside to hold parties. Thompson said the owner had obtained a demolition permit, but abandoned the plan more than a year ago. He said when he checked the property on Wednesday he found the building fence still secure and dumpsters empty and free of fire hazards.

- Christina Pazzanese

TICKS OFF - The Board of Health is urging residents to watch for deer ticks in an effort to prevent additional cases of Lyme disease, a debilitating disease that deer ticks are known to carry. Town officials have posted warning signs at walking trails throughout town: Turkey Hill, McLennan Park, Mount Gilboa, Buck Field, Menotomy Rocks Park, and Great Meadows. The typical deer tick habitat is near the ground within a wooded tract. To prevent ticks from biting, residents are being advised to tuck their pants into theirs socks while walking through wooded or grassy areas and to use repellents approved for ticks.

- Brenda J. Buote

HOME GROWN - The Bedford-based Massachusetts Flower Growers Association was awarded a $25,000 grant from the state to promote locally grown plants and flowers. The association, which represents more than 250 growers, urges gardeners to choose locally grown plants for their gardens during the spring planting season, said the association's secretary and treasurer, Bob Luczai. Growers suffered in recent years with rain-drenched springs, he said, and have been feeling the pinch of high fuel costs this year. The state Department of Agricultural Resources awarded the money as part of $300,000 in marketing grants to 36 organizations to support the state's agriculture.

- Kytja Weir

NASHOBA MAKES THE GRADE - Nashoba Regional High School is in the top 5 percent of high schools in the nation in challenging its students, according to a recent national survey. Known as the Newsweek and Washington Post Challenge Index, the measuring system gauges a public school's efforts to challenge its students through various programs, such as Advanced Placement classes and Cambridge tests. The results of this year's index can be seen online at projects.washingtonpost.com/challengeindex/2008.

- Matt Gunderson

LIBRARY UPGRADE - The Boylston Public Library is planning to introduce a new automated checkout system for its patrons this summer, ending a manual system that is both unwieldy and time-consuming, said the library's director, Nick Langhart. The system will introduce bar-coded library cards and will allow patrons to order books from home online.

- Matt Gunderson

EXPERT PENNY-PINCHERS WANTED - The town is seeking volunteers with expertise in consolidations and reductions, preferably of the administrative kind, for a five-person committee to suggest ways of delivering services more efficiently. The Board of Selectmen approved moving forward with the Efficiency Initiative, which was proposed by the Override Study Committee, to look at ideas such as using technology to replace personnel, consolidating departments, and outsourcing. "We have a unique opportunity in the aftermath of the override to formulate a long-term plan," said Richard Kelliher, town manager. "I hope and anticipate that the School Committee will take on a similar effort," said Selectman Richard Benka. Selectman Robert Allen, however, warned against looking at the town "100 percent as a business," while ignoring government's role in "preserving the quality of life here." - Andreae Downs

SUPER METERS TO MAKE DEBUT - One day this summer, you may enter a public parking lot in Coolidge Corner and notice all the meters are gone. No, parking isn't free, you just need to look for the big meter in a corner of the lot. The wireless, $15,000 machines, which rather resemble the Star Wars robot R2D2, will accept Brookline's Park Cards, as well as coins, bills, and credit cards. If they work out this summer, the town will install such meters across town. The advantage, said Todd Kirrane of the Transportation Department, is that these meters can send wireless alerts when they are full, when the printer is jammed, or when someone is tampering with them. They can also produce audit and income statements, and rates can be changed much more easily than now. "They require less maintenance and can bring in more revenue," said Selectman Robert Allen.

- Andreae Downs

FROM THE TOWN, FOR THE TOWN - Beneficiaries of the more than $150,000 in grants from the Brookline Community Foundation span the community and include youth programs, several essential services for the elderly, movies at the Devotion School playground this summer, and more. By far the largest award, $50,000, is a challenge grant for Steps to Success, a school program that supports the college aspirations of Brookline's low-income children. Grants were also made to raise awareness of domestic violence and the importance of recycling, to reduce residents' carbon footprint, and to the Puppet Showplace and Coolidge Corner theaters, among others. - Andreae Downs

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT CENTER STAGE - Another arts-related event that offers a different view of the world: the Victims of Violence program at the Cambridge Health Alliance is producing a one-night performance that is both a theatrical piece and a live discussion of the effects of domestic violence. "Along These Shores," led by playwright and performance artist Gail Burton, is set for Cambridge Hospital's Macht Auditorium at 6 p.m. Thursday. For details and directions, call 617-591-6112. - Victoria Cheng

TOWN NURSE SURVEY - The town has developed a survey for its residents to fill out concerning the need for a town nurse for Lincoln. Town Meeting on April 14 approved creation of a task force to look at Lincoln's public health needs and whether a town nurse would help fill any gaps. The survey, which can be filled out anonymously, is asking residents for their thoughts on the issue. The survey is available on the town's website, www.lincolntown.org. For more details, call the Board of Health at 781-259-2614.

- John M. Guilfoil

TAX LIENS IN PUBLIC VIEW - The town has published a list of all properties under tax liens and made the list available to the public. Properties that are involved in tax-deferral programs, such as programs available for senior tax relief, are not subject to tax liens on the town's list. Liens, according to the town treasurer/collector, are the precursor to court foreclosure cases. To view the list, go to sudbury.ma.us.

- John M. Guilfoil