Talk about taxes in Berlin

The Board of Selectmen will hold a hearing to receive input on the town's property taxes tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Offices on Linden Street. The forum will allow the public to discuss how officials assess property values and calculate property taxes, which are the town's primary source of revenue. After the hearing, selectmen will consider whether to levy a different tax rate on commercial property. At present, residential and commercial property are taxed at a single rate; the figure for last fiscal year was $11.20 per $1,000 of assessed value, Town Assessor Diane Peterson said. She says she expects that selectmen will leave the town's tax structure unchanged. - John Dyer

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING FUND-RAISER - The business department at Nashoba Regional High School is holding an electronics recycling fund-raiser this fall to support the school's participation in the Distributive Education Clubs for America competition. Students participated last year in the regional and state competitions, which test students' entrepreneurial and management skills in business-related fields, and school officials are hoping to return to the competition this year. Residents and students can participate in the fund-raising program by donating used cellphones, ink-jet cartridges, laptop computers, iPods, and digital cameras for recycling.

- Matt Gunderson

CHANGES AT THE TOP - As the school year gets underway, there are new faces at the administrative level across the Berlin-Boylston Regional School District. In a recent newsletter, Superintendent Brian McDermott, who is one of this fall's additions to the district, characterized the turnover as a challenge for the school system. However, he also said the new staff members are an excellent addition to the system and are committed to meeting the district's long-term goals. In addition to McDermott, two new principals have taken the helm this fall, Dan Deneen at Boylston Elementary School and Carol Bradley at Berlin Memorial Elementary School. - Matt Gunderson

HEARING ON PARKING LIMIT - The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Sept. 23 on the town's two-hour parking limit. The town has hired consultants to do a $50,000 parking study, which should be completed by the end of the year. At the meeting, the board will consider voting to reinforce the two-hour parking limit until Dec. 31 or until the parking study is completed, whichever comes first. The public is encouraged to provide feedback either in person, through writing, or via e-mail to selectmen@framinghamma.gov. Residents may send comments to 150 Concord St., Framingham 01702. The Sept. 23 meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Ablondi Room of the Memorial Building, 150 Concord St. Call 508-532-5400 for details. - Tanya Perez-Brennan

FILLING IN FOR SUPERINTENDENT - The School Committee faces a search for a new leader for the town's school district, after Superintendent Nina Schlikin resigned from the position just weeks before the start of classes. In a letter to the committee dated Aug. 14, Schlikin said she was stepping down because of the "insurmountable realization that parts of my educational philosophy and my leadership style are incompatible with your expectations." Hired for the job last summer, Schlikin had just completed the first year of a three-year contract, which carried a salary of roughly $150,000. Committee chairman Tom Green said he would not discuss why Schlikin resigned or what differences she might have had with the committee. Schlikin could not be reached for comment. The board reportedly has tapped the department's director of pupil services, Julianna Bahosh, to serve as interim superintendent. - John Dyer

QUESTIONS ON CELL TOWERS - The town's Zoning Board of Appeals is asking a company that has proposed building two wireless-communications towers for more information about how well they withstand high winds. Omnipoint Communications, a subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, is seeking the board's OK to build 100-foot monopoles on town-owned land on Saratoga Drive and Crestview Drive. All cellular telephone towers must be approved by the appeals board, according to town law. Residents who would live near the proposed towers have complained that the monopoles might fall down. The appeals board is expected to resume its hearing on the towers Thursday night, Planning Director Jennifer Burke said.

- John Dyer

CALL FOR NEW TRAFFIC OFFICERS - The Police Department is going to be cracking down on traffic violations this fall, said Mayor Nancy Stevens. The mayor has proposed adding two officers to the department with a focus exclusively on traffic. Funding for the $80,000 proposal should be sorted out in the next month or so, she said. The city has much more traffic than its population of 38,000 would lead observers to conclude, said Stevens. She said that traffic is at the top of a list of citizens' concerns. The city has around 48 patrol officers, Stevens said, and she expressed hope that the extra two officers could both enforce traffic laws and develop plans to alleviate congestion in the city. - John Dyer

A REPLACEMENT FOR SIT 'N BULL - A new restaurant is poised to move into the location on Main Street of the former Sit 'n Bull Pub, which closed in November. According to the selectmen's office, the board at its meeting Tuesday night approved a liquor license transfer from Sit 'n Bull's owners to the new Milo's steak and seafood restaurant. No estimates were given at the meeting for when the new restaurant might open. - Matt Gunderson

PLANS TO WIDEN ROUTE 20 - Town officials are preparing plans to widen Route 20 near the town center, and add turning lanes and traffic lights to ease congestion on the busy artery. Town Engineer Fred Litchfield said the $2.5 million study would represent one-quarter of the design phase of the project. The extent of the widening and other improvements, and the project's total cost are still unknown, said Litchfield, but he did not expect that Main Street or West Main Street property owners would face a significant loss of land. He said the town would submit its designs next month to the state Highway Department, which would oversee the project and provide funding. Litchfield said he expects state officials to conduct a public hearing on the proposal in the spring, and the town would then finish the project's design. - John Dyer

GOLF TO AID TOWN'S ELDERS - The upcoming Falconi Family Memorial Golf Tournament is crucial to continuing programs for the elderly in Southborough, according to the town Senior Center's director, Pam LeFrancois. This year's goal for the annual tournament, to be held Sept. 15 at the Juniper Hill Golf Course in Northborough, is $10,000, organizers said. Last year's event drew more than 120 golfers and raised $7,500 for the Friends of the Southborough Council on Aging, a private group that supports Senior Center programs. The center's budget is $190,000, said LeFrancois, but most of the money covers operating costs, including employee salaries and building maintenance. Funding for events and supplies comes from the golf tournament and other fund-raisers, she said. A donation of $125 is required to play in the tournament; for tickets or more information, call the Senior Center at 508-229-4453.

- John Dyer

SCHOOL COUNCIL OPENINGS - Officials at Nashoba Regional High School are seeking two volunteers to fill vacancies on the School Community Council, according to a school newsletter. The purpose of the council is to oversee the regional high school's improvement plan and its budget process. The open slots are for a parent from Stow and another from Lancaster. Interested residents should contact principal Jeremy Roche at 978-779-2257, ext. 3101.

- Matt Gunderson

BLUEPRINT FOR TOWN MANAGER - The Board of Selectmen has outlined criteria guiding their search for a town manager, who will be the top municipal employee under Westborough's new form of government. Town Coordinator Henry Danis is retiring next year, and Town Meeting members in May approved the shift to a town manager, a position with more authority than a town coordinator. Selectmen have decided that candidates should have at least seven years experience managing a town similar to Westborough, and have experience handling complicated financial issues, said Assistant Town Coordinator Maryanne Bilodeau. She added that selectmen had not determined a pay range for the new position. Danis earns $110,000 a year. - John Dyer

SLOWING DOWN SPEEDERS - The town's police force is considering ways to reduce speeding on Depot Road. In response to a resident's complaints, Chief Richard Vance said his department is monitoring speeds for the second time on the semirural but heavily traveled road. Monitoring over the summer showed most cars were not going excessively fast, said Vance, but a few were clocked at twice the posted limit. In addition, the area where the speeding is the biggest concern may have a posted speed limit that is too low, he said. The Police Department is considering everything from speed humps, which are slightly bigger than speed bumps, to using a sign that lets drivers know how fast they are going.

- Julia Quinn-Szcesuil

OPENING FOR TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR - The regional school district is looking for a new director of technology after the resignation of Ken Corning. The duties include helping to plan and administer the district's technology policies, as well as analyzing the school system's needs, setting goals and implementing solutions, according to a job posting. The director would also supervise the district's technology-support staff, and would report to the superintendent. The position's salary range is listed as $93,000 to $98,000. - Anna Fiorentino

FESTIVE WEEKEND - An annual fall festival, sponsored by the Harvard Lions Club and featuring family activities ranging from a crafts fair to a children's carnival, will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 150 Ayer Road. In addition, there will be a concert and fireworks display from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. - Davis Bushnell

TOWN CELEBRATION - The annual Natick Days celebration is planned for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the town center. Events will include miniature golf, a pie-eating contest, and entertainment. The town will run a free shuttle service to a parking area at Natick High School. The rain date is next Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. - Calvin Hennick

CEMETERY ISSUES AIRED - After a flurry of complaints this summer from residents over persistent maintenance issues at the "Old Catholic" cemetery on Cottage Street, including headstones overturned by vandals, a gathering to foster better communications was held recently with the Boston Archdiocese, cemetery staff, police, and residents. District A Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who organized the Aug. 27 meeting, said it was productive, clearing the air over who is responsible for keeping up the property. Unlike Ridgelawn cemetery, which is maintained by the town Public Works Department, the East End burial ground is owned and maintained by the Boston Archdiocese. Cemetery staff had done some sprucing up prior to the meeting, said Kounelis. "I think it's cleaner and they're agreeable to ongoing dialogue and that's important." New signs are now posted at the gate informing visitors about whom to contact about maintenance problems, and staffers said they would work closely with town residents.

- Christina Pazzanese

PROJECT HIRING ON AGENDA - On Tuesday night, the Town Council will consider a resolution to tighten rules for construction firms that work on taxpayer-funded projects. The move, put forward by Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney, comes after town officials say they were caught off guard by protesters who picketed outside the police station building site two weeks ago to protest the hiring of a New Hampshire demolition firm that allegedly used out-of-state, nonunion workers. Devaney, who said she marched with the pickets, said it is important that local municipal projects are done by properly trained workers from Massachusetts. Asked to comment, the town's treasurer/collector, Phyllis Marshall said the town had no say over the selection of subcontractors brought in by the project's general contractor, P.J. Stella Construction, but noted that workers were being paid prevailing wages as required by town purchasing requirements. - Christina Pazzanese

BUILDING COMMITTEE OPENING - With the departure of Sarah Benjamin, town officials are looking to fill a seat on the Permanent Building Committee. The seven-person committee oversees the construction and renovation of all local municipal and school buildings, as well as their ongoing maintenance. Committee members are appointed jointly by the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee and serve a three-year term. Residents with related professional expertise, such as licensed builders, registered architects, or engineers, are encouraged to send a letter of interest with their background to the Board of Selectmen, PO Box 378, Weston, MA 02493 or e-mail it to selectmen@westonmass.org by Oct. 3.

- Christina Pazzanese