Globe Northwest Community briefing
Candy for a cause
November 23, 2008
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ACTON
As a community service project, first- and second-graders at Merriam School have sorted and donated more than 500 pounds of unwanted Halloween candy. The classes of Karen Sonner and Kristin Indge put out a call for leftover candy and within a week had filled more than eight 60-pound bins. The candy goes to shelters, hospitals, and soldiers in Iraq. - Julia Quinn-SzcesuilARLINGTON
SCHOOL NEAR CAPACITY - Ottoson Middle School is getting cramped, according to a space evaluation presented to the Arlington School Board last week by interim Superintendent Kathleen Bodie. The school's enrollment as of Oct. 1 reached 1,048 students, slightly under the 1,100 student capacity in the Ottoson building. Enrollment numbers for elementary schools in Arlington are also steadily growing, Bodie said, meaning in the coming years, Ottoson may have to look into increasing class sizes. - Sarah MetcalfAYER
NEW SPENDING STRATEGY - In an effort to cut expenses, the Board of Selectmen has adopted several spending policies. They include selectmen preapproving discretionary expenses of more than $5,000 and approving all new hires. The board is also recommending that the School Committee adopt similar budget-control measures. The town's operating budget for fiscal 2009 is $22.1 million. - Davis BushnellBEDFORD
PROPERTY SURCHARGE PROPOSED - At a Special Town Meeting earlier this month, Board of Selectmen chairwoman Catherine Cordes proposed that the town reconfirm a property tax surcharge of 3 percent toward the Community Preservation Fund. If it passes at next spring's Town Meeting, the town will continue to be authorized in fiscal year 2010 to levy the surcharge on property taxes to be used under the Community Preservation Act. - Nancy Shohet WestBELMONT
AUTOMATED CALLS - Belmont is now using an automated service to send important messages to residents. The town has selected the Connect-CTY mass notification service from Blackboard Connect Inc. and conducted its first communitywide test call on Nov. 14. The service will allow town officials to communicate with residents regarding time-sensitive incidents, which could include planned and unexpected public safety concerns. To sign up, go to www.town.belmont.ma.us or call 617-993-2580.- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
BILLERICA
TOWN MEETING SCHEDULED - Four articles are on the Special Town Meeting preliminary warrant scheduled for Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall. Among them is an article seeking to form an 11-member Economic Emergency Committee that will watch the economic climate and its impact on the schools and municipality. Another article spells out proposed regulations for operating a power plant in town. A third proposes new regulations for unspent money after expenses are paid at the end of a fiscal year. A fourth proposes a hiring and spending freeze for town government. - Joyce Pellino Crane
BOXBOROUGH
TAX RATE APPROVED - The Board of Selectmen has unanimously approved a single tax rate of $14.84 per $1,000 of value for the fiscal year 2009. Town assessor William Naser said Boxborough has had a single tax rate since 1986, but the town must have an annual hearing to decide the type of tax rate. The tax rate, a 70 cent increase over last year, still needs approval from the state Department of Revenue.- Julia Quinn-Szcesuil
BURLINGTON
TRASH CHANGES IN STORE - Burlington will start an automated trash collection system next July. The Board of Selectmen voted recently to approve the change, which is designed to encourage more recycling and reduce the town's costs for trash removal. Under the system, all trash must be placed in a 65-gallon container that will be given to each household. Trash trucks will be equipped with an automated arm that will pick up the barrels and dump them into the truck, reducing the manpower needed. .- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
CARLISLE
SCHOOL BUS ROUTES STUDIED - The Carlisle School Committee earlier this month discussed the issue of bus costs and whether they could be reduced in light of the difficult budget year ahead. Currently, the Carlisle Public School runs eight bus routes in two shifts, one for grades K-4 and one for grades 5-8, as well as a midday route that takes kindergartners home at noon three days a week. Bus use is free for grades K-6; families of children in grades 7-8 are charged fees if they choose to use the service. According to the school's business manager, Heidi Zimmerman, the cost of running each bus is about $50,000 per year, but that figure could rise by $10,000.- Nancy Shohet West
CONCORD
CHIEF SET TO RETIRE - Fire Chief Kenneth Willette will be retiring soon, with his last day on the job set for Feb. 27. The town has started advertising for the position and the deadline for applications is Jan. 16. Town officials do not expect to have a permanent chief named by the time of Willette's retirement, so it's likely that one of the department's current officers will serve as interim chief for about a month.- Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
HARVARD
THREE NAMED TO FINANCE PANEL - Robert Thurston, Marie Fagan, and Lori Granville have been appointed to three-year terms as full members of the Finance Committee, and Collyn Bradley and Paul von Loesecke to one-year terms as associate members. Thurston is a Fidelity Investments computer specialist; Fagan is an economist with MODERATOR STEPPING DOWN - At the Special Town Meeting on Monday, Margery Battin announced that she would not seek reelection next spring, ending a career as town moderator that has spanned more than two decades. Battin, 81, began her career in public service in 1960, when she was first elected to Town Meeting. Battin's term expires in March. - Brenda J. Buote
LITTLETON
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE SET - Following a public hearing addressing property tax rate classification for fiscal year 2009, the Board of Selectmen has voted to establish a residential factor of 0.8948; not to adopt a residential exemption; and not to adopt a small business exemption. According to Town Administrator Keith Bergman, these decisions are expected to produce a 2.9 percent increase in the tax bill for an average residential property assessed at $383,736; and a 10.6 percent increase in the tax bill for a commercial/industrial property assessed at $491,000.- Nancy Shohet West
MEDFORD
MARKET A WINNER - The Medford Square Market saw a 40 percent increase in visitors during its second year in existence, and Mayor Michael McGlynn is already calling for an expansion of its offerings for 2009. The market, which features local food products from June to October, had an estimated 3,500 visitors this year, up from 2,500 in its first year. For the 2009 season, the market wants to add more vendors for produce, meat, and dairy products, and McGlynn wants an expansion of the arts-and-crafts area.- Brad Kane
NORTH READING
LIBRARY RECEIVES GRANTS - The Flint Memorial Library has been awarded a pair of grants funded from the Library Services and Technology Act, including a two-year, $15,000 grant called Serving Teens and Tweens, aimed at improving services, materials, and space for youth activities. The second grant, which will provide $5,000 for one year, will be used to purchase new furniture for the teen section of the library, as well as fund educational workshops and purchase new library materials.- Richard Thompson
READING
CONSTRUCTION NEARLY DONE - Construction on Main Street will wrap up for the winter over the next several weeks. Electrical conduits are being installed on Washington, Green, and Ash streets at their intersections with Main Street so that new street lights can be activated along Main, from Haven to Washington streets. A temporary traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection of Main and Pleasant streets. - Richard ThompsonSHIRLEY
SENIOR CENTER PLANS - The town is looking into the feasibility of converting a preschool into a senior center. At its last meeting, the Board of Selectmen decided to study the renovations needed to convert the former Center School, which once housed a preschool, into a senior center. The School Department has said it would release the building from its jurisdiction, Selectman Leonardo "Chip" Guercio said. In addition to upgrading the bathrooms, the senior center will need a kitchen, a private conference room, and possibly a computer lab and an exercise room, Deveau said. - Julie Masis
STONEHAM
HIKE GOAL: HOT CHOCOLATE - Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation and Stoneham's Safe Routes to School program will hold their first holiday hike. It will follow a trail through the reservation to the Tudor-style mansion at Whip Hill Park, said Hilary Celentano, coordinator for Safe Routes to School. The hike, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m., is just under a mile, round-trip. Hikers are invited to meet at Colonial Park Elementary School, 30 Avalon Road, Stoneham and proceed from Gate 46 at the Middlesex Fells Reservation through the woods. At the conclusion of the hike, festivities at the Whip Hill mansion will include a visiting Santa, a holiday model train display, a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments created by members of the Stoneham Arts and Craft Society, and hot chocolate and cookies. The hike and festivities do not require reservations and are free.- Bella Travaglini
WILMINGTON
STATE GRANT SOUGHT - Wilmington has filed paperwork necessary to receive an awarded $100,000 state grant for the development of the town's portion of Lowell Junction, an Interstate 93 traffic interchange. Carole Hamilton, director of planning and conservation, said hospitality zoning is intended for one 26-acre town parcel. Plans for a second, larger Wilmington section of Lowell Junction have not yet been defined, Hamilton said. Wilmington, Andover, and Tewksbury each received grants, and have 120 days from receipt of the money to conduct a joint permitting process for the entire 700-acre site.- James O'Brien
WINCHESTER
FIELD IMPROVEMENTS OK'D - The first phase of improvements to Manchester Field won approval at Town Meeting earlier this month, said Mel Kleckner, town manager. Town Meeting approved $1,350,000 to fund the construction of a multi-purpose field with bleachers and the relocation of a baseball diamond from Manchester Field to the Lynch Elementary School, said Kleckner. Completion of the design is expected this winter and the project will be put out to bid next spring. - Bella TravagliniWOBURN
HUMAN RIGHTS PANELIST NAMED - Three members were reappointed and one new member was appointed to the Woburn Human Rights Commission in Tuesday's City Council meeting. Denis Murphy is the newly appointed member while Robert McNabb, the Rev. Neal Pearson, and Lori Medeiros had their stays extended on the city board. - Brad Kane
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