Conservation center appointment

John H. Ott has been appointed interim executive director of the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, replacing Ann Russell, who recently retired after 30 years in the post. Ott previously served as executive director of the Scottish Rite Masonic National Heritage Museum and Library in Lexington. He retired from that position in 2007, after serving the museum for eight years. Ott, who was recognized by Independent Sector in 1991 as one of the most innovative nonprofit museum directors for his leadership skills, will help oversee the launch of a national search for a permanent director for the center. For more information about the center's work, visit www.nedcc.org. - Brenda J. Buote

CAFE TO MOVE, EXPAND - Robert Walker of Ryan Development has signed Café Madrid as the anchor restaurant at his Primrose III multiuse development, where restaurateur Yazmin Badias Fadjo will expand to 60 seats and 2,400 square feet. Fadjo's current location is on Alpine Lane, where her restaurant occupies 1,800 square feet and seats 36. Walker purchased the 1.5 acres on Chelmsford Street from the owners of the now-defunct Skip's Restaurant, a local landmark that had been in operation since the late 1940s. - Joyce Pellino Crane

SCHOOL FIXES WON'T COME CHEAP - This month's Town Meeting approved a feasibility study for Dracut Senior High School, but some say that the total renovation costs could reach up to $50 million. According to the school's building officials, there are numerous problems with various utilities and parts of the building, including poor draining, inadequate roofing, and electrical problems throughout the school. The $450,000 feasibility study was approved on Nov. 3, with the town receiving a reimbursement of up to 70 percent the total cost of construction from the state's School Building Authority. The high school, constructed in 1957, houses 1,200 students.

- Rocco Colella

ROTARY FUND-RAISER - A holiday event to raise money for the Tyngsborough-Dunstable Rotary Club is scheduled for Dec. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. at 68 Thorndike St., according to the town website. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres and a book auction and will also be attended by thriller author Chris Mooney. Tickets for the event are $30. - Matt Gunderson

PARENT SURVEY - Responses to a recent survey of parents at Groton-Dunstable Middle School were predominantly positive, though building security and the nutritional value of cafeteria food were their two areas of greatest concern. A total of 30 percent of parents surveyed said the nutritional value of the food was not good; 70 percent said it was satisfactory. Sixty-two percent wanted to see new security measures to restrict access to the buildings during school hours. The survey asked for responses concerning a number of areas, including school curriculum and school climate.

- Matt Gunderson

POLICE, FIRE CONTRACT - After two years without a contract, police and firefighters have reached agreement on a contract granting a 1.5 percent retroactive pay raise, along with a one- to two-month break in health insurance pay, said Mark Andrews, the city's budget and finance director. The contracts, which were negotiated for the 118 patrol officers, 40 superior officers, and 139 firefighters, come at no additional cost to taxpayers because the plan relies partially on a surplus $12 million healthcare trust fund. The city contributes 80 percent to the fund and employees pay the remaining 20 percent, Andrews said. The contract was negotiated through fiscal year 2010.

- Kate Augusto

HEALTHCARE HONORS - The city was recently honored for offering innovative healthcare programs to its employees. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts presented Lowell with one of six Municipal Healthcare Innovation Awards, which recognize municipalities for programs designed to improve the well-being of their employees and reduce municipal health care costs. The city received a $5,000 wellness grant to implement programs designed to improve the overall health and wellness of its employees. Lowell received the Creative Value Award for its initiatives to control costs while maintaining strong benefits. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE - Mayor William M. Manzi III is joining with Lazarus House, a nonprofit charity serving the poor, sick, and homeless, to urge city employees, residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute to a holiday food drive. Donations of nonperishable food items can be dropped off at lobbies at the City Hall, Quinn Public Safety Building, Senior Center, and Nevins Memorial Library, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. until noon. - Connie Paige

POLICE CARS RECALLED - All 12 of the North Andover Police Department's new Dodge vehicles need to be checked for shift-changing failures as Chrysler has issued a recall. The department has already had reports of failing to shift out of reverse, said Lieutenant Paul Gallagher, spokesman for the North Andover police. Nine of the Dodges are used as cruisers while the other three, larger Magnum wagons, are used for two K-9 units and a forensics crime lab. - Brad Kane

TOWN HALL ADDITION SHELVED - Plans for an addition to Town Hall have been tabled indefinitely, largely due to the economy, said Town Administrator Robert Hanson. Town officials had been researching options in the past year for either renovating, adding onto the current Town Hall, or moving the town offices elsewhere, said Hanson. Though an addition was the favored choice, the economy has stalled the plans, he said. - Matt Gunderson

PASSPORT NIGHT AT TOWN HALL - The town clerk's office will hold a "passport night" from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Tuesday. Applicants must bring a completed passport application, available at the town clerk's office or at www.travel.state.gov, a birth certificate with raised seal and date of record, two passport photos, and a valid driver's license. The fees are as follows: for adults, $75 payable to the US Department of State and $25 to the town of Tewksbury; and for children under 16 years, $60 to the US Department of State and $25 to the town of Tewksbury. Children under 16 must be accompanied by both parents. For more information, contact the town clerk's office at 1009 Main St. 978-640-4355. -Brenda J. Buote

CHARTER SCHOOL CHANGES ADDRESS - The Innovation Academy Charter School is in full swing after relocating this summer from Chelmsford to a former Boston University property on Tyng Road. According to Town Administrator Rosemary Cashman, there are about 400 students enrolled there, with 10 from Tyngsborough. The school has a capacity for 600. Town officials were irked when they learned earlier this year that the prime 210-acre site would not be generating property tax revenues. The cash-strapped town provides services to the private Notre Dame Academy, the Greater Lowell Technical High School, and its own School Department.

- Joyce Pellino Crane

DONATIONS SOUGHT - The Roudenbush Community Center is seeking donations of used movies in DVD format that are suitable for children ages 6 to 13. The center has a day care program for children in grades 1 through 7, before and after school, at the Abbot School and Millennium Building, both on Depot Street. For more information, check www.roudenbush.org. - Joyce Pellino Crane

CONSERVATION LAND CONSIDERED - Both the towns of Amherst and Bedford are considering pieces of the same parcel of land for conservation. The land, known as the Martin Farm locally, is a 104-acre property that sits mostly in Amherst, but straddles the town line of Bedford, according to selectmen meeting minutes. Bedford conservation officials said that they were looking to purchase 37 acres of the parcel at about $8,000 an acre, for a total of some $296,000. If the deals go forward, Bedford officials would buy the tract from the town of Amherst, according to the minutes. - Melanie Plenda

PARK PURCHASE MULLED - Officials are considering whether to ante up a portion of money needed to help build the Bedford Village Common park, a project that has been in the works for more than 15 years. During a recent public hearing, members of the Bedford Village Common Committee explained that they would be looking for the town to come up with approximately $110,000 in 2009 with the bulk of the money potentially coming from fees collected in the Parks and Recreation Impact fund, according to meeting minutes. The committee in turn would seek to raise another $110,000, with $20,000 possibly coming from a grant. - Melanie Plenda

EVALUATING POLICE STANDARDS - A team of assessors is taking a close look at the Hudson Police Department to determine if the department meets accreditation requirements. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies began it assessment Nov. 15, and is looking at several areas, including department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The accreditation is voluntary. - Melanie Plenda

SNOW REMOVAL ALTERNATIVE? - Area students recently proposed how the town could save money and help the environment by switching from road salt to geothermal energy. Project Geomelt is an idea generated by students at the Academy of Science and Design, a charter school in Merrimack, whose assignment was to solve a local climate-related issue. The students developed a system that uses geothermal heat, which they say keeps snow and ice from building up. - Melanie Plenda

CATS IN ALL CORNERS - City officials recently gave $6,000 to the Nashua Humane Society, due in part to the unusually high number of cats coming into the shelter, according to Board of Aldermen minutes. Karen Bill, executive director for the Humane Society, told aldermen the society managed to find homes for 129 of 181 cats during a 12-day campaign.

- Melanie Plenda