Town Meeting approves budget in Ashland

FORUM ON COMMUNITY HOUSING - The Metropolitan Area Planning Council will host a discussion of the town's housing challenges, assets, and opportunities Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at the Bellingham Senior Center at 40 Blackstone St. The forum is aimed at helping town officials develop a housing plan that meets the needs of all residents, from recent graduates to empty-nesters. Attendees are also invited to a free barbecue dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the senior center. For more information, visit www.bellinghamma.org or call 508-657-2801. - Rachel Lebeaux

WILLOW STREET BRIDGE HEARING - The state Highway Department is holding a public hearing in Dover on July 15 to discuss the state-proposed Willow Street Bridge replacement project. The hearing will give the public a chance to become acquainted with the proposal and offer feedback to MassHighway officials. Project plans include replacement of the old bridge, which crosses the Charles River, that would closely match the existing design. The bridge would be closed during construction for an undetermined amount of time. The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Town House, 5 Springdale Ave.

TAX-LIEN PROPERTIES FOR SALE - The town is preparing to accept bids for the right to foreclose on $3.3 million worth of tax-delinquent properties. According to Treasurer/Collector Stephen Price, the available properties include landlocked, undevelopable parcels that might be of interest to neighbors, condominiums, commercial properties, and single-family homes. Price said individuals can bid on a single property, but often in an auction like this, investment firms purchase a block or the entire list. A meeting to describe the bid process is slated for 11 a.m. on June 29 in Room 123 at the Memorial Building, 150 Concord St., and the deadline for filing bids is 11 a.m. July 29, according to a posting on the town's website, www.framinghamma.gov. Information about the properties, the prebid meeting or filing bids is available at 508-532-5431. - Connie Paige

PROGRESS ON HIGH SCHOOL - The Massachusetts School Building Authority's board of directors voted on June 3 to proceed with a feasibility study for renovating or replacing Franklin High School. In December, authority officials completed a site visit to the 38-year-old high school, which was placed on "warning" status by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges last year. During this next phase, officials from the school district and the state authority will explore solutions for the aging building, for which town officials have applied for state funds. The high school has also had an architectural study that presented improvement options, ranging from a $100 million renovation to a $130 million replacement school. For more information, visit www.franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com.

PROGRESS ON RAIL TRAIL - The town is one step closer to having a recreational trail now that CSX Corp., the freight railroad company that owns a 6.7-mile railbed corridor in Holliston, has agreed to a third-party appraisal. The town and CSX had been negotiating over the price for about 10 years, said Holliston Trails Committee chairman Robert Weidknecht. He said he can't disclose the agreed-upon appraisal price because negotiations over the purchase and sales agreement are still ongoing; Holliston's town counsel is reviewing the document now. Weidknecht said that Holliston has been approved for state funds that would cover the construction of the recreational trail, but added that the state's economic climate and budget woes may delay the funding. Once completed, the Holliston section would provide another link in the Upper Charles Rail Trail, a proposed 20-mile loop that would run through Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, Hopkinton, and Ashland.

NEW TOWN MANAGER - Years of uncertainty regarding the town manager's position ended when Norman Khumalo, formerly Westford's assistant town manager, signed his contract with the town last week. The turmoil began when then-town manager Anthony Troiano collided head-on with another car in Bourne in May 2007. The crash killed the other car's driver, Lilija Berents, and caused serious injuries to Troiano. He was convicted of motor vehicle homicide last September. He resigned in October after a co-worker complained that Troiano had used a town-owned laptop to visit a pornographic website while at home. Former fire chief Gary Daugherty then agreed to serve simultaneously as the interim town manager while continuing his Fire Department duties, but left to serve as Framingham's fire chief in February. Clayton Carlisle stepped in as interim town manager until the town hired Khumalo, who also has considerable municipal experience from his positions in town planning for Wellesley, Walpole, and a city in Zimbabwe, his native country. He worked for Oxfam America in Boston, where he directed the organization's African program. - Megan McKee

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS - Planners of the Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization's 30th anniversary are seeking former members of the business-promotion group to help celebrate. Formed in 1979 by Medfield merchants, the group has boosted area businesses via events like Medfield Day, a town fair on the third Saturday of every September since 1980, and other community events. This year, the 30th anniversary of the organization will be marked by a party scheduled for Saturday at the Center at Medfield on Ice House Road. In addition to dinner and dancing, the event will feature former group members and founders speaking about their experiences with the organization. The event starts at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $30 for group members and $45 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased by mailing a check to Brandie Morris Erb at Electric Time Co., 97 West St., Medfield, MA 02052, or contact Erb directly at blm@electrictime.com. -James O'Brien

TOWN MEETING TOMORROW - The annual Town Meeting will kick off tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the Medway High School auditorium. Residents will tackle a series of budget items, including a $1.1 million appropriation of free cash toward new carpets and doors at schools, a truck for the Department of Public Services, road and sidewalk work, and the establishment of an operational stabilization fund. Town Meeting will also consider whether to appropriate $1.3 million for a water-meter replacement program, and weigh in on changing the starting and ending times at the town's elementary schools next year. The full warrant, as well as the reports of many town boards and committees, can be viewed at www.townofmedway.org. - Rachel Lebeaux

CLINICAL LAB PASSES TEST - Milford Regional Medical Center's clinical laboratory recently received accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists, following an on-site inspection. The group's Laboratory Accreditation Program, recognized by the federal government, is designed to ensure the highest standard of care for laboratory patients. During the accreditation process, inspectors examined lab records and quality control of procedures that took place over the past two years. Inspectors also examined the staff's qualifications, laboratory equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management of the laboratory. - Anna Fiorentino

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Next month, the Board of Selectmen will appoint and reappoint people for dozens of seats on 20 town committees and commissions, including the Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, and Youth Advisory Board. For a full list, visit www.natickma.gov or see postings at Town Hall. Interested candidates can either submit a letter of interest or fill out the committee application, which can be found online or at Town Hall. Letters and applications must be returned by July 6 to the Board of Selectmen, 13 East Central Street, Natick, MA 01760. - Megan McKee

NO HIKE FOR BUS FEES - School officials chose last week not to raise a $90 school bus fee that was implemented this year for children who live within 2 miles of their school. But they said it's possible that a cost hike could be considered for school year 2010-2011. The fee, designed to help close a gap in this year's school budget, was put into effect on Oct. 1. According to the state, the eligibility radius is determined by measuring the distance from home to school, using the shortest route. Any student who is riding a bus is required to register with the district and carry a pass. Superintendent Don LeClerc has said that more than 80 percent of students who fall into that category chose to pay the fee, raising $32,000. Some members of the School Committee have suggested that families who live outside the 2-mile perimeter, and so don't have to pay, should chip in the fee out of fairness.

MUSIC TEACHER RETIRING - Pine Hill Elementary School music teacher Paula Lofgren retires this month after 34 years in the position. Over the years, Lofgren has had an impact on many of the school's students in kindergarten through Grade 6, and on teachers and administrators, according to Kathy Horigan Dye, a member of the Community School Association, a parent-teacher organization. Lofgren's accomplishments at Pine Hill include creating bands for fifth- and sixth-graders, starting a new recorder class for grades 3-6, producing the annual holiday show, and forming a chorus with fathers of students at the school. - Anna Fiorentino

TOWN MEETINGS TUESDAY - Voters convene Tuesday at a Special Town Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. to decide whether to amend a town bylaw to ease the approval process for cellular-communications towers in Upton. On the same night at 7:30, voters will take up articles from the adjourned Town Meeting of May 7, including a motion to enforce wetlands-protection bylaws the town originally approved in 2004. A petition to revoke the bylaws was defeated at the May 7 meeting. Residents chose to delay the vote on enforcement until this week, as they wanted more information about the regulations, said Town Clerk Kelly McElreath. McElreath said the bylaws are on the town website, www.upton.ma.us, and copies, available at town offices, were published in local newspapers. McElreath also said 10 articles, pertaining to matters of budget, are up for vote at the 7:30 p.m. session. Both meetings are at Nipmuc Regional High School. - James O'Brien

MORE CUTS AT KING PHILIP - King Philip Regional School Committee members projected last week that there will be 10 middle and high school teachers and 10 support staff laid off because of a possible $756,000 loss in state aid. Also being considered are the elimination of the health program and cuts in the arts. Fees for transportation and sports may also go up, officials said. A vote on the budget is expected at the committee's June 29 meeting. Staff was already reduced by nearly seven positions this year.

NEW FARMERS MARKET - A new farmers market will be opening next month on Pearl Street in West Acton. The Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market will operate on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting on July 12 and continuing through November. The market will feature a variety of items from local vendors, including vegetables, fruits, honey, eggs, meat, breads, and jams. The market will also have children's activities, community education, music, and work by area artisans. Organizers are looking for donations to help get the market started and volunteers for market days. For more details, contact Jennifer Taylor at 978-877-1657. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR VILLAGE - A developer is looking to purchase a block in West Concord to construct a new three-story building for shops and a restaurant on the first floor and housing on the second and third levels. Selectman Gregory Howes said developer Ross Hamlin has an agreement to buy the property, and approached the town about his concept. The property includes a block between Bradford and Maple streets in the village that has some homes and formerly housed a car dealership and auto-body business. Howes said no plans have been filed yet. Howes and town planner Marcia Rasmussen attended a meeting of the West Concord Task Force last week to discuss the preliminary plans with area residents. - Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

POLICE CABLE PROGRAM - A local-access cable television show, "Groton Dunstable 9-1-1," featuring topics on local police work, is running at regular times on Charter Communications Channel 13 and Verizon FIOS Channel 31. The police forces for the two towns take turns producing a show for the program, alternating each month. The program runs on the channels on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. - Matt Gunderson

GOVERNOR HEADING TO TOWN - Governor Deval Patrick is planning to hold a "town hall" meeting on the downtown common Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Needham is one of 15 such stops this summer for the governor, who is promoting the visits to various communities as a way to make state government more accessible to all. The rain location is the Needham High School auditorium. For more details, go to www.mass.gov/governor/townhall. - Lisa Kocian

KERRY STAFF OFFICE HOUR - US Senator John Kerry's staff will meet with constituents Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. in Town Hall. Kerry's staff regularly holds community office hours across the state to give residents and business owners a chance to ask questions or voice concerns. For more information, or to learn about future office hours, visit the senator's website, www.kerry.senate.gov. - John M. Guilfoil

HOMEBUYERS CLASS - Registration is open for the Summer First Time Homebuyers class, sponsored by the Waltham Alliance to Create Housing and the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation. The four-day class, which costs $40, will be held July 27 and 29 and Aug. 3 and 5, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Christ Church Episcopal, 750 Main St. Graduates may be eligible for down-payment assistance from their community, according to WATCH, but to receive certification, prospective homebuyers must attend all four classes. For more details, call 781-891-6689, e-mail watch@ watchcdc.org, or go to www.watchcdc.org/news. - Lisa Kocian