Monthly Archives: March 2015

MMA to Baker – $20/pupil insufficient

Posted on March 24, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA to Baker – $20/pupil insufficient

More on state aid, per the MMA, from the SHNS, via John Nunnari –

GREENFIELD, MASS., MARCH 24, 2015….While taking issue with Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed education budget, the head of the group that represents Massachusetts cities and towns said Tuesday that the state’s first slot parlor should spin off more than enough money to fund the governor’s proposed increase in unrestricted local aid.

Plainridge Park Casino will generate $86.7 million to $118.5 million, Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Geoffrey Beckwith told lawmakers Tuesday, noting the funds are required to flow into a local aid account. The slots parlor is set to open June 24. The Baker administration budgeted $87 million in gaming revenue from the slots facility in its fiscal 2016 budget.

The group representing cities and towns backed Baker’s proposed $34 million, 3.6 percent increase in unrestricted local aid at a hearing before the House and Senate Ways and Means committees, which met at Greenfield Community College Tuesday.

“The governor’s increase would be a return to the concept of revenue sharing,” said Beckwith, who was more critical of Baker’s proposed a minimum $20-per-student increase in local education funding.

Baker’s budget would increase local education funding, also known as Chapter 70, by $105.3 million. The funds are sent to cities and towns based on a formula.

Beckwith pushed for a $100-per-student minimum increase, calling it “clearly achievable” with state revenues forecast to rise 4.8 percent. He said in his testimony that Baker’s proposal is an “insufficient amount to maintain current school staffing and services.”

In his testimony, Beckwith said cities and towns are “more reliant on the property tax to fund essential services than at any time in the past thirty years.”

North Adams Councilor Lisa Blackmer said rural towns are left to police state parks, which she said are some of her favorite places.

“A lot of the parks aren’t even staffed anymore,” said Blackmer.

Greenfield Mayor William Martin said any increase in state funding to cities and towns would relieve the burden on property owners.

Orleans Selectman David Dunford, who is the president of the municipal association, said his town aimed to avoid layoffs by foregoing needed upgrades to buildings and water infrastructure.

“It was tough to cut personnel. We don’t want to do that,” Dunford said.

The municipal leaders also called for increases that help pay for special education needs and school transportation costs.

END
03/24/2015

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Posted in Budgets, State

Slots $ for local aid

Posted on March 24, 2015 | Comments Off on Slots $ for local aid

This from the State House News Service, via John Nunnari –

MMA CHIEF SEES SLOTS DELIVERING LOCAL AID $$$
[Story Developing] The opening of the state’s first slot parlor in Plainville should provide more than enough money to fund the governor’s proposed increase in unrestricted local aid, Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Geoffrey Beckwith told lawmakers Tuesday. Plainridge Park Casino will generate $86.7 million to $118.5 million, according to Beckwith, who said the funds are required to flow into a local aid account. The slots parlor is set to open June 24. The group representing cities and towns backed Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed $34 million increase in unrestricted local aid at a hearing before the House and Senate Ways and Means committees, which met at Greenfield Community College Tuesday. “The governor’s increase would be a return to the concept of revenue sharing,” said Beckwith, who was more critical of Baker’s proposed minimum $20-per-student increase in local education funding. Baker’s budget would increase local education funding, also known as Chapter 70, by $105.3 million. The funds are sent to cities and towns based on a formula. Beckwith pushed for a $100-per-student minimum increase and said the governor’s proposal is “insufficient.” – Andy Metzger/SHNS

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Posted in Budgets, State

STM says yes and yes again

Posted on March 24, 2015 | Comments Off on STM says yes and yes again

Both articles passed last night at the Special Town Meeting (STM) by overwhelming majorities, that were with one close to being unanimous, and with the other was unanimous.  The public safety building must still get a majority vote at the regular municipal election next Monday, March 30, to proceed.

The first STM vote, to fund the $700,000 construction costs of a money making solar photovoltaic installation behind the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), was unanimous.  As soon as the town’s new Energy and Facilities Manager, Andrew Seaman, who was presenting on behalf of the Energy Committee, mentioned that the array will be revenue positive starting in its first year, the Moderator jokingly interrupted to call for a fast vote.  The presentation may have continued, but the wisdom of a money making project was clear in the unanimity of the ultimate vote.  The array is projected to save the town $726,509 in electricity charges at the WWTP over 20 years.

Conversations with Energy Committee member Fred Davis after the meeting disclosed that the MEC’s solar consultant is already recommending to the town to proceed as fast as possible with other installations before the state subsidies for solar end in the next couple of years, which will change the economics dramatically.  The roof of the Highway Garage has already been recommended, but the old landfill is also being eyed.  Few old landfills remain without solar arrays, and there is even grant money to support such an installation.  Medfield never properly closed the landfill, so the closure may need to be revisited, but the economics may still make the project attractive.

Vote 2 to fund the almost $19m. construction costs of a new public safety building seemed to find the vast majority of attendees grudgingly, if realistically  accepting of the need for us to pay more in property taxes to allow for the new building.  This observer guesses that perhaps 20-40 people voted against proceeding.  There is no disagreement over the inadequacy of the old facility, and only minor issues verbalized over the size and scope of the new building and the lack of options presented.

Selectmen meet again this evening, to hear from all three of our legislators.

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Posted in Buildings, Energy Committee, Fire Department, Police Department, Select Board matters, Town Meeting

STM tonight – my top 10 reasons

Posted on March 23, 2015 | 2 comments

The Special town meeting (STM) takes place this evening at the MHS gym at 7:30 PM to decide upon:

  1. The new public safety building; and
  2. A solar photovoltaic array next to the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Top ten reasons that I favor the new public safety building:

  1. The new public safety building has been designed and vetted by the Building Committee right from the very beginning.
  2. The Building Committee is comprised of a group of extremely knowledgeable,  talented and diligent people.
  3. As a result of my attending many of the Building Committee’s meetings, I have come to trust the judgment of the Building Committee, and to feel secure with what they recommend.
  4. The public safety building has been designed with specific input from both chiefs, to meet both current and future needs of police and fire.
  5. I do not have the expertise to question whether the size and build out of the public safety building is appropriate, but I have faith in those who have vetted the design.
  6. There are extra spaces designed into the public safety building to accommodate future growth, but it is not of such an amount as to me to make the total design questionable, even if one were to disagree with those assumptions about future needs.
  7. The marginal costs of those extra spaces designed into the public safety building is not substantial when compared to the cost of the building without that space.
  8. Alternately, it would be extremely costly to have to add onto the public safety building later if we designed it too small now.
  9. The town has asked the police and fire to work in substandard space for too long.
  10. The police and fire have been exceedingly gracious about accommodating the town need to postpone any consideration of a new facility for them for many years beyond the time when we knew the current facilities needed to be replaced.

2 Comments

Posted in Budgets, Buildings, Town Meeting

MMA on pothole $

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA on pothole $

This alert from the Mass. Municipal Assoc. –

 

Thursday, March 19, 2015

BAKER ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE CITIES AND TOWNS WITH $30 MILLION FOR POTHOLE AND WINTER RECOVERY EFFORTS

$30 MILLION IN ONE-TIME AID TO BE AVAILABLE AND ALLOCATED THROUGH CHAPTER 90 FORMULA

The Baker Administration announced today that it has established a “Winter Recovery Assistance Program” that will provide cities and towns with $30 million in funding this spring to repair potholes and other damage to roads, bridges and signs caused by the punishing winter.

“This winter’s record-setting snowfall has left our cities and towns with a major maintenance deficit that needs to be addressed immediately,” Lt. Governor Polito said in a statement on Thursday. “This program provides municipalities with additional resources to accelerate those repairs and make our roadways safer for everyone.”

The $30 million for cities and towns will be allocated to municipalities using the Chapter 90 formula. The program will allow municipalities to seek reimbursement on expenditures related to potholes, pavement cracking, surface defects, paving projects, guardrails, storm drains, line striping, and repair or replacement of damaged signs.

MassDOT officials have outlined the following details: 1) the program will be implemented this month, with all qualifying work completed by June 30, 2015; 2) the department will issue one-time contracts with municipalities allowing them to draw down their share of the $30 million for the specific purpose of road and facility repairs; 3) these contracts will include a “use it or lose it” clause to ensure that funds are spent and projects are completed by June 30; and 4) all work invoices must be provided to MassDOT by July 31, 2015 and MassDOT will reimburse cities and towns as invoices are received.

Cities and towns will be receiving official notification and information on this program within the next several days.  Click here to view the WRAP apportionment list and rules and regulations, which detail how the $30 million will be apportioned to each city and town.

This year’s harsh winter has damaged local roads, generated countless potholes and placed a huge burden on local taxpayers as municipal leaders work to shore up their crumbling roadways. Communities will put these funds to immediate use rebuilding and repairing roads, equipment and facilities in every corner of Massachusetts, which will save money, help our economy and improve public safety.

This is very good news for cities and towns, and the MMA applauds Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, Secretary Pollack and MassDOT for this important program!

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Posted in Budgets, DPW, Massachusetts Municipal Association

State gives town $59,369 to repair potholes

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Comments Off on State gives town $59,369 to repair potholes

This today in the newsletter from the Division of Local Services (DLS) of DOR –  Medfield to get $59,369.00 –

$30M in Pothole Repair Reimbursement Allocated for Cities and Towns Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito

The Baker-Polito Administration has launched the Winter Recovery Assistance Program (WRAP), a $30 million targeted effort to assist cities and towns with repairs to roads and bridges under municipal jurisdiction.

“Since day one, we promised to partner with our cities and towns to provide them with the support needed to keep local infrastructure in reliable shape,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “After an unprecedented winter of heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures, this additional support will allow municipalities to patch up potholes and address local repairs as needed.”

“This winter’s record-setting snowfall has left our cities and towns with a major maintenance deficit that needs to be addressed immediately,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This program gives our cities and towns additional resources to accelerate those repairs and make our roadways safer for everyone.”

The $30 million has been allocated from the existing FY2015 bond authorization for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). While the WRAP is a distinct effort separate from the Chapter 90 program, to ensure equity, the funds will be distributed to cities and towns based on the Chapter 90 formula.

The Chapter 90 formula determines the apportionment of funding for municipal roads and bridges based on a weighted average of a city or town’s population, employment, and total mileage of roads. To view how the $30 million is apportioned to each city or town using the formula, click here.

Under the WRAP, cities and towns can seek reimbursement from MassDOT on expenditures related to patching potholes, pavement cracking, surface defects, paving projects, repair or replacement of damaged signs, guardrail, storm drains and line striping.

In order to accelerate local repairs, the WRAP requires all work on municipal infrastructure to be completed by June 30th, 2015, and for all work invoices to be provided to MassDOT by July 31st, 2015. MassDOT will reimburse cities and towns as invoices are received.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Capital budgets

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Comments Off on Capital budgets

Capital Budget requests and recommendations –

Requests and recommendations for this year

Requests for next five years

 

 

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Posted in Budgets

BoS on 3/23 & 24

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Comments Off on BoS on 3/23 & 24

Board of Selectmen
Monday, March 23, 2015, 6:30PM

AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
6:30PM Preparation for Special Town Meeting
7:30PM Special Town Meeting

Board of Selectmen
Tuesday March 24, 2015@ 7:00 PM

AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Appointment: Representative Garlick
Representative Dooley
Senator Timilty

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Posted in Select Board matters, Town Meeting

Lyme Disease – reports & seeks members

Posted on March 18, 2015 | Comments Off on Lyme Disease – reports & seeks members

The Lyme Disease Study Committee reported on its work for the past year to the selectmen last night.  In sum:

  • education efforts continue,
  • illegal hunting curbed,
  • 30 deer culled this year (140 total over four years),
  • deer car crashes down, and
  • other towns being assisted.

The program is hampered by the state’s 500″ no shooting zone around dwellings (whereas a state report said 150″ is enough) and lack of hunting on Sundays.  The 500′ setback precludes many identified areas of heavy deer  concentrations that would benefit from the culling.

The committee is seeking new members – contact Chris Kaldy at 359-1017 –

 

February 2015
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Residents of Medfield,
The Medfield Lyme Disease Study Committee is pleased to report on its activities for the
past year. The Committee’s approach to manage the health threat posed by Lyme and
other tick-borne diseases is through education on personal and property prevention and
protection as well as deer reduction.
The Committee implemented new and continued with previous efforts to teach about
means of personal protection from tick bites as well as property protection from ticks.
Toward this end, the committee utilizes various media as well as the school, sports and
other town organizations to disseminate its information. The three local television
channels are playing 30 second tick awareness videos created by the Mass Dept. of
Public Health (MDPH) during the active tick seasons. A Facebook page was created to
spread information to residents. Emails were sent by sport coaches and scout leaders to
parents to remind families about tick protection. Our selectmen publish information on
their biogs. Notices were published on the Medfield Patch about the active tick season
and methods for prevention and protection. Links to valuable websites are listed on our
committee’s page on the town’s website. Posters published by the MDPH reminding
children and residents to check for ticks are in our Town Hall, schools and also the
Medfield Afterschool Program. A notice to parents was sent again through the school
nurses to students’ homes warning about the active tick season and methods to protect
against tick bites. Tick check cards were given again to all first and third graders. The
committee’s warning sign about ticks was posted at more locations around town
including Park & Rec properties. At Medfield Day, information was available at the
Board of Health booth. The New ‘N Towne organization gives out information to new
members.
The committee also continued its organized deer-hunting program in the fall for its fourth
season by qualified, volunteer, bow hunters on town land, properties owned by The
Trustees of Reservations (TTOR), and private parcels. Again the program was
successfully implemented and completed with no incidents or safety issues reported to
the committee or the Police Dept. It was held during the Massachusetts state archery
season from October 20 through December 31. Thirty deer were culled. State hunting
laws as well as additional requirements of the committee and TTOR were followed.
Hunting took place only from fixed tree stands placed away from marked trails. Signage
was posted on trails and entrances to the selected properties. Hunters were authorized
after interviews and testing, including a proficiency test of their archery skills as well as a
background check by the Medfield Police. Some illegal hunters were discovered and
removed, so that hunting occurring on town or TTOR land was through our strictly
regulated program. Residents thanked bow hunters for making this effort.
As part of its broader plan, the committee is in touch with nearby towns to encourage
education and deer reduction across the area.
Submitted by
Chris Kaldy, Chair

 

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Posted in Wildlife Management & Lyme disease

Correction about the fire

Posted on March 18, 2015 | Comments Off on Correction about the fire

The fire last night was at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, not the Transfer Station (what I thought I heard Kristine tell Ken, in the row behind me at the Warrant Hearing last night), per Will E’s comment.  I am not sure how widely comments are distributed and seen, so I wanted to post what Will says was the correct location.

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Posted in Uncategorized