At the meeting for select board members yesterday I learned that the MBTA recently made the buses run on time by adjusting its schedule. The MBTA simply changed the data so that arrival times were later, to match what had already been the times in practice. Hence the buses then ran on time even though they were still driving at the same times.

Hence too for the 2020 election, people just need to adjust their expectations. Hence the bumper sticker seen at Shaw’s today.

Two breakout sessions, one on building concensus and one on regionalization, then words from the State Senate Chair of its Education Committee. They are rewriting the education fundings formula, but we should not expect much more money. Millionaires tax would only kick in come 2022.

Best or easiest things to regionalize:

HR
IT
Building Department
Assessors
Animal Control
Dispatch
Electronic Data Management
Board of Health
Veterans services

Best reason to regionalize = The state is currently paying $$$ grants to regionalize. I saw a photo of the Cohasset, Hull, Norwell, and Hingham ACO’s $70K vehicle paid for by the state.

Worthwhile time spent at the conference today. Many more take aways.

Held at the Station Community Center, a really handsome, large, facility sized building, which is sited on the shore of a good sized lake. The building houses their P&R, COA, and clearly more.

Issues so far:

1. Legislative update – ed funding, zoning changes, $1 b. FY19 surplus
2. Select Board vs. Selectmen
3. 3 vs. 5 member boards
4. Engaging residents

Most of program still to come. Well worth the time.

Massachusetts Bar Association says “thanks, but no thanks” – i.e. no high school wanted me to volunteer with them on Law Day –

Dear Osler Peterson:

On behalf of the Massachusetts Bar Association, I would like to thank you for offering to volunteer for the MBA’s 2019 Law Day Education Program.

We had an overwhelming response to our call for Law Day volunteers this year and couldn’t be prouder of our membership for stepping up to the plate for this important initiative. We ended up having more volunteers than schools requesting presentations and, although we tried to match up multiple volunteers with schools where we could, we unfortunately could not place everyone.

Regrettably, we were not able to match you with a school this year, but we expect to run this program again in 2020 and hope you will be available to participate then. Thank you for stepping up to volunteer, as our programs cannot succeed without people like you.

If you are interested in additional volunteer opportunities, please click here for information regarding other MBA programs, or you may email the MBA directly at communityservices@massbar.org.

Sincerely,

Grace V.B. Garcia

MBA Secretary and Civics Task Force Chair

Brian Schubert, Nicholas Iannone, III, and Issac Popper were celebrated this afternoon by Troop 89 for becoming Eagle Scouts at the UCC.

Elephants at the Buttonwood Park Zoo receive new toy from Mass. College of Art student class

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/05/13/massart-students-create-toys-for-elephants-new-bedford-zoo/EGB79VBrsiZB3TgUjpmpnO/story.html

Through a technology failure last night, my photo did not get posted last night, so here is that post again with the photo.

The ATM moved along quickly. Not much controversy. All articles passed.

The greatest controversy seemed to be residents wanting the selectmen to spend $15,000 instead of the $1,000 that was recommended on such town improvements as the Board of Selectmen saw fit. $1,000 won out, and the budget was balanced without an over ride.  I estimated that one passing by about 60%-40%.

Water donated by CVS and distributed by the Medfield Foundation.

Along with spare controversies at the ATM, there was also sparse attendance.

The ATM moved along quickly. Not much controversy. All articles passed.

The greatest controversy seemed to be residents wanting the selectmen to spend $15,000 instead of the $1,000 that was recommended. $1,000 won out, and the budget was balanced without an over ride.

Water donated by CVS and distributed by the Medfield Foundation.