Tuesday, November 1, 2011
During Town Meeting debate, reps are not allowed to refer to each other by name. Here's why.
Welcome to You Ask, Patch Answers, a column in which you ask us a question about anything going on in town and we find an answer for you. Got a question you'd like to see Patch answer? E-mail it to krista@patch.com. Question: Why is it that Town Meeting Reps cannot refer to each other by name during debate and deliberations? Answer: Town Moderator Richard DeFreitas gave us two answers to this question: The first is to prevent the debate from being personal which can lead to personal attacks during a heated discussion. It is the same reason the US Senate refers to speakers as "the Gentleman from Georgia or the Lady from Wisconsin", etc.. You should refer to previous speakers as "the previous speaker or the Rep from precinct 5", etc.. …
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Here are five things you missed from last night's Board of Selectmen meeting.
Couldn't catch last night's Board of Selectmen meeting? No worries - we've got you covered. Here are five things you missed. 1. Oak Hill Study Committee. Selectmen discussed whether the committee should be comprised of representative from each major town board and committee and how many resident representatives will be on the board. Selectman Jim Lane suggested a committee of nine members, with possibly one representative from the Conservation Commission, one from the Planning Board, one from the Historical Commission and one from the Affordable Housing Committee. Five other resident and/or Town Meeting representatives could make up the rest. Town Manager Paul Cohen said he will send notices out to gauge interest and anyone interested in …
Friday, October 21, 2011
An article to move Oak Hill into conservation was voted down.
After a lengthy debate, Town Meeting Thursday night voted down an article that would have moved Oak Hill into conservation land and instead approved an article to do a study on the land. Oak Hill is a 66-acre parcel in North Chelmsford. Town officials said they need to know more about the land - whether or not it's buildable and if suitable pedestrian and vehicle access could be put in - before a decision is made to move it into conservation. Oak Hill had been eyed by the Affordable Housing Plan as a potential spot for affordable housing. At Town Meeting, Conservation Commission Chairman David McLachlan said Oak Hill was the top priority for the board to secure as conservation land. McLachland said 23 percent of the town is open space. His…
Town Meeting voted last night to give a tax increment finance agreement to the company.
Town Meeting last night approved a tax increment finance agreement for Kronos as an incentive to expand its world headquarters in town, a move that will retain 562 jobs and may create a significant number of additional ones. Kronos has a current location at 297 Billerica Road with an option to lease across the street at 300 Billerica Road. The agreement between the town, state and business will provide tax exemptions for the company on the additional or “incremental” value added to a property. Town Manager Paul Cohen said Kronos is looking to invest $6 million into the new location. The location is valued at about $9.3 million and fiscal 2011 property taxes on it are $157,078. Kronos officials have also made it clear to the town a …
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Town Meeting Reps will vote on Oak Hill.
Town Meeting tonight will take up the remaining seven articles on the Town Meeting warrant, including a decision on the 66-acre Oak Hill parcel. Article 22 will ask the town whether or not a study should be done on the property to explore issues such as the potential public uses and benefits, if adequate access to cars and foot traffic could be provided, and how the site could be improved for public use and benefit. According to the town, a previous study on the land examined the wetland resources, topography, the existing trail network and existing and potential concerns from abutters. However, the Conservation Commission in article 23 asks that the town transfer the care, custody, management and constrol of Oak Hill to the Conservation …
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Town Meeting met last night at the Senior Center.
Town Meeting's first session was last night at the Senior Center. It will continue Thursday night at the same place at 7:30 p.m. Here are five things Town Meeting spent money on last night. 1. The recall election. The town voted to pay $21,214 for the selectmen recall election on Aug. 2. 2. The South Chelmsford fire station. The town approved more than $100,000 to re-open and staff the South Chelmsford fire station. It will be open by Nov. 1. 3. Contract agreements. The town approved $49,046 to pay for employee contract agreements for the clerical union, dispatchers, and cemetery and highway workers. 4. The South Row playground. Town Meeting voted to appropriate $52,801 in insurance money to the facilities account, which will help rebuild…
Mike Combs
1:45 pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
I apologize in advance if having my name on my post makes me seem to familiar to readers of the Patch, or gives the impression that I am trying to start a series of personal attacks leading to a physical altercation. Neither are my intention. more ›