By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
8/14/08
Water rates are increasing in the double digits for the highest users.
Although the average water rate increase could be 3.1 percent for households with low water use, people using the highest amount of water will see their bills go up 13.2 percent.
The sewer rate increase is closer to 1 percent, according to officials.
A new four-tier rate system, which is effective immediately, was approved by Selectmen at its Aug. 7 meeting. It separates consumers into four user groups based on water and sewer usage. Until now there were only two rates.
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By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
8/14/08
Selectmen announced at its Aug. 7 meeting that a Town Meeting session is likely to take place on Monday, Oct. 20.
No warrant articles have yet been drafted, but Town Administrator Kevin Mearn says a draft will likely be in the works after Selectmen firm up the date at its next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 21.
For now, he calls the Town Meeting 90 percent likely.
“Nothing is set in stone yet. It’s all just tentative at this point,” he says.
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By Pat Desmond
Times Staff
8/14/08
Jim Harney says he is just trying to make one last effort to focus attention on the plight of the persecuted.
He stopped to rest overnight in Milton at the home of Linda MacKay last week as part of his Walk for the Undocumented.
He may not come back. Harney is living with cancer and expects that six months or a year from now, the cancer will win.
“This walk is a spiritual journey for me - a healing journey,” he said.
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By Nate Leskovic
Staff Writer
8/7/08
About $180,000 is available in the school budget for this year due to the new teachers’ contract which was signed in June.
A portion of the funds will restore a guidance counselor position at the high school and the middle school librarian. Both were eliminated during budgets cuts. There were 17 positions cut in this year’s budget. About 12 full time equivalent teaching positions were eliminated.
About $500,000 was set aside for teacher salaries in this school budget.
The terms of the contract as well as some retirements and resignations will make $150,000 to $180,000 available, according to Assistant Superintendent Paul Hilton.
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By Nate Leskovic
Staff Writer
8/7/08
The new fiscal year began only several weeks ago, but town officials are already looking ahead to the next fiscal year and the possibility of an Proposition 21/2 override.
The Warrant Committee had one meeting in July and new chair Tom Hurley said override discussions have begun.
“In terms of the Warrant Committee, our duty is to bring a balanced budget to Town Meeting,” he said. “If we feel an override is necessary, we would bring two budgets.”
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By Scott MacKeen
Contributor
7/31/08
Vance Welch’s plan to bring fine dining to East Milton Square with a restaurant called “Stone Park” at the former Video-To-Go location, 550 Adams St., has some residents worried about potential parking problems.
The residents attended the Planning Board’s initial review on July 24 of the proposed American-style restaurant, which had its liquor license approved by the governor earlier this week.
Welch says he expects the restaurant to feature 128 seats at ground level and 32 private-dining seats in the basement.
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By Nate Leskovic
Staff Writer
7/31/08
One month into her tenure as school superintendent, Mary Gormley is facing a challenge from two parents critical of the school assignment for their children.
Gormley says a number of last year’s Glover kindergarten students were moved to new schools for the upcoming school year to even out first grade class sizes. Gillian Buckley and Robert Cargill want their children to stay at Glover instead of being bused to Collicot.
“I have 20 kids in my neighborhood who all go to Glover and (my child) is going to be an outcast,” says Buckley.
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