In a brief ceremony in the basement of town hall this morning, new members Doug Field and Norm Russell took their places on the Select Board. The third member, Dave DeHerdt, was not present.
Town Clerk Maryellen Cranston first administered the oath of office. She then told Russell how to receive the ethics training required of all town officials. (Field, as the former Fire Chief and current Emergency Management Director, has already received the training). She then explained the process by which the board authorized payment of town payroll and bills through the signing of bi-weekly warrants.
The board then discussed what day of the week they will meet. While not finalized, they agreed that Monday or Tuesday will be best.
The full board will meet next on Monday, May 10, at 7 p.m.
David King
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Town Hall Bulletin Board
Board of Health, Tue 5/4, 7pm
Sewer Commission, Tue 5/4, 6pm
Select Board, Wed 5/5, 11am
Ashfield History Project, Wed 5/5, 7pm
Planning Board, Wed 5/5, 7:30pm
Police Chief Search Committee, Thu 5/6, 7pm
Select Board, Mon 5/10, 7pm
Board of Assessors, Tue 5/11, 7pm
Ag Commission, Tue 5/11, 8pm
Conservation Commission, Wed 5/12, 7:30pm
Planning Board Hearing, Wed 5/19, 7:30pm
Park Commission, Tue 5/25, 9am
Board of Health Hearing, Tue 6/1, 7pm
Sewer Commission, Tue 5/4, 6pm
Select Board, Wed 5/5, 11am
Ashfield History Project, Wed 5/5, 7pm
Planning Board, Wed 5/5, 7:30pm
Police Chief Search Committee, Thu 5/6, 7pm
Select Board, Mon 5/10, 7pm
Board of Assessors, Tue 5/11, 7pm
Ag Commission, Tue 5/11, 8pm
Conservation Commission, Wed 5/12, 7:30pm
Planning Board Hearing, Wed 5/19, 7:30pm
Park Commission, Tue 5/25, 9am
Board of Health Hearing, Tue 6/1, 7pm
Monday, May 3, 2010
Village Going Dark
Because of budget constraints, the Ashfield Town Meeting voted on May 1, 2010 to no longer pay for town operated street lights. As of July 1, 2010, all street lights operated by the Town of Ashfield will be turned off.
It was announced at the Meeting that residents had the option to personally pay for street lights. That option has been discontinued by WMECO.
Please contact me with any questions.
Maryellen Cranston
Town Administrator
It was announced at the Meeting that residents had the option to personally pay for street lights. That option has been discontinued by WMECO.
Please contact me with any questions.
Maryellen Cranston
Town Administrator
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Annual Town Meeting 2010
For the past few months, the Select Board and Finance Committee have fought to bring town costs under control. On Saturday, the town agreed with them.
The $3.85 million dollar budget the Select Board brought to the meeting passed essentially unchanged, even though it cut two positions from the town payroll – one each from the highway and police departments.
In introducing the budget, Select Board Chair Ted Murray said, “We are now at a point where we can no longer pay for the level of services to which we’ve been accustomed. . . . It’s not a question of what we want, it’s a question of what we can afford.” Murray went on to cite elements that are beyond town control, such as rising vocational school tuition and cuts in state funding.
In a show of solidarity with the employees who are asked to make sacrifices, the Select Board proposed in Article 3 that all elected town officials will forgo their stipends this year. A floor amendment by resident Mike Fitzgerald added to the article the town’s grateful acknowledgement for the sacrifice and a request that these stipends be reinstituted next year.
The only substantial challenge to the budget was an amendment by resident Bill Perlman to reduce the proposed Police Chief’s position to part time, reduce police operating expenses, and reinstitute the sergeant’s position, which was cut from the budget. After a prolonged but civil discussion, the amendment was defeated by a voice vote.
The town agreed to increase only one budget line item, reinstating $2600 for uniforms for the Highway Department. When some voters asked why the department employees couldn’t purchase and launder their own uniforms, department employee Curt Pichette pointed out that the grease and tar encountered by the Highway Department would destroy a normal washing machine. Finance Committee member Tom Carter also reminded the town that the uniform service was established for the Highway Department years ago in lieu of a cost of living raise.
The town also passed – both on the floor and at the ballot box – the measures necessary for a Proposition 2 ½ override to purchase a new truck for the Highway Department. At an estimated cost of $145,000, the new truck will replace a 20-year-old vehicle now in need of extensive maintenance. While final figures are not available, Carter estimated that the truck will add about 12 cents/thousand to the tax rate.
In non-budget news, the town defeated a proposal by the Mohawk Regional School District to create a school stabilization fund for capital expenditures, a measure that both the Select Board and the Finance Committee recommended against. Murray, while supporting stabilization funds in general, raised questions on how this one would be administered. Finance Committee Member Carl Satterfield expressed concern that, since funding of the school stabilization fund will be integrated into the school budget, the town might be forced to fund the school’s fund when it cannot fund its own.
The town also approved a measure to allow a member of the Select Board to serve as Emergency Management Director and another granting the Board of Health the authority to fine contractors who drill unsafe wells. Just before town meeting wrapped up after 5PM, the town passed an article authorizing the town to enter into discussions with other regional towns toward establishing a communication system to provide broadband services.
In the end, despite increases in school expenses and cuts in state funding, the budget approved yesterday came in at about $50,000 less than the amount spent in the past year. Though final figures are not yet available, residents will not see a savings on their tax rate and may see a slight increase. This is due to a reduction of other funding sources, primarily state funding.
David King
The $3.85 million dollar budget the Select Board brought to the meeting passed essentially unchanged, even though it cut two positions from the town payroll – one each from the highway and police departments.
In introducing the budget, Select Board Chair Ted Murray said, “We are now at a point where we can no longer pay for the level of services to which we’ve been accustomed. . . . It’s not a question of what we want, it’s a question of what we can afford.” Murray went on to cite elements that are beyond town control, such as rising vocational school tuition and cuts in state funding.
In a show of solidarity with the employees who are asked to make sacrifices, the Select Board proposed in Article 3 that all elected town officials will forgo their stipends this year. A floor amendment by resident Mike Fitzgerald added to the article the town’s grateful acknowledgement for the sacrifice and a request that these stipends be reinstituted next year.
The only substantial challenge to the budget was an amendment by resident Bill Perlman to reduce the proposed Police Chief’s position to part time, reduce police operating expenses, and reinstitute the sergeant’s position, which was cut from the budget. After a prolonged but civil discussion, the amendment was defeated by a voice vote.
The town agreed to increase only one budget line item, reinstating $2600 for uniforms for the Highway Department. When some voters asked why the department employees couldn’t purchase and launder their own uniforms, department employee Curt Pichette pointed out that the grease and tar encountered by the Highway Department would destroy a normal washing machine. Finance Committee member Tom Carter also reminded the town that the uniform service was established for the Highway Department years ago in lieu of a cost of living raise.
The town also passed – both on the floor and at the ballot box – the measures necessary for a Proposition 2 ½ override to purchase a new truck for the Highway Department. At an estimated cost of $145,000, the new truck will replace a 20-year-old vehicle now in need of extensive maintenance. While final figures are not available, Carter estimated that the truck will add about 12 cents/thousand to the tax rate.
In non-budget news, the town defeated a proposal by the Mohawk Regional School District to create a school stabilization fund for capital expenditures, a measure that both the Select Board and the Finance Committee recommended against. Murray, while supporting stabilization funds in general, raised questions on how this one would be administered. Finance Committee Member Carl Satterfield expressed concern that, since funding of the school stabilization fund will be integrated into the school budget, the town might be forced to fund the school’s fund when it cannot fund its own.
The town also approved a measure to allow a member of the Select Board to serve as Emergency Management Director and another granting the Board of Health the authority to fine contractors who drill unsafe wells. Just before town meeting wrapped up after 5PM, the town passed an article authorizing the town to enter into discussions with other regional towns toward establishing a communication system to provide broadband services.
In the end, despite increases in school expenses and cuts in state funding, the budget approved yesterday came in at about $50,000 less than the amount spent in the past year. Though final figures are not yet available, residents will not see a savings on their tax rate and may see a slight increase. This is due to a reduction of other funding sources, primarily state funding.
David King
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Town Meeting Election Results
Moderator (1 year term)
Stewart Eisenberg (caucus nominee): 296
Karen Sullivan (caucus nominee): 145
Tree Warden (1 year term)
Robert Abbatiello (caucus nominee): 121
Thomas Poissant (caucus nominee): 318
Select Board (3 year term)
Douglas M. Field (caucus nominee): 354
Tom Carter (write-in): 2
Bill Perlman (write-in): 2
Select Board (to fill an unexpired 2 year term)
Norman L. Russell: 360
Tom Carter (write-in): 1
Bill Perlman (write-in): 1
Assessor (3 year term)
Wayne Gardner (caucus nominee): 162
Sandra Lilly (caucus nominee): 260
Assessor (to fill an unexpired 2 year term)
Mary Quigley (caucus nominee): 390
Finance Committee (3 year term)
Janet Rogers (caucus nominee): 335
Mary Link (write-in): 18
Mary Quigley (write-in): 1
Finance Committee (3 year term)
Edwin A. Murray, Jr. (caucus nominee): 370
Finance Committee (to fill an unexpired 1 year term)
Priscilla Phelps (caucus nominee): 135
Lynn Taylor (caucus nominee): 252
School Committee (3 year term)
Faye Whitney-Lussier (nomination papers): 358
School Committee (to fill an unexpired 2 year term)
Emily Robertson (caucus nominee): 359
Valerie Shippee (write-in): 1
Board of Health (3 year term)
Joanne Ostrowski (caucus nominee): 364
Constable (3 year term)
Elizabeth G. Lesure (caucus nominee): 374
Constable (3 year term)
John A. LaBelle (caucus nominee): 376
Park Commissioner (3 year term)
Nina Coler (caucus nominee): 377
Jeff Dyer (write-in): 1
Sewer Commissioner (3 year term)
Mary Fitz-Gibbon (caucus nominee): 371
Jeff Dyer (write-in): 1
Planning Board (5 year term)
Alan Rice (caucus nominee): 346
Stuart Harris (write-in): 1
Library Trustee (5 year term)
David King (caucus nominee): 185
Barbara Sussbauer (nomination papers): 235
Debt Exclusion Over-ride
Yes: 233
No: 183
Total Votes Cast: 454
Number of Registered Voters: 1281
Stewart Eisenberg (caucus nominee): 296
Karen Sullivan (caucus nominee): 145
Tree Warden (1 year term)
Robert Abbatiello (caucus nominee): 121
Thomas Poissant (caucus nominee): 318
Select Board (3 year term)
Douglas M. Field (caucus nominee): 354
Tom Carter (write-in): 2
Bill Perlman (write-in): 2
Select Board (to fill an unexpired 2 year term)
Norman L. Russell: 360
Tom Carter (write-in): 1
Bill Perlman (write-in): 1
Assessor (3 year term)
Wayne Gardner (caucus nominee): 162
Sandra Lilly (caucus nominee): 260
Assessor (to fill an unexpired 2 year term)
Mary Quigley (caucus nominee): 390
Finance Committee (3 year term)
Janet Rogers (caucus nominee): 335
Mary Link (write-in): 18
Mary Quigley (write-in): 1
Finance Committee (3 year term)
Edwin A. Murray, Jr. (caucus nominee): 370
Finance Committee (to fill an unexpired 1 year term)
Priscilla Phelps (caucus nominee): 135
Lynn Taylor (caucus nominee): 252
School Committee (3 year term)
Faye Whitney-Lussier (nomination papers): 358
School Committee (to fill an unexpired 2 year term)
Emily Robertson (caucus nominee): 359
Valerie Shippee (write-in): 1
Board of Health (3 year term)
Joanne Ostrowski (caucus nominee): 364
Constable (3 year term)
Elizabeth G. Lesure (caucus nominee): 374
Constable (3 year term)
John A. LaBelle (caucus nominee): 376
Park Commissioner (3 year term)
Nina Coler (caucus nominee): 377
Jeff Dyer (write-in): 1
Sewer Commissioner (3 year term)
Mary Fitz-Gibbon (caucus nominee): 371
Jeff Dyer (write-in): 1
Planning Board (5 year term)
Alan Rice (caucus nominee): 346
Stuart Harris (write-in): 1
Library Trustee (5 year term)
David King (caucus nominee): 185
Barbara Sussbauer (nomination papers): 235
Debt Exclusion Over-ride
Yes: 233
No: 183
Total Votes Cast: 454
Number of Registered Voters: 1281
Breaking News from Town Meeting
The amendment to Article 11 that has generated some discussion here has failed. Proposed by Bill Perlman, the amendment would have reduced the police chief’s salary by $24,000, reduced the police expenses line item by $6,000, and re-instated the police sergeant’s salary at $30,000.
After a civil discussion that lasted about an hour, the amendment failed by a voice vote. The police budget, as presented on the warrant article and recommended by a majority of the Finance Committee, eliminates the sergeant’s position in an effort to cut costs. The unamended article passed by a voice vote just before the lunch break.
Ruth Julian
After a civil discussion that lasted about an hour, the amendment failed by a voice vote. The police budget, as presented on the warrant article and recommended by a majority of the Finance Committee, eliminates the sergeant’s position in an effort to cut costs. The unamended article passed by a voice vote just before the lunch break.
Ruth Julian
Town Meeting and Election Today! Sanderson Academy--10 a.m.
The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.
Hubert H. Humphrey
Hubert H. Humphrey
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