6:32 PM Select Board meeting Town Hall
Looks like no Questions during the 6:30 Question Period
6:34 PM Gerry cuts to the reorganization chase, but is reminded (by Diana Stein) that Alisa Brewer is not here yet.
6:35 PM She just walked in. All five present and accounted for.
6:40 PM Alisa nominates Stephanie for Chair and Mr. Weiss seconds.
Ms Brewer gives him parting gifts--even though they have not taken the vote.
6:45 PM Vote is unanimous. The gavel has been passed!
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In other news from this evening: The Town Manager had good news/bad news concerning recreation. The Town Attorney's opinion is that the town can get away with the CPA spending on Plum Brook Soccer fields mainly because they already did the expensive renovation and legally committed to the ten-year loan before the Seidman vs Newton case was decided by the SJC (but it certainly sounds like in the future that spending would not fly)
Town Pools may not fare as well as soccer: A new Federal regulation spurred by a horrific hot tub drowning of a child requires a retrofit that could cost $100,000 per pool--the Middle School indoor pool and both outdoor pools (Mill River and the War Memorial). Ouch.
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The Select Board decided to post on the town website all the working written materials concerning the Town Manager's evaluation from the five members of the Board . Sound like a cure for insomnia to me.
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And the Facilitation of the Community Choices Committee managed to make their December 1 deadline and presented the first chapter of the Final Report, containing almost no good news at all.
Congratulations Stephanie.
ReplyDeleteSet priorities with the four other elected reps and keep the effort focused on the priorities. Ask the town manager to work with you and not his old boss. Ask to be briefed on all matters raised by SB members to Town Manager.
Nothing like a budget crisis to get the grownups in to replace the children.....
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ReplyDeleteAmherst sees big jump in property assessments
By Nick Grabbe
AMHERST - Homeowners who are angry or just puzzled over increases in their property assessments will have several opportunities this week to get official explanations.
It's hard for me to understand how real estate tax assessments could be up in Amherst, when single family home sales are off -25% and more importantly, median prices are off -3.8%.
A couple years ago Burgess reassessed my house as he sat in his car across the street. He added a bathroom, a bedroom and a more expensive heating system I didn't have. I only noticed because I checked the online info after my rate jumped. I also know someone who was assessed as having a pool they never had. Check and make sure you are paying for what you really have.
ReplyDeleteI think that before they start raising taxes, they shouls have a hands-on inspection before the fact. I am really sick of this dead a-- town, but I refuse to leave the town I grew uup in. We need a new form of government and fair leaders, and represention of fair taxes.
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