Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Selectman Michael Harrity: "Harvard underestimated the complication" of soil remediation process.
The news about the latest developments with Case Estates is in, and according to Weston selectman Michael Harrity, there’s not really news at all. In an update about the issue at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting at Weston Town Hall, Harrity told attendees that the process of continuing the terms of the present contract between Weston and Harvard University to purchase the 62.5-acre parcel of land located near the intersections of Wellesley, School and Ash streets with agreed-upon soil remediation has proven “very complicated” from Harvard’s point of view. The original acquisition was approved by voters at a Special Town Election in November 2006 but was soon delayed by the discovery of contaminants in the soil, creating protracted …
Monday, February 6, 2012
Lifelong Weston resident Coburn: Running for selectman "is something I've always wanted to do and always expected to do."
Shortly after Steven Charlip announced he will not be seeking a third term as a Weston selectman, Weston resident Ed Coburn announced his intention to run for Charlip’s seat at Town Election on May 8. Coburn, a lifelong Weston resident, currently serves as the president /chairman of the Weston Tercentennial Steering Committee and trustee of the Weston Affordable Housing Trust. In addition, he’s served as president/director of the Weston Affordable Housing Foundation, vice president/director of Roxbury-Weston programs, and in other town and community positions. Before announcing his candidacy, Coburn submitted a Letter to the Editor describing at length his thoughts about open government and the governing process. As well, he recently spoke…
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Board performs Cultural Council interviews, votes to open the annual town meeting warrant for submission of articles by petition from citizens at Monday meeting.
A light agenda awaited those in attendance at Monday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting at Weston Town Hall, with several financial matters and postings for vacant positions the main focuses of the discussion. In the first meeting following selectman Steven Charlip's recent announcement that he will not seek a third term, Weston Finance Director and Treasurer/Collector Sarah Johnson asked the board to approve the bond and bond anticipation note (BAN) sales for pre-approved projects. Included in the BAN, a short-term note of one year, were $12.1 million for the Weston High School science lab, $2.5 million for Field School replacement and $662,400 for a boiler at WHS, among other projects. Included in the long-term $5 million bond is "a …
Friday, January 27, 2012
Six-year board member Steven Charlip cites strides in open government, affordable housing as accomplishments during tenure.
Citing an increased workload, Steven Charlip, a Weston selectman since 2006, announced yesterday that he will not run for a third term. Charlip started his own law firm, Steven L. Charlip, LLC, three years ago, and said business has been booming of late. "It's been a lot of fun, very rewarding," Charlip said about his time as a selectman. "But my practice is a lot of work, and it's time to step down." Charlip also cited the length of his tenure as a reason for not running again, saying "six years is long enough" and that there are "plenty of good people who will fill in very capably." "One of my goals (while a selectman) was to make the system as open as possible, which includes keeping fresh blood on town boards and committees," Charlip …
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A recommended budget was presented on Jan. 10.
A recommended $67.4 million budget and financing plan for fiscal 2013 was presented at Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting by Town Manager Donna VanderClock. The recommended budget represents a 3.6 percent increase over fiscal 2012, and factors in a projected state aid reduction of 5 percent, VanderClock said. “There are continuing pressures on the state budget,” she said. “We may not know by Town Meeting what the final numbers are. Right now this is a conservative projection.” VanderClock estimated revenues at $67.4 million, also a 3.6 percent increase over fiscal 2012, representing a balanced budget. VanderClock expects property tax levies and local receipts to be up 4.1 and 5.7 percent respectively from last fiscal year. The…
Monday, January 9, 2012
This week there are meetings of several town boards and committees as well as a public hearing on Case's Corner.
If getting more involved in your town is among your resolutions, now's the time to start. After a traditional end-of-year meetings break, many Weston boards and committees resume today. Here are some of the ones you might want to attend, as well as an important public hearing: Weston School Committee, Monday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m., Case House Items on tonight's agenda include a discussion of Weston Education Enrichment Fund Committee (WEEFC) proposals, facilities project updates, a budget overview, and more. Board of Selectmen, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m., Town Hall Tomorrow night's discussion items range from a tree advisory group candidate to the FY13 proposed budget and financing plan. Click here for the full agenda. Planning Board/Affordable …
Friday, December 30, 2011
Here's a look at some top town government stories for 2011, presented in no particular order.
1. All articles pass in Special Town Meeting, Nov. 15 All articles, including that to allocate funds for the Field School, passed Special Town Meeting in mid-November. 2. Weston prepares to celebrate its 300th birthday, Sept. 8 The Weston300 Committee forms to get a jump start on the anniversary celebration and is looking for town input with not only the celebration itself, but also a logo design contest. 3. Weston joins affordable housing collaboration, March 18 Six towns northwest of Boston, including Weston, joined forces to preserve affordable housing in their region this year, under a new agreement brokered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) that aims to increase efficiency in administering housing services. 4. Weston …
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Here's a look at what you might have missed in the past week.
In the second in a series of small business profiles, Body by Design owner Mia Pye talks about working as a fitness trainer during difficult economic times. In sports news, 25 Weston High School athletes were named Boston Globe All-Stars while longtime track and cross country coach John Monz was named a Coach of the Year. Also in sports news, the Weston High School Swimming and Diving program opened the 2011-2012 season with a pair of DCL wins. Santa came to town! In a 25-year town tradition, Santa arrived on a firetruck at different locations around Weston. In town government, the Board of Selectmen approved remote meeting participation, making it allowable for members of town boards and committees to take part in meetings from another …
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Selectmen approve $12.11 per $1000 of assessed home value, pending state approval.
Weston homeowners can expect to pay an average of about $15,750 on their next property tax bills, pending the approval of a proposed tax rate of $12.11 per $1,000 of assessed value. The increase represents a hike of about 5.57 percent over FY11’s rate of $11.39 per $1,000 of assessed value. In the yearly tax classification hearing at Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, principal assessor Eric Josephson told the board the average residential property is assessed at $1.3 million, about a 2 percent decrease from last year’s assessed values. Under the proposed scenario, average homeowners will pay about $936 more on their next tax bill, up from last year’s average tax bill of about $14,800. Also at the meeting, the selectmen approved a …
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Members of town boards and committees permitted to participate remotely under certain circumstances set by AG's office; mainly a "courtesy," say selectmen.
Following a measure added to the state’s Open Meeting Law guidelines in early November, the Weston Board of Selectmen voted to allow members of town boards and committees to participate in meetings even when they’re unable to attend, in what one member deemed “mainly a courtesy” to promote meeting participation. At last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting at Weston Town Hall, the board discussed the measure put forth by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office last month to allow remote participation at town meetings, and unanimously agreed to make the change, effective immediately. A press release from the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley states the purpose of these new regulations is "to promote greater participation in …
Liz Hochberger
7:11 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
I can't believe it has been almost 6 years since Steven Charlip was elected to be on the Board of Selectmen!!! Thank you so much for your tireless service. I really appreciate all the hard work you have done. I look forward to seeing you around town! All the best in your law practice... more ›