Monday, May 13, 2013
Police officials say a canine unit would benefit the city and nearly pay for itself through grants.
Marlborough is on its way to getting its first police dog after Police Chief Mark Leonard and City Councilors spoke to the many benefits of the addition to the department. “It will benefit [Marlborough] city wide," said Leonard at a Finance Committee meeting last week where the budget for the police department was endorsed with funds for a canine unit intact. A multi-use police dog would be a great asset to the department, said Leonard as he explained the city would be best served by a tracking and drug sniffing dog. While the city now has access to dogs in other communities, something it can take upwards of 40 minutes to arrive. In situations such as a missing person, every minute counts, he said. “Just like anything else when you have …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Massachusetts' problem is now Virginia's. After a macabre, around-the-clock stakeout of a Worcester funeral home this week by frenzied reporters and furious protestors, the remains of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev were secreted out of central Massachusetts and buried in a small Muslim cemetery in rural Virginia. No cemetery in Massachusetts, or public official for that matter, wanted Tsarnaev's body. And Gov. Deval Patrick just seemed relieved the tense standoff was over. "No. I have enough to do," Patrick said, when asked if he wished he had gotten involved to end the theatrics sooner. The April 15 attacks on the finish line of the Boston Marathon threw Beacon Hill policymakers off stride, quieting the raging debate …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The City Council has authorized additional funds for a part-time health and pool inspector.
The City Council voted Monday to authorize the transfer of $22,614 to provide additional support for inspections for food service and pools. "We have 42 pools we inspect," said Board of Health Administrator Robert Landry of the need for the internal transfer that will allow the inspections to be made. The funds will pay for a part-time temporary position through the end of June, he said. The person will make both health and pool inspections. With the beginning of the warm weather it is time to make those pool inspections, which are roughly 1/3 hotel and the rest seasonal. Every pool is inspected one or more times a year, said Landry.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The deadline for the summer city internships has been extended a week.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, May 9
Editor's Note: The following information was submitted by the office of Mayor Arthur Vigeant. The application deadline for a paid internship with the City of Marlborough is being given a one week extension as students complete their spring semester and final exams. The Public Service Internship Program is in its second year after first being launched by Mayor Arthur Vigeant and the City Council last year. All area college students are encouraged to apply. Applications may be picked up in person at the Marlborough Public Library or the Mayor’s Office in City Hall. It is also available for download on the city’s homepage at www.marlborough-ma.gov under the “Quick Links” section. In order to apply, students will need to do the following: 1) …
The Finance Committee voted 3 to 2 to cut $250,000 of the $55.3 million school district budget.
Citing an 8.7 percent increase over the previous year's budget, the Finance Committee voted to cut $250,000 from the school district's budget in the coming year. “We have to be fair to all the residents of Marlborough," said City Council President Patricia Pope who said schools are extremely important to the community. "We can’t continue to grow at this rate ... Mayor Vigeant, when you sat on our side of the table, your head would have blown up with that number.” The committee discussed a $500,000 cut to the school budget as was proposed by City Councilor Richard Jenkins. He amended that figure to $250,000 in cuts which was voted through by committee members Michael Ossing, Robert Seymour and Jenkins. Committee members Mark Oram and Joseph…
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The $500,000 inspection costs will be distributed among seven communities.
The estimated $500,000 cost of inspections for a $62.4 million renovation to the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School will be born by the seven member communities. “The cost will just be assessed to the member communities," said Superintendent-Director Mary Jo Nawrocki of the Assabet Valley School District. Nawrocki declined to comment further on the matter, saying she had not heard anything officially from city of Marlborough officials. She said no cost had been given for the inspection of the project, which is being done in Marlborough. She did not specify the mechanism that would be used to have the member communities pay for the inspections nor whether it would increase the cost of the project. The Marlborough City Council …
The mayor's proposed $133 million 2014 budget means increased taxes, but less than you might think.
A $133 million budget for next year would increase taxes by less than $70 for the average household, according to city officials. “We are probably looking at approximately less than 2 percent increase in property tax," said Mayor Arthur Vigeant of the budget that was proposed to the City Council. That budget represents a 4.89 percent increase over the previous year, but because of increased state funds and anticipated revenues residential taxes will increase by an estimated 1.57 percent. That results in an estimated tax rate from $15 per $1,000 to $15.23 per $1,000. What that means for the average household valued at $302,700 is an increase of $69.12 in taxes to $4,610.12 per year. The retail tax rate would increase from $28.46 per $1,000 …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Marlborough Public Library was recognized for its newsletter recently.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, May 7
Editor's Note: The following information was provided by the Marlborough Public Library. The Marlborough Public Library’s newsletter was recently awarded an Honorable Mention in the 21st Public Relations Awards given out by the Massachusetts Library Association. Awards were presented on April 25 at their annual conference in Cambridge, MA. Library Director, Margaret Cardello, accepted the award on behalf of the library but credits the staff with the newsletter’s success. “The staff came up with the idea just about a year ago to create a newsletter to keep residents up to date on everything that is happening at the Library,” said Cardello. She also credits, Jessica Bacon, the library’s Teen Librarian and newsletter editor for the success …
The Marlborough City Council voted to charge roughly $500,000 in inspection services for the renovation project at the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School.
An additional $500,000 in fees will need to be accounted for in the $62.4 million Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School renovation following a vote by the City Council Monday night. “The project is not being held up. The project is moving forward," said City Council President Patricia Pope of a short-term agreement regarding inspection services. “If we waive the fees, then the $500,000 in fees is borne by the city of Marlborough.” Municipal inspection fees for public works project are often waived and that is the verbal agreement which was made with Former Mayor Nancy Stevens and the former building inspector, Stephen Reid, said a letter from Superintendent-Director Mary Jo Nawrocki of the Assabet Valley School District. Pope confirmed…
Monday, May 6, 2013
The mayor's proposed budget represents a 4.89% increase over the FY '13 budget.
The proposed $133 million Fiscal Year 2014 budget for the city takes into account increased local aid and continued strong growth figures. "With anticipated local aid and local receipts, the impact to the taxpayer's projects to be less than a 2% increase on the property tax levy," wrote Mayor Arthur Vigeant in a letter to the City Council that will be presented at tonight's meeting. So while the budget will increase by 4.89 percent, increased taxes on residents and local businesses will not reach that level, according to Vigeant. The budget brings with it the continued improvement to the water treatment center and the school systems, he said. This will be the first full year where the city will be paying the bonds on the Easterly and …
Vincent DiRico
7:20 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Sure, pick and choose which articles you CHOOSE to link, go on. The fact is that the Bengahzi talking points were scrubbed of terrorist affiliations, ... Low/NO info people/trolls are happy :O more ›