Middleboro Debating Spending $10K On IT Assessment…

Middleboro’s Board of Selectmen are weighing whether or not to spring $10,000 for a consultant to evaluate ways to streamline the town’s technology system. The board asked Selectman Alfred P. Rullo to conduct a survey among the town’s three major departments — the public schools, Middleboro Gas & Electric, and Information Technology — and ask them if an outside assessment would be useful and what they would expect to get out of it. He was asked to report his findings to selectmen by mid-December. Richard Pavadore, chairman of the Finance Committee, said his committee is concerned about the town’s projected $1.6 million deficit next year. He believe’s it’s worth hiring HUB Technical Services of Easton to see what steps the town can take to save money by streamlining technology.

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Retirees Sue Board Of Selectmen…

Five Middleboro town retirees have slapped a lawsuit on selectmen, contending their actions made a mockery of town meeting. At issue is a May 26, 2009 special town meeting vote, 255 to 70, that supported retirees’ request to grandfather their insurance rates. The retirees are challenging selectmen’s decision to ignore the vote. Gail Twomey, one of the five who brought suit, contends all residents should be concerned with selectmen’s disregard of town meeting. “It’s a misuse of power,” she said.

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School Superintendent Seeks Override In April…

The superintendent of Middleboro schools plans to ask voters to raise taxes in the April election, but other town officials don’t have much hope the override will pass. Superintendent Bob Sullivan says if the town does not pass a proposition 21/2 override ballot question, it could have disastrous effects on the school system. While he doesn’t specify a dollar amount, his budget update posted on the School Department’s Web site cites a $1 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning next July. The override was brought to the attention of the selectmen last week when they received a formal request from Sullivan to place an override question on the ballot of the town’s annual election on April 3.

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DPW Manager Outlines Winter Plans…

The town’s new Department of Public Works director is recommending spending $600,000 for road improvements, fighting winter snowstorms by increasing the number of snowplows and a change in the town bylaw to allow town easements in order to address drainage problems. Andrew Bagas, a Bridgewater resident and that town’s former highway superintendent, was appointed director of public works on Aug. 17, a new position created following the retirement of longtime Highway Superintendent Donald A. Boucher.  Bagas outlined his plans this week when he appeared before the selectmen for the first time since assuming the position.

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Water Rates Increased By 10.3 Percent…

Middleboro residents will see a 10.3 percent increase in their water rates effective immediately thanks to the unusually wet spring and summer, which caused water revenue to fall. Town Manager Charles J. Cristello, who recommended the rate increase, said water use was down 20 percent this year. Cristello said despite a $200,000 surplus in water revenue last year, he is projecting a deficit of more than $300,000 for this fiscal year if the rates remained the same.

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Middleboro To Halt Mobile Home Evictions…

Two residents of Edgeway Mobile Home Park are facing eviction, but Middleboro selectmen hope the rules and regulations they voted to adopt Monday night will keep the residents in their homes. In 1993, a special town meeting appointed the selectmen as the rent control board, but they never adopted rules until this week. Mobile homes are the only kind of housing where rent control applies in the state. The regulations allow selectmen to set maximum rents and review rent increases, oversee registration of all mobile home park accommodations, allow for capital improvements and capital equipment rent adjustments and oversee evictions.

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Flap Over Technology Consultant Proposal…

The town’s technology director is speaking out against a proposal to hire a consultant to recommend how to streamline the town’s computers. The Finance Committee voted unanimously in April to recommend that selectmen hire HUB Technical Services of Easton for $10,000 to conduct an audit and assessment of the town’s information technology services.

But on Monday, IT Director Roger Brunelle spoke in opposition to the idea, saying no one has yet asked for his opinion. “I have spent 20 years building this system, and no one knows what it is because no one has asked,” Brunelle told selectmen. Brunelle said selectmen called for a Department of Revenue audit of his department in 2007 and although it gave him a good review, it made 27 recommendations. Only two have been followed.

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Selectment Appoint New Police Matron…

Middleboro Selectmen earlier this week voted unanimously to appoint Amy Lynne Dowler of Pine Street as a police matron upon the recommendation of Police Chief Bruce D. Gates. In an Oct. 8 letter to selectmen, Gates said a background investigation indicated Dowler would be a suitable person for the position.

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Workshops To Address Loans To Repair Property…

Middleboro has scheduled two workshops in early November for people seeking a low-interest loan or grant in order to rehabilitate their property. The town will be able to provide loans to eligible homeowners and investors through funds from the state Community Block Grant. The housing rehabilitation workshops will focus on four areas:

• The type of home repairs covered, such as septic, windows and other weatherization, handicap-accessible modifications and roofs.

• Loan details, including flexible payments on loans from zero to 3 percent.

• The loan and grant process.

• Pre-application, as projects are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The first workshop is set for Nov. 1 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the selectmen’s meeting room at Town Hall, 10 Nickerson Ave. The second workshop is set for Nov. 2 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the third-floor meeting room at the town office, 20 Centre St. For more information, call 508-946-2402.

Source: Enterprise News, October 21, 2009

Wampanoag Tribe Scales Back Casino Plans…

Tribal leaders Monday night outlined a substantially scaled-back casino project, one-third of the scope originally proposed two years ago. Wampanoag Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell told the Casino Resort Advisory Committee the tribe has reconsidered building a $1 billion resort casino complex off Route 44 because of the failing economy. He said the tribe is considering “one-third of that in size … no hotel, a gaming hall with food, not a full-blown mega casino, it doesn’t make sense.”

Read the rest of the story on PatriotLedger.com.