Saturday, May 18, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot. Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
With just over 200 residents in attendance at Monday’s Annual Town Meeting, voters swiftly approved 21 warrant articles and took no action on five others.
Foxborough's Annual Town Meeting came and went Monday with a small quorum of just over 200 residents representing the town to vote on 26 warrant articles, including the FY14 operating and capital budgets, the Invensys TIF agreement, police contracts and more. Voters swiftly approved 21 articles and took no action on five others in just under two hours Monday. Arguably the most important article approved Monday was Article 28, the Invensys TIF agreement, which grants the company with over 100-year-old roots in town a tax break to invest $33 million into renovating its existing buildings on Mechanic Street and Neponset Avenue and retain at least 900 jobs in Foxborough. "At the end of the day it is really quite a simple proposal," said …
Foxborough will be looking at their sale and penalty regulations regarding tobacco during a public hearing in June.
Foxborough's Board of Health is currently considering changes to the town’s tobacco laws. “They need some tightening up,” said Foxborough Health Director Pauline Clifford. “We’re having a hearing on June 24. We’ll discuss it that night, listen for public comment and could adopt it that evening." The board tentatively voted in favor of 10 changes to the regulations. If the draft regulation changes go into effect, they would ban vending machines and self service displays, expand all regulations to include nicotine delivery devices, ban of tobacco sales in educational institutions, ban roll your own cigarette machines and ban blunt wraps. While tobacco sales in educational institutions are now banned, health care institutions are not. The …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Town Meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. inside Foxborough High School’s auditorium. Here’s what you need to know.
Foxborough voters will gather inside the auditorium of Foxborough High School Monday night to say "Yes" or "No" to 29 warrant articles, including the proposed TIF for Invensys (Article 28) and the installation of 70 surveillance cameras throughout Foxborough’s five public schools. Foxborough selectman James DeVellis encouraged residents to get out and exercise their democratic right as voters. “[A lot of people] worked hard on 29 articles,” DeVellis said. “You hate to see only a couple hundred people come out for a population that we have and decide on some important articles. … If you can come out and vote please do so.” To view the town’s warrant, click here. Foxborough's Advisory Committee has announced its positions on 20 articles, …
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
A roundup of news and notes from the Foxborough Board of Selectmen's table.
Lakeview Pavilion Charitable Foundation Corporation has donated $3,875 to the Boyden Library gift fund for renewal of the following library passes: Kenneth and Patti Elovitz also donated $350 to the library’s gift fund for the renewal of the Providence Children’s Museum library pass – valid from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013. Selectmen approved both donations with gratitude at Tuesday’s meeting. Foxborough resident William Edward Long, Jr. will receive his Eagle Scout rank on Friday, June 7th at 8 p.m. The Court of Honor will be held at Bethany Congregational Church on Rockhill Street. Long’s Eagle Scout project was a major landscape renovation of a local elementary school playground to improve the safety of the playground and beautify the…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Foxborough selectman James DeVellis testified Tuesday at the State House to offer his perspective - as the town’s elected official – of the merits for Massachusetts to enact the Adam Walsh Act (Sex Offender Registry and Notification Act).
Foxborough selectman James DeVellis was in Boston Tuesday testifying before the Judiciary Committee at the State House on behalf of the town and the victims of the William E. Sheehan sex abuse case to implore the state to enact the Adam Walsh Act (Sex Offender Registry and Notification Act). “I informed the Judiciary Committee of the Sheehan issue that we are dealing with [in Foxborough] and the three questions that I was asked by [the Sheehan] victims,” DeVellis said. DeVellis said the first two questions victims asked him were “how can a member of our community molest and rape probably hundreds of kids over decades without notice or action?” and “how do these victims come to the authorities years ago and be told either [statute of …
Results from a recent executive survey ranked Massachusetts 47th for business.
A CEO magazine ranks Massachusetts as one of the worst states in the nation for business. Chief Executive Magazine ranked Massachusetts 47th based on a survey of corporate leaders. Survey respondents reported the Bay State is one of the worst for taxation and regulation. The state Republican Party is pointing to the survey and saying that Gov. Deval Patrick and the Democratic-led Legislature are bad for the economy and business. What do you think about Massachusetts’ business climate? Is this a good state in which to do business?
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The board reorganized at Tuesday’s meeting following the April 30th Town Election.
As is customary following a town election, Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen reorganized Tuesday to welcome a new member into the fold and appoint a chairman, vice-chairman and clerk for the coming year. Recently reelected selectman James DeVellis, who served the past year as chairman of the board, said he had “no desire” to remain chairman for the coming year and “would appreciate it if someone would nominate someone” else to the position. “I enjoyed my time … well I didn’t enjoy it all the time … but I appreciate the year as chairman,” DeVellis said. Selectman clerk Lorraine Brue chose to follow the “natural order” of the board and nominated vice-chair Mark Sullivan to replace DeVellis as chairman. Newly elected member John Gray seconded …
Foxborough Town Manager Kevin Paicos will make $151,286.40 in fiscal year 2014 after the town’s Board of Selectmen awarded him with a 2 percent increase Tuesday.
After two years of no salary increases, Foxborough Town Manager Kevin Paicos is getting a raise. The town’s Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to give the third-year town manager a 2 percent increase, which will net Paicos a salary of $151,286.40 in fiscal year 2014 – effective July 1. Selectmen determined Paicos’ performance in FY13 met the board’s expectations and on Tuesday, decided that performance warranted a 2 percent increase in salary. Tuesday’s salary review was the third component in the review process of the town manager’s performance, as required by his contract. Board of Selectmen vice chair Lorraine Brue opened the discussion Tuesday for a merit increase in Paicos’ salary. “I think we should talk about an increase …
Matt
1:00 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Oh come on Rob C you don't to spend $14 to take a train ride to beautiful down town New Bedford? And John doe III give that money back to tax payers oh man your so funny. Its a good idea but you have a better chance of seeing the Pats, Red Sox ,Celtics and Bruins win the championship all in the same year. more ›