Invensys Tax Break, Safer Football Helmets, Driver in Fatal Crash Arraigned & More

FOXBOROUGH

Foxborough Town Meeting Approves Invensys Tax Break on $33M Renovation Project

Arguably the most important article approved at Foxborough’s Annual Town Meeting Monday was Article 28, the Invensys TIF agreement, which grants the company with over 100-year-old roots in town a 15-year tax break to invest $33 million into renovating its existing buildings on Mechanic Street and Neponset Avenue and retain at least 900 jobs in town.

"At the end of the day it is really quite a simple proposal," said Foxborough Town Manager Kevin Paicos on Town Meeting floor Monday. "Invensys is going to spend $33 million for improvements of their buildings. It takes time to realize profit from that investment so they asked us to forgive some of the taxes up front in the first few years so they can offset some of that investment until it begins to produce revenue for them.

"It’s a simple way to have a partnership between a town and a business. ... The most important thing is that Invensys, which has had a partnership with this community for over 100 years remains in the community. This is truly a partnership and truly a win-win."

Following a brief discussion, Town Meeting approved Foxborough's first ever TIF agreement, 145-5.

To read more about the Invensys proposal, click here.

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WALPOLE

Walpole High School Getting Safer Football Helmets in 2013

Xenith, LLC has teamed up with Salus Capital Partners, LLC, a local commercial finance and asset management company in order to donate 55 Xenith football helmets to the Needham High School football program. Salus Capital Partners actively works for the community and strives to foster youth football participation and also promote safety in the local community.

Now, thanks to Salus Capital Partners, the Walpole High School football program will be wearing the helmets in their upcoming 2013 season.

Regarding the decision to support local organizations, Andrew Moser, President of Salus Capital Partners said, “I hope that parents, students and educators all appreciate the donation but as I say, first and foremost our commitment as a company, is to support the towns in which we work and live in any way we can through either charity or volunteerism.”

Moser, a Walpole resident, wants to benefit the program in his own town and said, “We embrace the commitment that Xenith has made to safety in youth sports and we feel that with our donation not only are we able to benefit Walpole through a commitment to safety in youth sports but to also help alleviate some of the burden on the budget constraints on so many local youth sports programs.”

Read more by clicking here.

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STOUGHTON

Sean Jackman, 24, of Stoughton, the driver in last weekend’s fatal car crash in Canton, was arraigned May 13 on multiple charges, including motor vehicle homicide and drunk driving.

Jackman was arraigned at Boston Medical Center, where was hospitalized following the single car crash, which killed the lone passenger in the vehicle, Evan Bard, a junior at Curry College.

Bard, 20, from Agawam, was killed instantly, officials said. She was a nursing student and was a member of Curry’s cheerleading team. Jackman suffered head injuries and "wore a neck brace and had several cuts on his face at the arraignment," CBS Boston reports.

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Melissa Brooks, Jackman was held on $500,000 cash bail, according to a release from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. He pled not guilty to the charges.

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MANSFIELD

Selectmen Vote to Give Town Manager a Raise

After getting good marks from the selectmen, Town Manager William Ross will receive a slight bump in pay.

As stated in the contract of most town employees, Ross will receive a 2% increase in his base salary. Currently, Ross makes $142,000 along with a yearly Mansfield Electric Stipend of $10,000. Ross' electric department stipend and vehicle allowance of $5,000 will not change

Selectman George Dentino called it one of the smallest raises for a town manager he could recall.

While the selectmen wished to give Ross a higher raise, they felt that it was best to have Ross receive the same pay increase as everyone else who works for the town.

Read more by clicking here.

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EASTON

Sewer Betterments an Issue of Contention for North Easton Villagers

Outspoken residents made it clear to Easton selectmen Monday night that they are not happy with the price they'll pay in betterments for construction associated with the North Easton Village Wastewater Treatment Project.

Selectmen unanimously approved estimated betterment assessments for the 88 parcels in the district. Selectman Todd Gornstein was not present.

The average single-family homeowner in the district received an estimated assessment of $20,900. Particularly large houses, multi-family homes or commercial properties received a higher estimated assessment.

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NORTON

Norton Approves Memorial Bench in Memory of Angel Pina

The Norton Board of Selectmen approved a request from a resident to place memorial bench on Evergreen Beach.

The request, from resident Sandra Oullette, is to memorialize her daughter Angel Pina, who died in a Route 24 crash last summer.

“A lot of her friends hung out there,” she said. “It was something special to the kids.”

Oullette said the funds for the bench have already been collected, and they just needed selectmen permission.

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SHARON

Sharon's SAT Scores Rank First in Region

With a combined SAT score of 1775, Sharon ranks first out of 48 schools south of Boston, according to data released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education published by the Boston Globe.

Sharon ranked first out of 48 schools with a score of 1775, while Brockton ranked last with a score of 1289.

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CANTON

Canton Man Indicted in Alleged Logan Airport Taxi Bribery Scheme

A Canton man was among five Massport employees indicted earlier this week by the Suffolk County Grand Jury for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for preferential treatment for taxi cab drivers picking up passengers at Logan Airport, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said.

James Mulrey, 45, and the four others were named in a 53-count indictment.

Mulrey is accused of five counts of soliciting or accepting a bribe as a public employee and two counts of soliciting or accepting an unlawful gratuity as a public employee.

Cab drivers at Logan are supposed to line up in rows until they get their turn to enter a terminal cab stand staffed by a ground transportation unit agent, also known as a "cab starter." The indicted starters are accused of allowing the drivers to skip the line in exchange for bribes.

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NORWOOD

At Norwood's first day of the 2013 Special/Annual Town Meeting Monday the town voted to approve the implementation of a bylaw that would make smoking marijuana in public a finable offense. They also voted to reconsider the article pertaining to a one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in town.

Article 6 dealing with the public consumption of marijuana was approved by Town Meeting Members to allow Norwood Police to impose a $300 fine for anyone caught smoking marijuana in public.

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ATTLEBORO

State Rep. Testifies on Anti-Smoking Bill

State Rep. Paul Heroux, whose district includes most of Attleboro, has introduced a bill that would prohibit smoking in a vehicle when children are present. A violation would lead to a $100 fine. He testified about the bill this week before the Joint Committee on Public Health. State House News Service reported Heroux called the bill "an act to protect little lungs."

Click here for more on this story.

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DEDHAM

MBTA Once Again Looking Into Possibility of Billboards at Rt. 128 Garage

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will soon be studying the possibility of placing two billboards at the Route 128 MBTA garage in Westwood near the Westwood/Dedham line.

“No final plan has been developed but we do plan to offer a proposal in the near future,” said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. “Under their contract with the MBTA, Clear Channel has the right to that location (subject to T approval of the plan). Engineering studies need to be conducted prior to a formal presentation of a proposal.”

Pesaturo said he did not know when the engineering studies would take place but they "should have a better idea within a month."

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SEEKONK-SWANSEA

Selectmen Prepare for June Town Meeting

The Seekonk Board of Selectmen this week signed off on the warrant for the June 10 town meeting. Among the items on the warrant are a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries, $500,000 added to the cost of the senior center project and the 2013-14 fiscal year budget.

Click here for more on this story.