~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VolUMe 19 • iSSUe 7
A FREE Monthly Publication
Uxbridge • north Uxbridge • linwood • Douglas • northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
JUly 2010
Voters say “YES” to new school By ConSTanCe DWyer in what proved to be the semi-finals of a more than decade-long debate over the all consuming issue of providing an adequate educational facility for senior high school students in uxbridge, the uxbridge Town Meeting by a near unanimous vote authorized the Board of Selectmen to set a ballot election for a debt exclusion under MgL Chapter 59, Section 21C for $43,050,000. Following this June 19th Town Meeting, voters at the ballot election on Tuesday, June 22nd, by a vote of 2,595 to 1,755 approved the Debt Exclusion and the Capital Exclusion of $110,000 for a study of the conditions of all town bridges and culverts. At the June 19th Special Town Meeting, attended by 1,179 voters, packing both the High School auditorium and gym, the Moderator delayed the scheduled 10 a.m. opening of the meeting by a half hour to permit a continuing flow of voters to sign in. To insure against a potential mass exodus following the
vote on the school, Article 1, Moderator Harold Klei first solicited a motion and vote on the only other article - to fund a bridges and culverts study. After the passing of Article 2, the
“now is the time to build because construction costs are low...and it will stop the decline of property value.” - John Higgins School Building Committee Chairman
Board of Selectmen made the motion “That the Town of uxbridge appropriate the sum of Forty Three Million, Fifty Thousand ($43,050,000) Dollars to construct, furnish and equip a new uxbridge High School on town-owned land at 246-270 Quaker Highway…”
with the state’s contribution limited to $23,000,000. When the warrant was approved, the Board of Selectmen voted 3 in favor and 2 opposed, while the Finance Committee’s recommendation was 5-01 for favorable action. The Finance Committee, in the warrant, noted economic uncertainties regarding operating costs for the new school, new athletic fields and renovating the existing High School, but did not mention added infrastructure costs. During the meeting, many of the residents sported bright orange and black T-shirts “Vote Yes for a New High School,” and one of those voters was former Selectman Kevin Kuros who is seeking Rep. Paul Kujawski’s seat. in addition to the attention-getting shirts, huge numbers in the audience waved “YES” signs during the meeting while cheering. This writer was told the anticipation of this occurrence discouraged many from attending Town Meeting because they felt it was a “slam dunk”
Class of 2010 President Haley Bouchard of Uxbridge draws a laugh from Blackstone Valley Tech principal Christopher Cummings (left) and Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick during the school’s graduation at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester. See story on page 33 in favor of the new High School. Present at the meeting were state officials - Rep. Jennifer Callahan, DSutton, and Rep. Paul Kujawski and
Land dedicated to honor Commission Chair Dube
Ms. Dube (in hat at center) in front of the new sign along with members of the Douglas Conservation Commission and staff of the Community Development office.
PoSTal PaTron
PRESORTED STANDARD uS POSTAgE PAiD BOSTON, MA PERMiT NO 55800
ECRWSS
The Douglas Conservation Commission dedicated acreage at the intersection of Manchaug Road and Mumford Street in the name of their longtime chair, Marylynne Dube at a ceremony held on June 10th, at the conservation site. Ms. Dube was recognized for her dedication and the many years she has served the town of Douglas as a volunteer public servant. Mrs. Joanne Moore, representing her husband, Senator Richard T. Moore, read a joint resolution from both chambers of the legislature that honored Ms. Dube’s work and commitment. Ms. Dube has been a Conservation Commissioner since 1984 (a total of 26 years) and has been Chairman since May 20, 1996 (14 years). She has been a member of the Douglas Open Space
Committee since 1999 to the present and also served on the town’s Master Plan Committee (1998 – 2008). She was appointed to the town’s Octoberfest committee in 2007 and serves as its liaison with the Douglas Historical Society. She was appointed to the Douglas Housing Partnership in 2004. She is a longstanding elected member of the Douglas Democratic Town Committee. Ms. Dube is a dedicated advocate for historic preservation and has been a member of the Douglas Historical Society since 1980 and has served as its president and primary steward of the E.N. Jenckes Store Museum since 2007. Michael Yacino who also serves on the Conservation Commission emceed the event. A new sign was unveiled at the site and plaques were presented to Ms. Dube.
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Sutton Selectman Ryan Fattman who is running against Rep. Callahan. However both were in accord when Sutton voted in favor of a ballot election to fund renovating Sutton’s Middle School and High School complex. At the Special Town Meeting, Selectman Peter Baghdasarian spoke against building a new High School because “currently we have no plan for a funding mechanism”, but when the Finance Committee stated their approval, applause resounded. School Building Committee Chairman John Higgins at the meeting spoke briefly but to the point. “…now is the time to build because construction costs are low...and stop the decline of property value.” He added that it also would help resolve the problem of students choosing to go to other schools outside the district. Before the vote was taken, Selectman Cari Robertson recommended a secret ballot but a sigh of disapproval was let out by the audience and the motion was defeated with only a few voting in favor. Five voters sat in the “Speaker-seats” continued on page 20
~ INDEX ~
See complete story on Page 37
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