~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VoLuME 21 • ISSuE 7
uxbridge • North uxbridge • Linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug JuLY 2012
Board votes to waive fee on water & sewer hook-up BY CoNSTANCE DWYER
The Cub Scouts of Douglas helped members of the VFW with an incredibly important task of replacing all the flags at the grave sites throughout Douglas. The Douglas Cub Scouts helped immensely and the VFW Post 7554 would like to thank and recognize these scouts for their support. Pictured standing: (l to r) Leader Vicky Peck, Gregory Peck, Marc Pomeroy, Matthew Boutiette, Jason Michalski, Nicholas Kannally and Leader Eileen Deres. Sitting: Colin Deres, Andrew Araujo, Tyler Covell, Connor Stickney, Hunter Claflin, Stephen Michalski, Leader Kelly Sullivan, Matthew Sullivan and Peter Deres.
The uxbridge Board of Selectmen meeting on Wednesday, June 13th, took up under “OLD BuSINESS” the “New High School project – Water and Sewer Hook-up Fee.” Without adjourning temporarily and then calling to order the Water and Sewer Commission, a motion was made and seconded to “waive” the Water and Sewer Hook-up Fee. The selectmen’s authority to assume the functions of this Commission follows from a previous vote of the Town required under Massachusetts general Law, Chapter 83, Sec. 1. Another motion was then made to amend the original motion by adding the words “or abate;” this amendment was not seconded. These motions were followed by a debate which included a strenuous objection by Selectman peter Baghdasarian; his argument was based on the conclusion that, if so voted, it would mean the waived “Hook-up” cost to the sewer enterprise would have to be paid by persons served by the enterprise. In other words the taxpayers of uxbridge should bear the entire cost of the project and the fee should not come out of the school
budget, because it serves the entire population of uxbridge. What seemed implicit in the proposed waiver was that it would violate the Commissioners’ responsibility to those served by the enterprise. Selectman Baghdasarian’s argument failed to convince the Board and the motion to waive passed by a 4,1,0 vote. One argument by selectmen in favor of the waiver was that municipalities were not included in the bylaw, but the term “person” was mentioned in it and was defined there to include any “society” which, by broad legal definition, includes governments. In an effort to further bring readers up to date with such terms as, ”Hook-up Fee,” an on-line search of the sewer bylaw on the Town of uxbridge web site was conducted. This reporter searched using the term “Hook-up” conducted by means of the software’s “FIND” tool and it revealed that no such fee was mentioned in the bylaw, and, consequently, the selectmen may have had no such authority to waive it. According to some of those who were present at the meeting, the issue may not yet be resolved.
Hall recruited to play NCAA Baseball Blackstone Valley Tech’s Alex Hall from Millville has played baseball since he was sixyears-old. He started his Valley Tech career on the Junior Varsity team his freshmen year and moved up to the Varsity team as a sophomore. As a senior outfielder and one of the team captains this year, he helped lead the team as they won the State Vocational Championship title and won their first conference title since 1977. The team ended the season with a 19-5 record and a 13-1 record in the Colonial Athletic League. Hall was also named as one of the Colonial Athletic League’s All-Stars this
PoSTAL PATRoN
year. For his achievements both on and off the field, he has accepted an offer to play NCAA Division II baseball at American International College in Springfield where he has been offered a significant financial package. A 2012 graduate from the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration program at Valley Tech, Hall has worked at Milford Water Company through the school’s cooperative education program since he was a junior. He is also very active in the community, performing community service continued on page 40
GRAND SLAM - Millville’s Alex Hall has accepted an offer to play NCAA Division II baseball at American International College in Springfield, Mass.
Business Bio:
pRESORTED STANDARD uS pOSTAgE pAID BOSTON, MA pERMIT NO 55800
Welcome to Sutton Animal Hospital
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THE FRIENDLY FACES oF SuTToN ANIMAL HoSPITAL
Dr. Karen Ober shares her joy of being a business owner in the Blackstone Valley. “This hospital,” she says, “is more than having a love of animals and a love of science. It is also the enjoyment of our clientele and their animals.”
See story on page 37
~ INDEX ~ Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 21 Dining .......................Page 24 Society .....................Page 25 Senior Corner ..........Page 29 School News............Page 33 Business News........Page 37 Sports.......................Page 41 Classified .................Page 43