~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VoLUME 20 • ISSUE 6
A FREE Monthly Publication
Uxbridge • North Uxbridge • Linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug JUNE 2011
Sutton TM short & sweet By Constance Dwyer On May 9, 2011, at the Simonian Center for Early Learning, with 52 voters present, the 18 article warrant for Sutton’s Spring Annual Town Meeting was handled in less than an hour. With Town Administrator James, “Jim” Smith still on medical leave, and Timothy, “Tim”, Harrison, the Town Accountant, filling in for him, the nine warrant articles dealing with the routine financial issues for FY 2012, paying prior year invoices, officer and committee reports, funding of the Sewer Department and Transfer Station passed by a unanimous vote. A tenth article, also voted unanimously, transferred money from the overlay reserve to balance some FY 2011 accounts. Mr. Smith in his letter to residents stated that the Town of Sutton’s annual
Double Duty at Uxbridge Town Meeting
operating budget for FY (Fiscal Year) 2012 is $26,016,498. The FY 2012 budget, however, he added, is $1,275,054 or 5.15% higher than the FY 2011 budget of $24,741.44. “Excluding debt for the new school project, our budget is decreasing l.8%. This budget is based upon the House budget which reduces our state Lottery Aid by an additional 7.2% while increasing Chapter 70 aid to schools by 0.2% and eliminating the Police Career Incentive reimbursement.” Mr. Smith acknowledged that the “past three years have been difficult not only for the Town of Sutton but for all families…” but he was optimistic saying, “We are still effectively weathering the downturn.” Articles nine and ten, again passed unanimously, funded the routine “Uncontinued on page 34
By Constance Dwyer
Senator Moore calls for early local aid resolution Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) urged his Senate colleagues to support adoption of an order calling for an early local aid resolution during Senate debate. The Senate order, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), directed the Senate Committee on Ways and Means prepare a resolution detailing the minimum amount of local aid that could be expected for each of the state's communities and school districts. "During a meeting with municipal leaders that I hosted last week, the constant theme that I heard from town officials was the need for guidance in what they could expect in state aid for schools and general government," Sen. Moore told the Senate. "I believe that with the House budget proposal due to be released in a few days, the Senate could provide an early indication of what towns can expect for the next fiscal year," he explained. Senator Moore, who is a member of
PoSTAL PATRoN
the Senate Ways and Means Committee, praised Sen. Tarr for his leadership in offering the local aid order and Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), for his willingness to work collaboratively on developing the resolution. The resolution is scheduled to be approved by the Senate. During debate, Sen. Moore made it clear that he would advocate for more money for cities and towns during budget debate next month. For the past few years, the Legislature has been unwilling to approve a local aid resolution because revenues were dropping faster than calculations could be assembled. With modest improvements in state revenues, legislators decided that they should give town officials as much information as possible as they approach local budget season. The order for a local aid resolution was unanimously adopted in the Senate. To keep up with Sen. Moore and his work, visit www.senatormoore.com PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
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GIVING BACK - Valley Tech’s SkillsUSA Community Service Team including students (Left to Right) Melissa Burdick and Beth Belanger, both juniors from Northbridge and Mollie Letendre, a junior from Hopedale, donate personal care bags to the women of Abby’s House of Worcester as part of their project entitled Respect Y.E.S! (Yourself, Environment, Society). The goal of the Team’s project is to promote an environment of mutual respect for everyone at Valley Tech and in the community. See complete story on page 34
Business Bio:
Pros with the “Green” Touch If you need lawn and landscape professionals, check out D.J. Salmon Lawn & Landscape of Uxbridge. They will personally guide you as to what you need, design it to suit your needs, and will be there with you every step of the way during construction.
See complete story on page 39
On May 10, 2011, in the High School auditorium, with more than 100 voters present, Moderator Harold Klei completed his second and final three year term as Moderator by presiding over a one article Special Town Meeting and the 25 article Spring Annual Town Meeting (SATM). His final appearance was notable for its relatively non-controversial articles. Dispensing with the Special Town Meeting by passing unanimously the lone street acceptance article, the voters reopened the adjourned SATM to hear, under Art. 1, former Selectman Harry Romasco’s report of the Charter Review Committee, a committee that reviews the Home Rule Charter every 10 years. Mr. Romasco requested the voters to provide input to the committee which will gather information through September 7th, deliberate the input until November at which time it will make its recommendations to the Fall Annual Town Meeting prior to a final Town-wide vote in the Spring of 2012. This committee meets regularly at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Articles 2 through 13 were financial articles and, except for Arts. 3 and 10 which were passed over, were passed with near unanimity. The FY12 Annual Budget was voted in the amount of $36,086,285 with comments by Selectman Peter Baghdasarian on the inadequacy of the Stabilization Fund, Planning Board member Chuck Lutton’s comment on the effects of a reduced salary budget for the support staff and Finance Committee member Howard Fortner’s commentary on snow and ice deficits, future School Department operation budget growth, reduced street lighting and his concern about the trends in service reductions. continued on page 44
~ INDEX ~ Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 27 Society .....................Page 29 School News............Page 31 Senior Corner ..........Page 35 Business News........Page 39 Coupons ..................Page 38 Sports.......................Page 45 Classified .................Page 47