CP_MBHC_20241002_1_A01
IN THIS ISSUE
MAGICIANS
MUSIC
FOOD 101
Another big win for MHS football
MHS singers release an EP
Keep kids at the table with dinner on a stick
Page 13
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PAID
MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
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October 02, 2024
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 44
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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT
LUCKY 13?
Combative teacher contract talks resume Educators now in second month without a deal BY LEIGH BLANDER The two sides in Marblehead’s contentious teacher contract talks were expected to meet for the 13th time on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The School Committee planned to meet in executive (private) session for an update on the negotiations in the days after. (Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for the latest on the talks.) “There doesn’t seem to be
a lot of traction,” said School Committee member Al Williams at a Sept. 25 meeting, referring to the contract talks. “I’d like as a committee to be able to change things.” Member Alison Taylor added, “I feel strongly that we owe it to the community to have a discussion about what is happening, the process and potential changes.” At a Sept. 23 negotiating
session, the School Committee’s bargaining subgroup made a new offer. “We increased our wage proposal for Unit A (teachers) resulting in a wage increase of 9% for the majority of staff over three years,” School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner told the Current. The Marblehead Education Association responded, “This offer is the first the committee has made since they received ours in June, and completely contradicts their previous position in bargaining that no
additional money is available in the first year of the deal. The committee still has not provided an answer as to how they will work with us and the community to ensure that Marblehead Public Schools offers wages that are competitive with our neighbors on the North Shore.” Marblehead educators are the lowest paid in 13 communities across the North Shore, according to the MEA. “They increased their salary proposal in years one and three of the contract, raising their total three-year offer from 4%
Celebrating sustainability
to 6%, for all members who are not at the top salary step. Top salary step members would receive 9%,” the MEA continued. “This wage offer would only exacerbate the catastrophic turnover our schools are experiencing.”
Parental leave
The School Committee’s bargaining sub-group said it “increased the paid parental leave we are offering by 20% over our previous offer.” The CONTRACT, P. A6
CONFRONTATION
Elderly man accused of attack over leash law enforcement Suspect, two officers sent to hospital BY LEIGH BLANDER A 76-year-old Marblehead man faces multiple charges — including assault and battery on a public employee, assault with a dangerous weapon and threatening to kill — after allegedly attacking Animal Control Officer Betsy Cruger on Sept. 23. The incident prompted a large police response. The suspect, Cruger and a police officer were transported to Salem Hospital. According to a 33-page police report obtained by the Current, Cruger approached Arie Golos, who lives on Arnold Terrace, as he walked his dog off-leash on Stramski Way. Cruger noted that she had previously encountered Golos this summer — again with his dog off-leash — in Waterside Cemetery. Town bylaws prohibit dogs being off-leash in public spaces. On Sept. 23, Cruger started to write Golos a ticket when he “spat ‘F—K YOU!’ at me and made a spitting sound,” Cruger wrote in her report. “I felt a spray of spit on my face, he was that close. While I was attempting to call for assistance he sucker-punched me to my left shoulder, catching me off-guard.” Golos allegedly punched Cruger again, threw rocks at her and threatened to kill her. A woman who was nearby yelled that she
H
undreds of people came out for Marblehead’s second annual Sustainability Fair on Saturday, where kids planted seedlings, created butterfly art and rode in a bike rodeo. More than 70 local vendors connected with residents about everything from solar panels to electric vehicles. CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER, GREY COLLINS
ARREST, P. A3
MONEY
Town hoping to boost tax base with new growth BY WILL DOWD Marblehead faces a delicate balancing act: How to build out the town’s tax bases and maintain its historic character. Town officials are turning to “new growth,” additional tax revenue from construction and property improvements. For a largely built-out town like Marblehead, which aims to preserve its historic charm, this presents a challenge. Town leaders say addressing
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
interconnected issues around capturing new growth has become a critical focus. They must find ways to boost new growth, retain experienced staff and modernize financial systems. New growth is particularly important because it allows the town to expand its tax base beyond the limits set by Proposition 2 1/2, a Massachusetts law that caps annual property tax increases at 2.5% plus new growth. The Massachusetts Division
of Local Services reports that Marblehead’s new growth figures have fluctuated over the years. Those figures peaked at $622,843 in fiscal year 2006 but have since declined, typically hovering around $300,000 to $350,000 annually in recent years. For fiscal year 2024, there’s a glimmer of improvement, says Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. Marblehead captured $468,709 in new growth, pushing the town’s tax levy from $69,217,826 in FY 2023 to
$71,416,980 in FY2024 when combined with the allowable 2.5% increase. “That’s an improvement from recent years, but it’s still well below what comparable towns are achieving,” Kezer said. “Andover, with a population of about 35,000, had new growth of $1.9 million compared to our $468,000. Even Wayland, with 13,000 residents compared to our 20,000, saw $1.5 million in new growth.” Select Board Chair Moses Grader explained the town’s
position. “Marblehead’s new growth has always been low relative to other communities mainly because of the density of our settlement and smaller commercial sector,” Grader said. “So it is all the more important to track and administer any new growth that we have.”
Why did the town’s new growth decline? With over 95% of property GROWTH, P. A6