Selectmen pay tribute to historian Joanne Harriman
Published on May 2nd, 2001
STONEHAM , MA -
Remembering Joanne
A moment of silence was held during the Board of Selectmen meeting on Wednesday in honor of longtime Stoneham resident Joanne Harriman.
Harriman, historian and past president of the Stoneham Historical Society, died recently and unexpectedly. Many of her friends and associates spoke about their personal experiences with Harriman, including former Town Clerk Annamae Arsenault, Stoneham Historical Society member Mary Marchant, Stoneham Historical Commission member Stephen Rotondi, School Committee Chairman Jeanne Craigie, and friend Don Hutcheson.
Kathleen Bray, of the Stoneham Theater Guild, described how Harriman's films on the history of Stoneham provided inspiration to the Symes Family who eventually purchased and revitalized the Stoneham Theater.
"Her thoughtful prose is distributed in each playbill," Bray said.
Library Director Hugh Williams called Harriman's videos "masterpieces" and encouraged residents to visit the library to see them.
Although born and raised in New Hampshire, Harriman came to call Stoneham her home.
"Joanne took Stoneham to her heart and made it her town," said Stoneham Historical Society member Fannie Tincker.
The Selectmen want you
In other news, the selectmen are looking for a few good men and women to lend their expertise, interest and knowledge to the town in various capacities. Recent advertisements for vacancies on town committees generated much interest, but not enough to fully staff some boards.
Those committees in need of more volunteers are the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Open Space and Recreation Committee, and the Water and Sewer Hearing Board. Interested residents should contact the Board of Selectman office (781-279-2680) for more information.
The following residents did receive appointments on Wednesday: John Biggio and Harry Sampson each won 3-year terms to the Board of Appeals; Kathleen Sullivan and William Sullivan were appointed to one year terms as associate members.
Alice Blackwell, Marge Neylon and Karen Annetti were appointed to the Council on Aging, while Peter Bracciotti, Stephen Rotondi and Elizabeth Whelan were appointed to three-year terms on the Historical Commission.
Paul O'Brien and Steven Sylvester were appointed to the Open Space and Recreation Committee, and Robert Conway and Scott Peterson will continue their service with three year terms on the Conservation Commission.
Drainage update
Town Engineer Robert Grover updated the status of the town's drainage system study and improvements.
When the town first commissioned the study a year and a half ago, the Bear Hill area was highlighted as one that should be addressed first.
"This (area) was considered the biggest bang for our buck," Grover said.
With the cooperation of the Bear Hill Golf Course, that work is now substantially completed.
The Maple Street culvert is the next area of town expected to be addressed in the project.
For residents in the Oak Street area and Ravine Road area who spoke of recent flooding problems, Grover advised that no immediate projects are scheduled.
However, he stated that the renovation project soon to commence at the Robin Hood School is expected to address flooding problems on Oak Street. A basin similar to that used at Bear Hill is being considered for use at the Robin Hood School park and will likely be incorporated into the partially state funded school project.
Much of the water problem on Ravine Road has to do with run off from MDC property. Grover encouraged residents to petition their legislators regarding the need for the state and MDC to address this problem. He also said that improvements made by the city of Melrose to its drainage system will likely benefit Stoneham residents in that area.
Whereas a ten-year storm has traditionally been the basis of any town's drainage system, Stoneham has seen three 100-year storms in the past three years. (A 100-year storm means that there is a one percent chance of such a storm occurring in a given year).
Town Common ground
The selectmen approved formation of a Town Common Oversight Committee that will establish guidelines and monitor use of the common.
Mark Vaughan, Chairman of the Town Common and Parking Committee reported that, with development of the common and a 90+ space municipal parking lot, his board's mission is complete.
The board also approved purchase of a 20-foot live tree for planting in the common area. The money for this purchase will be taken from the Stockwell Fund.
Healthy Moderator
Town Moderator Michael Rotondi wants to pick up the town's health insurance, an option Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello said is no longer available.
Around 1994, said Ciccarello, the town voted to stop extending health care benefits to newly elected town officials, while those already enrolled in the health insurance program would be allowed to continue with it.
Rotondi gave up his insurance benefit in 1993 when he was able to sign up with his employer. However, he claims he was never informed that giving up his insurance at that time also meant he was giving up his rights to re-enroll.
That is exactly what he is looking to do now, at the individual plan cost of approximately $2,900. Following lengthy discussion, the board votes 3-2 in favor of allowing Rotondi to keep the benefit.
Role reversal
In other budget news, the Selectmen voted to transfer $19,295 from the Finance and Advisory Board’s budget to the Board of Selectmen budget. That money covers personnel that a majority of the Selectmen said has no supervision and would be better controlled under the Selectmen’s account, which contains a professional administrator.
Last week the Finance Board recommended cutting Select-men salaries.
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