Chap. 70 on the board menu
Published on June 22nd, 2005
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve a block party on Pine Street, thought the request hasn't been received by the Board at the meeting and their next scheduled meeting on June 28
The Selectmen discussed and unanimously approved a Christopher Street home buyers marketing and selection plan letter that was drafted up, revised and sent to their designated housing lottery administrator. The Selectmen had been very clear about wanting to keep the selection process to as many Stoneham people as legally possible.
"We talked about requesting the answering machine not include this information and it was also voted not to be placed on her Web site," said Town Counsel Bill Solomon. "I believe your determination was that people are looking for this information should get it, and not people who are just looking for affordable housing in any town."
NSTAR PUBLIC HEARING
NSTAR visited the Board of Selectmen to install wiring and poles to help make connections between utility poles as a request of a resident at 32 Perkins Street to widen their driveway.
DPW Director Bob Grover stated that there is a sign and a catch basin in the area of the utility pole relocation, and the Selectmen maintained that the sign must be relocated and the integrity of the catch basin must be maintained at all times.
"That should be no problem," said NSTAR spokeswoman Terry McManus.
The Selectmen unanimously approved the relocation of the utility pole.
Goodbye from Gallerani
Community Planner Mike Gallerani took some time at last Tuesday night's meeting to bid adieu and give thanks to the many people in town he came into contact with.
"Thank the board for everything they've done and the support they've given me over the last couple of years that I've been able to serve the community," said Community Planner Mike Gallerani, whose position was part of the large swath of cuts that ran through Town Hall in this year's budget process. "My position will be ending at the end of the month, so I wanted to take the time to say thank you."
"It's been nothing but great experiences through the town, and the department heads on the project review team that the board will be able to use for future site plans," added Gallerani. "The former Town Administrator, the current town administrator, the Chamber of Commerce particularly Sharon Iovanni, and all the people from StonehamBank and Stoneham Savings Bank. My intern, who nobody really knew was my intern, Marcia Wengen the Internet maven who would go online and find all kinds of things for me. To borrow a phrase from one of our favorite entertainers, 'It's been a great career."
Gallerani also advised the Selectmen to find someone to replace his vacancy on several boards involving the town including the MBTA Advisory Board, the MWRA, I-93/95 Interchange group and the MABC.
"Well, Michael I just wanted to thank you and let you know that I've written a recommendation for you on my own personal stationary in hopes that it will help you find another job," said Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello, who then made a motion for the Selectmen to likewise write a letter of recommendation for Gallerani. "I've dealt with him the last couple of years and I think he has worked very, very hard for us."
"It was always a pleasure to come into your office and it was always a very welcoming place," said Board of Selectman Chairman Bob Sweeney.
Gallerani also advised the Selectmen to expand the scope and range of the Master Plan Committee to help cushion some of the natural void caused by his departure as Community Planner.
"Mike worked hard on the Master Plan and we want to make sure we keep that going," said Town Administrator Ron Florino, who said he thought it would be a good idea to combine the efforts of the Strategic Plan Team with the Mater Plan Committee.
Chap. 70 Committee
Several members of the Chapter 70 Committee debriefed the Selectmen on their efforts on Beacon Hill to sway legislators, inform Stoneham residents of their Web site, www.chapter70.com.
"We're a grassroots effort that came together to change the Chapter 70 formula and we came to update you on our progress," said Susan O'Neill. "We testified before the joint commission of education and the committee listened intently to our testimony, and it was noted that Stoneham was represented."
"We were warned we would see no expression by the committee, but we saw both expression and concern at the dismantling of our little Shoe Town," added O'Neill. "They are clearly working on the issue and recognize the need."
The Chap. 70 Committee requested a letter be sent by the Selectmen to the House of Representative Ways and Means Committee as part of the letter-writing and E-mail campaign.
"We ask that our town leaders and every employee in our town, every resident of Stoneham to send a letter to the members of the Ways and Means Committee requesting a change in the Chapter 70 formula," said O'Neil. "We ask you to please get involved."
The Committee urged the Selectmen to get involved and help push the movement to rework the Chapter 70 formula to another level - feeling that they'd "gone as far as they could go as citizens."
"A group of citizens decided to get together and target their efforts to getting legislation changed so Stoneham can get more money in Chapter 70 funds," said Kennedy, who crafted a letter to be sent to the Ways and Means Committee. "I think it's been a great effort by these concerned citizens."
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