My Name is Paul H Cosentino. I started this Blog in 2011 because of what I believe to be wrongdoings in town government. This Blog is to keep the citizens of Templeton informed. It is also for the citizens of Templeton to post their comments and concerns.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Worcester panel favors 15 pot shops at most, and 3% local tax on marijuana sales
Worcester panel favors 15 pot shops at most, and 3% local tax on marijuana sales
By
Nick Kotsopoulos
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Nov 28, 2017 at 10:10 PM
Updated Nov 29, 2017 at 6:03 AM
WORCESTER - A City Council standing committee favors limiting the
number of establishments selling recreational marijuana in the city to
15 and having a 3 percent local tax assessed on their sales.
Tuesday night, the Economic Development Committee unanimously endorsed those recommendations made by City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. as part of an overall package he submitted to the City Council detailing how the city should respond to the new state law that allows sale and use of marijuana.
While state regulations governing the sale of recreational marijuana are not expected to be released until early next year, District 1 Councilor Tony Economou, committee chairman, said the city wants to lay some groundwork.
“We want to set the tempo and mood early on so there is a clear understanding right off the bat of what the city is going to do and what its expectations are,” Mr. Economou said.
The law allowing the sale of recreational marijuana takes effect in July.
Under the law, a maximum tax rate of 20 percent has been set on the retail sale of marijuana - 6.25 percent state sales tax, plus a state excise tax of 10.75 percent, plus an optional municipal tax of up to 3 percent.
As recommended by the city manager, the three-member council committee endorsed an order accepting the maximum 3 percent local sales tax option. Money generated from that tax would be a general fund receipt and disbursed by the state in the same manner as the general sales tax.
Adoption of the local sales tax requires a simple City Council majority of six votes.
Meanwhile, municipalities cannot limit the number of recreational marijuana establishments to fewer than 20 percent of their number of off-premises alcohol licenses, including package stores, convenience stores and supermarkets.
Because Worcester has been allotted 74 off-premises liquor licenses,
the city has to allow at least 15 recreational marijuana retail
establishments.
The city can allow more than 15 such establishments, but if it wants to restrict the number of such businesses to the highest limit allowed by the law, it can do so only by enacting an ordinance.
Tuesday night, the Economic Development Committee unanimously endorsed those recommendations made by City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. as part of an overall package he submitted to the City Council detailing how the city should respond to the new state law that allows sale and use of marijuana.
While state regulations governing the sale of recreational marijuana are not expected to be released until early next year, District 1 Councilor Tony Economou, committee chairman, said the city wants to lay some groundwork.
“We want to set the tempo and mood early on so there is a clear understanding right off the bat of what the city is going to do and what its expectations are,” Mr. Economou said.
The law allowing the sale of recreational marijuana takes effect in July.
Under the law, a maximum tax rate of 20 percent has been set on the retail sale of marijuana - 6.25 percent state sales tax, plus a state excise tax of 10.75 percent, plus an optional municipal tax of up to 3 percent.
As recommended by the city manager, the three-member council committee endorsed an order accepting the maximum 3 percent local sales tax option. Money generated from that tax would be a general fund receipt and disbursed by the state in the same manner as the general sales tax.
Adoption of the local sales tax requires a simple City Council majority of six votes.
Meanwhile, municipalities cannot limit the number of recreational marijuana establishments to fewer than 20 percent of their number of off-premises alcohol licenses, including package stores, convenience stores and supermarkets.
The city can allow more than 15 such establishments, but if it wants to restrict the number of such businesses to the highest limit allowed by the law, it can do so only by enacting an ordinance.
Seeking plaintiffs, Brockton education equity lawsuit chugs ahead
Seeking plaintiffs, Brockton education equity lawsuit chugs ahead
By
Tom Relihan
The Enterprise
BROCKTON – A looming effort by the city’s school district to
force the state government to reform the way it supports public
education is gaining more steam.
Brockton’s public schools plan to spearhead the effort – essentially, round two of a similar, successful push led by the district in the early 1990′s that resulted in the creation of the state’s Chapter 70 education aid law and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System – and have begun actively searching for other districts to join in an education equity lawsuit, as well as students to name as plaintiffs in the case.
Attorney Sarah Spatafore, who is working with the School Committee to develop the lawsuit, said at the board’s most recent meeting that once a plaintiff is identified, a complaint can be drafted and filed in Superior Court by the end of the school year. The committee set aside time for before another recent meeting for families interested in signing on to meet with Spatafore.
District and city officials have floated the idea of suing the state for about two years, Superintendent Kathleen Smith said.
“I know it has taken us a while to get here, but I think it is the right time,” Smith said. “We’ve been through a very difficult year, and other districts are starting to feel the same pinch - ours was just a lot greater and a lot sooner... The time is right for us right now to keep this on the front burner.”
The lawsuit is expected to allege that the state has failed to provide adequate funding for all students by failing to act on the recommendations of a commission formed to study education funding and by changing the math for calculating districts’ poverty rates, which administrators say cost Brockton about $6 million this year.
The Enterprise
Posted Nov 27, 2017 at 4:01 PM
Updated Nov 27, 2017 at 4:11 PM
The city’s public schools plan to spearhead
the effort – essentially, round two of a similar, successful push led by
the district in the early 1990s that resulted in the creation of the
state’s Chapter 70 education aid law and the Massachusetts Comprehensive
Assessment System – and have begun actively searching for other
districts to join in an education equity lawsuit, as well as students to
name as plaintiffs in the case.
Brockton’s public schools plan to spearhead the effort – essentially, round two of a similar, successful push led by the district in the early 1990′s that resulted in the creation of the state’s Chapter 70 education aid law and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System – and have begun actively searching for other districts to join in an education equity lawsuit, as well as students to name as plaintiffs in the case.
Attorney Sarah Spatafore, who is working with the School Committee to develop the lawsuit, said at the board’s most recent meeting that once a plaintiff is identified, a complaint can be drafted and filed in Superior Court by the end of the school year. The committee set aside time for before another recent meeting for families interested in signing on to meet with Spatafore.
District and city officials have floated the idea of suing the state for about two years, Superintendent Kathleen Smith said.
“I know it has taken us a while to get here, but I think it is the right time,” Smith said. “We’ve been through a very difficult year, and other districts are starting to feel the same pinch - ours was just a lot greater and a lot sooner... The time is right for us right now to keep this on the front burner.”
The lawsuit is expected to allege that the state has failed to provide adequate funding for all students by failing to act on the recommendations of a commission formed to study education funding and by changing the math for calculating districts’ poverty rates, which administrators say cost Brockton about $6 million this year.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Report raises doubts about gas ‘crisis’
Report raises doubts about gas ‘crisis’
Did utilities create shortage with unused capacity requests?
ANDREW SAVITZ
EVERSOURCE AND OTHER REGIONAL UTILITIES have long claimed that New England desperately needs new natural gas pipelines to meet electricity demand, with the “polar vortex” of 2013-14 as a prime example. Electricity prices rose sharply throughout New England at that time because of pipeline constraints, according to the utilities and regional grid operator ISO New England. In a 2014 online paid-content commentary placed by America’s Natural Gas Alliance in the Washington Post, ISO-New England CEO Gordon van Welie warned that the region is in a “precarious position.”
But it turns out that the price spikes were caused by the Eversource and Avangrid — another energy delivery company serving over 3 million customers in New York and New England — who were reserving pipeline capacity and not using it, thereby preventing gas from reaching the market.
Researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara, the University of Wyoming, Vanderbilt University, and the Environmental Defense Fund recently released a white paper showing that Eversource and Avangrid systematically reserved, but did not use, up to 28 percent of gas pipeline capacity needed by New England electric generators on the coldest days between 2013-2016.
That raised gas prices by 38 percent and electricity prices by 20 percent over the three-year study period, according to the authors. That cost consumers more than $3.6 billion, mostly in Massachusetts and Connecticut, about the same as the total of the price spikes announced at the time.
The white paper raises two very troubling questions. Did Eversource
purposely manipulate the market to constrain pipeline capacity
artificially, and cause unnecessary price spikes? And did the company –
along with other utilities and ISO New England – win strong support for
new pipelines from Govs. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Daniel
Malloy of Connecticut with a false narrative of pipeline bottlenecks,
when it was an artificial shortage they themselves caused?
Did utilities create shortage with unused capacity requests?
ANDREW SAVITZ
EVERSOURCE AND OTHER REGIONAL UTILITIES have long claimed that New England desperately needs new natural gas pipelines to meet electricity demand, with the “polar vortex” of 2013-14 as a prime example. Electricity prices rose sharply throughout New England at that time because of pipeline constraints, according to the utilities and regional grid operator ISO New England. In a 2014 online paid-content commentary placed by America’s Natural Gas Alliance in the Washington Post, ISO-New England CEO Gordon van Welie warned that the region is in a “precarious position.”
But it turns out that the price spikes were caused by the Eversource and Avangrid — another energy delivery company serving over 3 million customers in New York and New England — who were reserving pipeline capacity and not using it, thereby preventing gas from reaching the market.
Researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara, the University of Wyoming, Vanderbilt University, and the Environmental Defense Fund recently released a white paper showing that Eversource and Avangrid systematically reserved, but did not use, up to 28 percent of gas pipeline capacity needed by New England electric generators on the coldest days between 2013-2016.
That raised gas prices by 38 percent and electricity prices by 20 percent over the three-year study period, according to the authors. That cost consumers more than $3.6 billion, mostly in Massachusetts and Connecticut, about the same as the total of the price spikes announced at the time.
It’s time for outrage in business community
It’s time for outrage in business community
DPU ignores concerns of commercial, industrial firms
The most recent example is the DPU’s order concerning proposed demand-reduction demonstration projects from Eversource (Docket 16-178). Filed over a year ago but only approved recently, the proposal was half-baked and had very little factual support or analysis behind what the company was going to do with the $20 million requested to be spent over an 18-month period and recovered only from C&I customers. The company witness was ill-prepared. He couldn’t answer most of the questions put to him and the plan for spending C&I customer money was vague at best. Equally important, the legal standing for filing was questionable and the utility was unclear on exactly what basis they could even file the request under the statutes, rules, and regulations. They ended up punting on a vague explanation and the DPU embraced it. The proposal was approved and a new legal standard was created by the DPU that essentially gives the utilities a blank check to do what they want as long as they call it a “demonstration project.”
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Tick , Tock...
Time Flies
December 1, 2017 is THIS Friday. Why is this date important?
The $5,000,000 short term borrowing was for 6 months. On December 1, 2017, this borrowing comes due. Time to pay the piper!
For historical perspective see:
State’s bond rating downgraded despite growth
The Definition of Insanity
Full Circle - Again!
Mickey Mouse Financial Club
Carry on!
FBI Director Wray Demotes Embattled Andrew McCabe; Internal Investigation Dubbed “Train Wreck”
EXCLUSIVE: FBI Director Wray Demotes Embattled Andrew McCabe; Internal Investigation Dubbed “Train Wreck”
Posted on by Investigative Bureau
FBI Director Christopher Wray has defrocked and demoted embattled deputy director Andrew McCabe, according to FBI sources.
McCabe, who has been a lightning rod of controversy in the last two years, is no longer running the show at the FBI as far as manning his previous sweeping daily responsibilities.
Under ex-FBI director James Comey, McCabe had unilateral control of the FBI, including counter terrorism. According to sources, that is no longer the case.
McCabe’s workload has been transferred among other Bureau hierarchy, according to FBI sources.
This internal demotion likely sets the stage for McCabe’s departure from the FBI, according to sources who say that an investigation by the United States Office of the Inspector General into McCabe’s dealings with Hillary Clinton’s campaign have yielded troubling revelations.
McCabe still maintains his title as deputy director, however, he is no longer assuming the responsibilities that go with that title.
Sources said McCabe may currently be negotiating an amicable exit from the FBI.
Wray, the newly-minted FBI director, was appointed by President Donald Trump. Wray decided to effectively demote McCabe and remove him from high-profile cases.
McCabe has come under fire on many fronts in recent months.
FBI sources said Wray no longer had confidence in McCabe’s ability to serve as second in command of the Bureau.
One federal law enforcement source called the OIG probe into McCabe’s associations with the Hillary Clinton campaign a “train wreck.”
One source said McCabe is on “borrowed time” at the FBI.
McCabe, who has been a lightning rod of controversy in the last two years, is no longer running the show at the FBI as far as manning his previous sweeping daily responsibilities.
Under ex-FBI director James Comey, McCabe had unilateral control of the FBI, including counter terrorism. According to sources, that is no longer the case.
McCabe’s workload has been transferred among other Bureau hierarchy, according to FBI sources.
This internal demotion likely sets the stage for McCabe’s departure from the FBI, according to sources who say that an investigation by the United States Office of the Inspector General into McCabe’s dealings with Hillary Clinton’s campaign have yielded troubling revelations.
McCabe still maintains his title as deputy director, however, he is no longer assuming the responsibilities that go with that title.
Sources said McCabe may currently be negotiating an amicable exit from the FBI.
Wray, the newly-minted FBI director, was appointed by President Donald Trump. Wray decided to effectively demote McCabe and remove him from high-profile cases.
McCabe has come under fire on many fronts in recent months.
FBI sources said Wray no longer had confidence in McCabe’s ability to serve as second in command of the Bureau.
One federal law enforcement source called the OIG probe into McCabe’s associations with the Hillary Clinton campaign a “train wreck.”
One source said McCabe is on “borrowed time” at the FBI.
New projections show colleges will continue to pick from fewer high school graduates
New projections show colleges will continue to pick from fewer high school graduates
By
Scott O’Connell
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Nov 25, 2017 at 6:00 AM
Updated Nov 26, 2017 at 6:26 AM
Colleges in the region that have been waiting
for the shrinking number of local high school graduates to finally
rebound will have to wait even longer, a new state report suggests.
According
to the latest college enrollment trend analysis from the state’s higher
education department, the annual high school graduate count in
Massachusetts, already down over the past few years, will continue to
decline over the next two decades. That revised projection is less
optimistic than earlier reports that estimated the numbers would trend
upwards again after 2025.
“We knew (the
high school graduate population) would be going down,” said the state’s
Commissioner of Higher Education, Carlos Santiago. “The pessimism here
is that we thought there would be a recovery a lot earlier. It’s very
disappointing, but it’s just the reality.”
The
state’s latest enrollment report says that this past year there were
just over 75,000 new high school graduates in the state, a number that
is expected to shrink next year but still hover in the 71,000 to 74,000
range over the next decade. But in 2026 – right around the time earlier
projections forecast the start of a recovery – the number of new
graduates is now expected to fall off even more sharply, dropping to
just under 67,000 by 2031, which would be the lowest amount since 2003.
Officials
at local colleges contacted by the Telegram & Gazette last week
said the latest student population projections did not come as a real
surprise; several said the state’s latest report was reiterating data
that had been circulating previously. Some schools said they also
haven’t seen much negative fallout so far from the leveling off of high
school graduate numbers over the past few years.
The
state university system, for example, which enjoyed a steady increase
in applicants up until around five years ago, when its enrollments
started to plateau, has nearly maintained enrollment since then. Between
2013 and this fall, for instance, Worcester State University’s
enrollment slipped only from 5,556 students to 5,496, according to the
state higher education department’s records, while Fitchburg State
University went from 4,245 to 4,135.
Community
colleges, however, have seen a precipitous decline in students,
although that has a lot to do with the country’s economic rebound since
the start of the decade. In the region, from 2011 to this fall,
Quinsigamond Community College’s enrollment dropped from 9,130 students
to 7,370, and Mount Wachusett Community College’s fell from 4,755 to
3,854, state data shows.
23 layoffs at Harrington HealthCare System
23 layoffs at Harrington HealthCare System
By
Brian Lee
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Nov 23, 2017 at 7:32 PM
Updated Nov 24, 2017 at 5:50 AM
SOUTHBRIDGE - Harrington HealthCare System laid off 23 employees last
week, in the wake of running an $8.2 million operating loss during
fiscal 2017, president-CEO Edward H. Moore said Wednesday.
Fiscal 2017 ended for hospitals Sept. 30.
In addition to the impacted positions, which were 1.5 percent of its workforce, the hospital system developed a new organizational structure that it says best aligns with its mission and vision to maintain high-quality patient care.
The changes were largely a management restructuring initiative, mostly focused on non-clinical areas, and represent an estimated savings of $3.5 million.
The intent was to not directly impact patient care as much as possible, Mr. Moore said.
Seventeen of the laid-off employees were managers and supervisors, including three who reported directly to Mr. Moore as part of his leadership team.
Mr. Moore said the healthcare system could not continue to lose “that kind of money” because it doesn’t want to tap into its investment and foundation money too quickly.
Fiscal 2017 ended for hospitals Sept. 30.
In addition to the impacted positions, which were 1.5 percent of its workforce, the hospital system developed a new organizational structure that it says best aligns with its mission and vision to maintain high-quality patient care.
The changes were largely a management restructuring initiative, mostly focused on non-clinical areas, and represent an estimated savings of $3.5 million.
The intent was to not directly impact patient care as much as possible, Mr. Moore said.
Seventeen of the laid-off employees were managers and supervisors, including three who reported directly to Mr. Moore as part of his leadership team.
Mr. Moore said the healthcare system could not continue to lose “that kind of money” because it doesn’t want to tap into its investment and foundation money too quickly.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Former Hubbardston tax collector forfeits retirement account
Former Hubbardston tax collector forfeits retirement account
By
Gary V. Murray
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Nov 21, 2017 at 1:54 PM
Updated Nov 22, 2017 at 9:59 AM
WORCESTER — Cynthia Washburn-Doane, the former Hubbardston tax
collector convicted last year of embezzling $535,000 in town funds, will
forfeit $25,000 in contributions she made toward her retirement account
to pay restitution to the town under a settlement agreement approved
Tuesday by a judge.
On Nov. 18, 2016, Ms. Washburn-Doane was ordered to serve a year in jail and pay restitution in an amount to be determined after pleading guilty in Worcester Superior Court to charges of embezzlement by a municipal officer, larceny of more than $250 by a common scheme and falsifying corporate books. Judge Janet Kenton-Walker sentenced the then 62-year-old Ms. Washburn-Doane to 2 years in the House of Correction, with 1 year to be served. The balance of the jail sentence was suspended for 3 years with probation.
As conditions of probation, Ms. Washburn-Doane was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and any related treatment deemed appropriate by the Probation Department and to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court within 20 days of her release from custody.
Prosecutors said at the time of the plea that Ms. Washburn-Doane stole $535,000 in tax proceeds over a 10-year span beginning in 2004 and ending when she resigned at the end of May 2014. Her resignation as tax collector, a position she had held for 25 years, came after financial irregularities were uncovered by the town and an audit was conducted.
Under an agreement Ms. Washburn-Doane made with the town on May 28, 2014, she consented to cooperating with a probe into irregularities in Hubbardston’s financial records. As part of the agreement, she said she would disclose what she knew about missing tax payments and agreed to pay the town $120,000 in restitution to help cover associated legal costs, money that was paid prior to her plea hearing.
When questioned by state police investigators, Ms. Washburn-Doane, who made about $30,000 a year as tax collector, admitted stealing the missing money, saying she had a daughter in college and used the stolen funds to pay her family’s bills.
On Nov. 18, 2016, Ms. Washburn-Doane was ordered to serve a year in jail and pay restitution in an amount to be determined after pleading guilty in Worcester Superior Court to charges of embezzlement by a municipal officer, larceny of more than $250 by a common scheme and falsifying corporate books. Judge Janet Kenton-Walker sentenced the then 62-year-old Ms. Washburn-Doane to 2 years in the House of Correction, with 1 year to be served. The balance of the jail sentence was suspended for 3 years with probation.
As conditions of probation, Ms. Washburn-Doane was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and any related treatment deemed appropriate by the Probation Department and to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court within 20 days of her release from custody.
Prosecutors said at the time of the plea that Ms. Washburn-Doane stole $535,000 in tax proceeds over a 10-year span beginning in 2004 and ending when she resigned at the end of May 2014. Her resignation as tax collector, a position she had held for 25 years, came after financial irregularities were uncovered by the town and an audit was conducted.
Under an agreement Ms. Washburn-Doane made with the town on May 28, 2014, she consented to cooperating with a probe into irregularities in Hubbardston’s financial records. As part of the agreement, she said she would disclose what she knew about missing tax payments and agreed to pay the town $120,000 in restitution to help cover associated legal costs, money that was paid prior to her plea hearing.
When questioned by state police investigators, Ms. Washburn-Doane, who made about $30,000 a year as tax collector, admitted stealing the missing money, saying she had a daughter in college and used the stolen funds to pay her family’s bills.
Meetings the Week of November 27, 2017
Meetings
the Week of November 27, 2017
Monday 11/27/17
Tuesday 11/28/17
Cap.
Planning PCS Town Hall* 6:30 pm
Wednesday 11/29/17
Berkshire 1 Shrewsbury 10:00 am
Berkshire 2 Shrewsbury 10:01 am
Adv Com PCS Town Hall* 6:00 pm
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Michael Goodwin: Memo to the Clintons: It's over
Michael Goodwin: Memo to the Clintons: It's over
Editor's note: This column originally appeared in the New York Post.
Memo to the Clintons: It’s over.
After New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said that, in hindsight, Bill Clinton should have resigned over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the political mafia put a hit on her. Clinton henchman Philippe Reines tweeted that “Ken Starr spent $70 million on a consensual b—job. Senate voted to keep POTUS WJC. But not enough for you @SenGillibrand?”
Reines called her a “hypocrite” for taking the Clintons’ money and endorsements, ending with, “Interesting strategy for 2020 primaries. Best of luck.”
Perhaps Reines’ panic blinded him to the tea leaves. Donna Brazile’s book signaled that the Clintons’ time has past and Gillibrand’s views are simply more proof of the new normal.
The Clintons better get used to being backbenchers.
Metro Detroit doctors charged in historic national health care fraud scheme
Metro Detroit doctors charged in historic national health care fraud scheme
412 arrested in largest nationwide health care fraud scheme in US history
DETROIT - The U.S. Justice Department is calling an opioid prescription drug and health care fraud scheme the largest operation of its kind in United States history, and part of it is centered in Metro Detroit.
Officials have made 412 arrests nationwide, including 56 doctors and targeting 200 clinics. The Justice Department said those arrested are responsible for $1.3 billion in fraudulent transactions.
Federal officials said a group of Michigan doctors was responsible for a major chunk of the scheme.
One of the clinics hit in the sting operations is in Farmington. Federal officials said the opioid epidemic is part of it, but the medical office and a number of others were set up specifically as a criminal enterprise to rip off Medicare.
Federal officers raided the Fisher Building Wednesday, and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said their work accounted for 10 percent of the scam's value.
"Six doctors in Michigan prescribed patients with unnecessary opioids, some of which ended up for sale on the streets," Sessions said.
A physician group called Global Quality used to operate out of a Woodward Avenue office building.
West Bloomfield man named ring leader
Mashiyat Rashid is accused of being the ring leader in scamming Medicare for $164 million. Rashid had no problem displaying his significant wealth on Facebook, where pictures show him standing in front of a Bentley sedan and a corporate jet. He also has pictures of himself and a friend courtside at the NBA Finals.Local 4 visited Rashid's West Bloomfield home Thursday, but nobody was there. The house was large, but not a mansion.
The Drug Enforcement Agency's Tim Plancon issued a warning.
"It certainly should be a message to any rogue physician," Plancon said. "If they think they're going to get away with it, we're coming for you."
Rashid is not a doctor, but the doctors named in the case are Joseph Betro, Spilios Pappas, Abdul Haq, Tariz Omar and Mohammad Zahoor.
Federal officials indicted suspects a week ago and they've already been arraigned.
FBI responds to epidemic
MIAA releases schedule for 2016 state championship football games
MIAA releases schedule for 2016 state championship football games
By Kevin Dillon | kdillon@masslive.com
on November 21, 2016 1:10 PM
The MIAA set times for each state championship football game Monday. Wahconah, the lone Western Mass. team in a state championship, will take on Mashpee at 1:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
Here is the complete schedule.
Division I
Everett vs. Xaverian @ Manning Field, Lynn - 1 p.m.
Division IA
King Philip vs. Reading @ Gillette Stadium - 8 p.m.
Division II
Duxbury vs. Shrewsbury @ Gillette Stadium - 6 p.m.
Division IIA
Falmouth vs. Marblehead @ Gillette Stadium - 3:30 p.m.
Division III
Grafton vs. Hanover @ Gillette Stadium - 11 a.m.
Division IIIA
East Bridgewater vs. St. Mary's @ Gillette Stadium - 9 a.m.
Division IV
Mashpee vs. Wahconah @ Gillette Stadium - 1:30 p.m.
Division IVA
Maynard vs. Millis-Hopedale @ Worcester State University - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Traffic concerns brewing on Rt. 20 near Tree House in Charlton
Traffic concerns brewing on Rt. 20 near Tree House in Charlton
By
Brian Lee
Telegram & Gazette Staff
CHARLTON – State officials have been working with Tree House Brewing Co. to map short-term traffic safety improvements on Route 20 within the next few weeks, a Department of Transportation spokesman said Friday.
The area in question is an undivided portion of Route 20 where the speed limit is 50 mph. At times, motorists try to leave the new business by crossing the highway to turn left, or make an ill-advised U-turn.
According to police, there have been eight accidents at or near Tree House Brewing since the 55,000-square-foot craft brewing company opened in July.
Also, Charlton police have logged numerous complaints and concerns from the public with regard to traffic there, according to Officer Richard McGrath, the Police Department’s public records officer.
DOT spokesman Patrick Marvin said in an e-mail Friday: “The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has been closely monitoring this location and is pleased to collaborate with municipal leaders, elected officials, and local businesses to ensure safe and reliable travel throughout this area.”
The spokesman did not say what the short-term improvements would be, but he noted, “MassDOT will also be working with all of the stakeholders involved in this topic in order to help put in place potential longer term improvements to address traffic and safety concerns at this location in the coming year.”
According to Officer McGrath, various remedies have been suggested locally, including traffic lights, turning lanes, barriers, signs, and a reconstruction of the Tree House Brewing driveway.
“MassDOT is doing their own traffic study so that they can come up with viable proposals,” Officer McGrath said in an interview.
Of the eight motor vehicle accidents, two were in the business’s parking lot and the other six were in front of the business and related to people turning or changing lanes while entering or exiting Tree House Brewing, Officer McGrath said. Causes have included not paying attention, traveling too fast, or following too close, he said.
“We don’t think that this is a problem with the business,” he said. “We certainly don’t see it as a brewery being a problem in the area.”
Meetings the Week of November 20, 2017
Meetings
the Week of November 20, 2017
Monday 11/20/17
Conservation PCS Town Hall* 6:00 pm
Liars
Club PCS
Town Hall* 6:30 pm
Assessors PCS Town Hall* 6:45 pm
BOH PCS Town Hall* 7:00 pm
Tuesday 11/21/17
Veterans Am. Legion
6:30 pm
* Pauly Cosentino Sr. Town
Hall
Friday, November 17, 2017
Turkey Raffles and Bazaars
Turkey Raffles and Bazaars
FRIDAY-
Gardner Legion Turkey Raffle7 pm
West End Beagle Club Turkey Raffle
7 pm
SATURDAY -
Holy Cross Church Holiday Fair
November 18, 2017
9 am - 2 pm
Memorial Congregational Church
Ham and Bean Supper
November 18, 2017
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Reservations 978-939-2631
TEMPLETON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL TURKEY RAFFLE
Baldwinville Legion 7 pm
Eagles Turkey Social
November 18, 2017
Starts at 7 pm
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Cui Bono ? Who Benefits?
Cui Bono ? Who Benefits?
Definition of cui bono. 1 :a principle that probable responsibility for an act or event lies with one having something to gain.
Zoning Change articles:
Both Zoning By-law articles were eventually passed over at the STM last night.
So who would have benefited?
An interesting comment:
An interesting thing happened on the way to the Town Meeting..............lol.
OK, so taking my time getting moving I decided to do some review of the Warrant articles in preparation to attend the town meeting tonight.
I found what I consider to be a very curious happening. Article 13 presented by the Planning Board.
Planning board members are:
Kirk Moschetti---Chairman
Charles Carrol - Vice Chairman
Tim Rotti
John Buckley
Christof Chartier
Frank Moschetti
Dennis Rich
Parcels listed in zoning change, owners:
Kirk Moschetti----------- Parcel 20.5
Frank Moschetti---------- Parcel 20
John Buckley------------- Parcels 23, 23.10, 23.20
Charles Carrol----------- Parcel 36
Four members of the 7 member planning Board are the listed owners of property they voted to have re-zoned. How did they achieve a quorom? How does this comply with Ethics standards?
Mr Fortes assured the voters during a board meeting that everything was on the up and up and had been checked into. "nothing hinky going on" was I believe the exact quote.
I call 4 members of a 7 member board apparently voting to benefit themselves, HINKY!
OK, so taking my time getting moving I decided to do some review of the Warrant articles in preparation to attend the town meeting tonight.
I found what I consider to be a very curious happening. Article 13 presented by the Planning Board.
Planning board members are:
Kirk Moschetti---Chairman
Charles Carrol - Vice Chairman
Tim Rotti
John Buckley
Christof Chartier
Frank Moschetti
Dennis Rich
Parcels listed in zoning change, owners:
Kirk Moschetti----------- Parcel 20.5
Frank Moschetti---------- Parcel 20
John Buckley------------- Parcels 23, 23.10, 23.20
Charles Carrol----------- Parcel 36
Four members of the 7 member planning Board are the listed owners of property they voted to have re-zoned. How did they achieve a quorom? How does this comply with Ethics standards?
Mr Fortes assured the voters during a board meeting that everything was on the up and up and had been checked into. "nothing hinky going on" was I believe the exact quote.
I call 4 members of a 7 member board apparently voting to benefit themselves, HINKY!
****************************************
Interesting Comments from Town Counsel regarding these Zoning Articles:
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Special Town Meeting TONIGHT !!
Special Town Meeting
TONIGHT !!
7 pm
Sixteen articles.
$1,042,588 in Certified FREE CASH to spend!
Article 15 - Amending the general By-laws re: Date of Town Meeting & Election:
Zoning Changes - Articles 12 + 13 Cui Bono?
Definition of cui bono. 1 :a principle that probable responsibility for an act or event lies with one having something to gain.
A Twitter Story:
Thread Reader is happy to present
an unrolled Twitter story with 38 tweets
an unrolled Twitter story with 38 tweets
9 hours ago
Imperator_Rex
@Imperator_Rex3
1.
Hillary Clinton's nightmare is about to get far, far worse. As her
indictment, arrest & probable jailing draws nearer, it's useful to
pinpoint key dates in her downfall. And to better understand the team
being developed to carry it out.
2.
Many still doubt that anything will be done with the Clintons. IMO they
misunderstand the paradigm shift caused by Trump's election, the weight
and gravity of HRC's criminality, as well as the carefully planned
takedown in play.
3.
They also fail to understand Trump's resolve. His promise to drain the
swamp isn't just about a massive anti-corruption drive. It's also about
restoring public confidence in the rule of law.
4.
In order to do that, it is extremely important that the public see the
rule of law applying to high profile figures. That would be the
Clintons, esp Hillary Rodham Clinton. Anything less won't be enough to
start the process of recovery & I'm sure Trump knows this.
5.
It's also time to put Mueller conspiracy theories to bed. There may be
surprises in store and Mueller's motivations remain unclear, but the
evidence shows that all winds are blowing to Clinton County, State of
Corruption, USA.
6.
So, back to key dates. Like two days from now - Nov 15, 2017. Why is
this date extremely important? It is the final date the Clinton
Foundation must file amended returns with the IRS. And the first date
they've had to do it with Trump in power.
7.
They did this was in Nov 2015, when the CF filed its 2014 tax return,
as well as amending its filings for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. And then
again in October 2016, when they suddenly filed further returns that
they had 'forgotten' to file in previous years.
8.
These returns revealed $ millions in undisclosed donations. The 'audit'
was a farce, conducted by a law firm that was itself a donor to the CF :
9.
So 15 Nov is an EXTREMELY important date. It's the first time the CF
has had to file audited returns since Trump became POTUS. But this time,
the returns will be audited by independent, top quality accounting
firms with excellent reputations.
10.
One of the things about the Clintons is that their crime is so
widespread. They literally are the gift that keeps on giving, when it
comes to corruption. Which is useful, because their cult acolytes will
find any excuse to absolve them.
11.
They'll say the Fusion GPS dossier is 'oppo research', when it's
actually an illegal, planned takedown of Trump by the Clintons that
involved the contribution of an ex-MI6 spook & FSB (Russian spies).
12.They'll
argue the U1 scandal is 'debunked', when in fact it gave Putin control
over US uranium reserves via Rosatom, including an export capability,
while an undisclosed $145 million flowed into the CF.
13.
They'll argue that Hillary saved the DNC when she took it over with her
Victory Fund, when in fact she was using it to cheat her way to the
Democratic Party nomination, as well as divert political donations into
her own back pocket.
14.
And even when you point out that combined scandals reveal a pattern of
crime, they'll still deny that the Clintons could be guilty of anything.
Which is why the Clintons are great, because there's ALWAYS another
scandal you can bring up.
15.
For example, most liberals are totally unaware of the way the Clintons
promoted & protected Ukrainian billionaire Viktor Pinchuk between
2009-2013.
16.
Punchik's company, Pipeline, manufactured pipes for use in the oil
& gas sectors. Between 2009-2013, Punchik was given free reign by US
authorities to expand his pipe business illegally.
17.
Within the US, Pinchuk illegally dumped steel pipes on the natural gas
extraction sector, causing prices to plummet. Victims? US steelworkers
in Ohio & Pennsylvania. See
18.
Outside the USA, Pinchuk sold steel pipes to Iran, which was under
severe US sanctions. Given that Interpipe USA was a subsidiary of
Interpipe, this was illegal. In fact, the US has penalized non-US
companies trading with sanctioned nations, see
Monday, November 13, 2017
Meetings the Week of November 13, 2017
Meetings
the Week of November 13, 2017
Monday 11/13/17
Elem.
School PCS Town Hall*
5:30 pm
Tuesday 11/14/17
Assessors PCS Town Hall* 4:00 pm
Historical Boynton PL
7:00 pm
BOS NRSD Aud 6:45
pm
November 14, 2017 7 PM
Thursday 11/16/17
Adv.
Com. PCS Town Hall* 6:00
pm
* Pauly Cosentino Sr. Town
Hall
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Proposed Use of Free Cash in Templeton
Proposed Use of Free Cash in Templeton
From the Interim Town Administrator:
"Working Capital" = $199,192 . "Working Capital" = Slush Fund ? Is there a line item in the FY 18 budget for "Working Capital"?
No?
Really?
From the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting November 14, 2017:
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