Allegations Challenged...Phillipston
Allegations Challenged
Board of Selectmen address candidate's list of grievances
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
PHILLIPSTON In response to “serious accusations” contained in a mailing sent to town residents, the Board of Selectmen on Monday night read a statement addressing the letter, sent by selectman candidate and former Highway Superintendent Jim Mackie, and the points contained within.
“While Mr. Mackie raised some important issues in this letter,” read Selectman Terry Dymek. “We feel it is important to point out that it also contains serious accusations and in parts only offered a partial accounting of the truth.”
Mr. Mackie’s mailing highlights 10 grievances against the current Board of Selectmen, ranging from complaints regarding the town’s pay scaling, use of town funds to supplement a state grant to build a new park behind Town Hall, and supposed inaction from members regarding Town Hall’s water supply.
Rather than addressing each point, selectmen urged residents to speak with them directly. “We are happy to hear all your questions and concerns,” Mr. Dymek said.
The former highway boss also alleges he was “coerced” into offering a letter of resignation from his post last year and was “subsequently fired” when he refused to resign.
Last year, while still working as the highway superintendent, Mr. Mackie was placed on two weeks unpaid leave when it came to light he had used a town-owned bucket truck to rescue a cat from a tree in Westminster. At the end of that two-week period, Mr. Mackie was not reappointed to his post as highway boss or tree warden.
Board of Selectmen address candidate's list of grievances
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
 |
| News staff photo by ERYN DION A letter containing 10 grievances against the Board of Selectmen was sent to every taxpayer in town by former highway superintendent and candidate for selectman Jim Mackie. |
“While Mr. Mackie raised some important issues in this letter,” read Selectman Terry Dymek. “We feel it is important to point out that it also contains serious accusations and in parts only offered a partial accounting of the truth.”
Mr. Mackie’s mailing highlights 10 grievances against the current Board of Selectmen, ranging from complaints regarding the town’s pay scaling, use of town funds to supplement a state grant to build a new park behind Town Hall, and supposed inaction from members regarding Town Hall’s water supply.
Rather than addressing each point, selectmen urged residents to speak with them directly. “We are happy to hear all your questions and concerns,” Mr. Dymek said.
The former highway boss also alleges he was “coerced” into offering a letter of resignation from his post last year and was “subsequently fired” when he refused to resign.
Last year, while still working as the highway superintendent, Mr. Mackie was placed on two weeks unpaid leave when it came to light he had used a town-owned bucket truck to rescue a cat from a tree in Westminster. At the end of that two-week period, Mr. Mackie was not reappointed to his post as highway boss or tree warden.
Condensed Town Meeting Warrant
Residents Face Condensed Town Meeting Warrant
TEMPLETON Voters will be treated to a radically slimmed down Town Meeting warrant on May 16 when they take action on 23 articles and four citizen’s petitions that will guide town operations for the next fiscal year.
While previous warrants have topped out at more than 40 articles and continued for several nights, interim Town Administrator Bob Markel has said this year’s document has been streamlined for voters’ convenience.
Several items, such as appropriations for VADAR accounting software, that were once given their own separate articles, have been moved into the budget to save time and space.
Mr. Markel said he also gave articles covering assessments for both the Narragansett Regional School District and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School the ax, as those amounts are already covered in the budget.
Approving the budget and later approving those articles, he explained, meant that technically they were appropriating the money twice.
The meeting will open with a series of financial transfers designed to fund various unexpected expenses incurred thr-oughout the year, including an increase in group insurance costs, veterans benefits, boosting the town accountant to 40 hours per week, and paying off the new playground. Those transfers are lined out in detail within the warrant to promote transparency for voters.
“It’s helpful for citizens so they can know exactly what we’re spending,” Mr. Markel said.
Next will come the appropriation of a $300,000 debt exclusion to purchase a new excavator for the Highway Department, should it pass the ballot on Monday’s town election. The debt exclusion will last five years, adding $0.12 to the town’s tax rate for that period.
TEMPLETON Voters will be treated to a radically slimmed down Town Meeting warrant on May 16 when they take action on 23 articles and four citizen’s petitions that will guide town operations for the next fiscal year.
While previous warrants have topped out at more than 40 articles and continued for several nights, interim Town Administrator Bob Markel has said this year’s document has been streamlined for voters’ convenience.
Several items, such as appropriations for VADAR accounting software, that were once given their own separate articles, have been moved into the budget to save time and space.
Mr. Markel said he also gave articles covering assessments for both the Narragansett Regional School District and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School the ax, as those amounts are already covered in the budget.
Approving the budget and later approving those articles, he explained, meant that technically they were appropriating the money twice.
The meeting will open with a series of financial transfers designed to fund various unexpected expenses incurred thr-oughout the year, including an increase in group insurance costs, veterans benefits, boosting the town accountant to 40 hours per week, and paying off the new playground. Those transfers are lined out in detail within the warrant to promote transparency for voters.
“It’s helpful for citizens so they can know exactly what we’re spending,” Mr. Markel said.
Next will come the appropriation of a $300,000 debt exclusion to purchase a new excavator for the Highway Department, should it pass the ballot on Monday’s town election. The debt exclusion will last five years, adding $0.12 to the town’s tax rate for that period.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
FY 16 BOS Budget ...ATM Warrant
The link to the FY 16 Budget is a link to a googledoc. It will download best using the google chrome browser and then open the budget using Excel.
The Advisory Board recommendations will be added once that information is available.
From the MA Attorney General's Open Meeting Law Guide, which you can view online.
What information must meeting notices contain?
Meeting notices must be posted in a legible, easily understandable format; contain the date, time, and place of the meeting; and list all topics that the chair reasonably anticipates, 48 hours in advance, will be discussed at the meeting. The list of topics must be sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting. Where there are no anticipated topics for discussion in open session other than the procedural requirements for convening an executive session, the public body should list "open session" as a topic, in addition to the executive session, so the public is aware that it has the opportunity to attend and learn the basis for the executive session. Open Meeting Law Guide Page 8 Version 3.18.15
Meeting notices must also indicate the date and time that the notice was posted, either on the notice itself or in a document or website accompanying the notice. If a notice is revised, the revised notice must also conspicuously record both the date and time the original notice was posted as well as the date and time the last revision was posted. Recording the date and time enables the public to observe that public bodies are complying with the Open Meeting Law’s notice requirements without requiring constant vigilance. Additionally, in the event of a complaint, it provides the Attorney General with evidence of compliance with those requirements.
If a discussion topic is proposed after a meeting notice is posted, and it was not reasonably anticipated by the chair more than 48 hours before the meeting, the public body should update its posting to provide the public with as much notice as possible of what subjects will be discussed during the meeting. Although a public body may consider a topic that was not listed in the meeting notice if it was not anticipated, the Attorney General strongly encourages public bodies to postpone discussion and action on topics that are controversial or may be of particular interest to the public if the topic was not listed in the meeting notice.
I believe this shows that the ultimate responsibility for the posting of and the content of an open meeting notice is responsibility of the Chairman and I do not believe a Chair can or should rely on a secretary to post the notice. Perhaps what should be questioned and asked for is the job description for Senior Legal Assistant because, I did not know Templeton had a legal department and , if there is a senior legal assistant, does that mean there is a junior or a simple legal assistant, and if that is so, where are those job descriptions? To me, that is more confusing and questionable than the lack of specificity of an open meeting agenda. Having said that, I do believe there should be more detail in the meeting notices and lets cut down on the last minute changes to the meeting notices. There seems to be a consistent pattern of changes made on the day of the meetings. Yes, things happen and do come up, but perhaps it would be better for the Chair to take a little more time to consider those things and if required, have meetings weekly.
Jeff Bennett
What information must meeting notices contain?
Meeting notices must be posted in a legible, easily understandable format; contain the date, time, and place of the meeting; and list all topics that the chair reasonably anticipates, 48 hours in advance, will be discussed at the meeting. The list of topics must be sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting. Where there are no anticipated topics for discussion in open session other than the procedural requirements for convening an executive session, the public body should list "open session" as a topic, in addition to the executive session, so the public is aware that it has the opportunity to attend and learn the basis for the executive session. Open Meeting Law Guide Page 8 Version 3.18.15
Meeting notices must also indicate the date and time that the notice was posted, either on the notice itself or in a document or website accompanying the notice. If a notice is revised, the revised notice must also conspicuously record both the date and time the original notice was posted as well as the date and time the last revision was posted. Recording the date and time enables the public to observe that public bodies are complying with the Open Meeting Law’s notice requirements without requiring constant vigilance. Additionally, in the event of a complaint, it provides the Attorney General with evidence of compliance with those requirements.
If a discussion topic is proposed after a meeting notice is posted, and it was not reasonably anticipated by the chair more than 48 hours before the meeting, the public body should update its posting to provide the public with as much notice as possible of what subjects will be discussed during the meeting. Although a public body may consider a topic that was not listed in the meeting notice if it was not anticipated, the Attorney General strongly encourages public bodies to postpone discussion and action on topics that are controversial or may be of particular interest to the public if the topic was not listed in the meeting notice.
I believe this shows that the ultimate responsibility for the posting of and the content of an open meeting notice is responsibility of the Chairman and I do not believe a Chair can or should rely on a secretary to post the notice. Perhaps what should be questioned and asked for is the job description for Senior Legal Assistant because, I did not know Templeton had a legal department and , if there is a senior legal assistant, does that mean there is a junior or a simple legal assistant, and if that is so, where are those job descriptions? To me, that is more confusing and questionable than the lack of specificity of an open meeting agenda. Having said that, I do believe there should be more detail in the meeting notices and lets cut down on the last minute changes to the meeting notices. There seems to be a consistent pattern of changes made on the day of the meetings. Yes, things happen and do come up, but perhaps it would be better for the Chair to take a little more time to consider those things and if required, have meetings weekly.
Jeff Bennett
OML Complaint
OML Complaint
What part of "appointments" don't you get?
Jen Belleveau, TMLWP employee and sibling of a BOS candidate, had her sister drop off the following Open Meeting Law complaint:
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Annual Town Meeting Warrant May 16, 2015
Annual Town Meeting Warrant May 16, 2015
The motions and descriptions of each article will be available soon.
Feds Say It's Time To Cut Back On Fluoride In Drinking Water
Feds Say It's Time To Cut Back On Fluoride In Drinking Water
Rob Stein
Federal health officials Monday changed the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water for the first time since 1962, cutting by almost half the maximum amount of fluoride that should be added to drinking supplies.
The Department of Health and Human Services recommended 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water instead of the long-standing range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams.
"The change is recommended because now Americans have access to more sources of fluoride, such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, than they did when fluoridation was first introduced in the United States," Dr. Boris Lushniak, the deputy surgeon general, told reporters during a conference call.
As a result, many Americans are getting too much fluoride, which is causing a big increase in a condition known as fluorosis that causes very faint white marks on people's teeth.
"The new recommended level will maintain the protective decay prevention benefits of water fluoridation and reduce the occurrence of dental fluorosis," Lushniak says.
But opponents of fluoridation and even some scientists maintain the new standard doesn't go nearly far enough. They say there's evidence that overexposure to fluoride might increase the risk for other health issues, including possibly thyroid problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and even lower IQs.
"Due to the importance of having the best possible brains in the future, I think that that would suggest that we be careful about the amount of fluoride that we deliver to the population in drinking water," says Dr. Philippe Grandjean at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Because fluoride is so readily available, critics argue people should be able to decide for themselves whether to use fluoride and how they get it.
"In our view it's high time for the United States to start following the approach taken by most of the Western world and stop fluoridating its water," says Michael Connett of the group Fluoride Action Network.
"It makes far more sense for those people who want to use fluoride to brush it on their teeth, spit it out and that way you apply fluoride to the only tissue in the body that stands to benefit," he says. "And you don't expose every other tissue in the body."
But the decision was welcomed by groups such as the American Dental Association. Federal health officials dismiss concerns that fluoride might cause other health problems.
"The only documented risk of water fluoridation is fluorosis, and it is primarily a cosmetic risk," says Barbara Gooch, a dentist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Fluorosis in the milder form is not a health risk."
Federal health officials Monday changed the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water for the first time since 1962, cutting by almost half the maximum amount of fluoride that should be added to drinking supplies.
The Department of Health and Human Services recommended 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water instead of the long-standing range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams.
"The change is recommended because now Americans have access to more sources of fluoride, such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, than they did when fluoridation was first introduced in the United States," Dr. Boris Lushniak, the deputy surgeon general, told reporters during a conference call.
As a result, many Americans are getting too much fluoride, which is causing a big increase in a condition known as fluorosis that causes very faint white marks on people's teeth.
"The new recommended level will maintain the protective decay prevention benefits of water fluoridation and reduce the occurrence of dental fluorosis," Lushniak says.
But opponents of fluoridation and even some scientists maintain the new standard doesn't go nearly far enough. They say there's evidence that overexposure to fluoride might increase the risk for other health issues, including possibly thyroid problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and even lower IQs.
"Due to the importance of having the best possible brains in the future, I think that that would suggest that we be careful about the amount of fluoride that we deliver to the population in drinking water," says Dr. Philippe Grandjean at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Because fluoride is so readily available, critics argue people should be able to decide for themselves whether to use fluoride and how they get it.
"In our view it's high time for the United States to start following the approach taken by most of the Western world and stop fluoridating its water," says Michael Connett of the group Fluoride Action Network.
"It makes far more sense for those people who want to use fluoride to brush it on their teeth, spit it out and that way you apply fluoride to the only tissue in the body that stands to benefit," he says. "And you don't expose every other tissue in the body."
But the decision was welcomed by groups such as the American Dental Association. Federal health officials dismiss concerns that fluoride might cause other health problems.
"The only documented risk of water fluoridation is fluorosis, and it is primarily a cosmetic risk," says Barbara Gooch, a dentist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Fluorosis in the milder form is not a health risk."
The media and vaccines...watch and learn.
The Media and Vaccines
An interview with Robert F Kennedy, Jr.
" The pharmaceutical companies are the ones who sponsor the news."
Please keep an open mind and do your own research. The best defense against any and all illnesses is a properly functioning immune system.
Driving GMOs and Monsanto's Roundup off the Market
Driving GMOs and Monsanto's Roundup off the Market
April 21, 2015 by Ronnie Cummins
Since genetically engineered (GE) crops, foods, and animal drugs were brazenly forced onto the market in 1994 by Monsanto and the FDA, with neither pre-market safety testing nor labels required, consumers and small farmers worldwide have mobilized to ban, label, or boycott these controversial "Frankenfoods."
With mounting scientific evidence 1 underlining the human health and environmental toxicity of GE foods, and growing alarm over the toxic pesticides such as Monsanto's Roundup that invariably accompany genetically modified organisms (GMOs), currently 64 nations require mandatory labeling of GMOs.
Numerous states and regions in the European Union, and several dozen entire nations, including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, and Russia, have banned GMO crops altogether. 2
In the European Union (EU), where mandatory labeling laws are in effect, little or no GMO crops or food are on the market (except for imported GMO animal feed). In addition to banning GMOs, a growing number of countries, including El Salvador and Sri Lanka, have begun to ban the use of Monsanto's Roundup.
This toxic herbicide is sprayed heavily on 84 percent of all GMO crops, and increasingly applied as a pre-harvest desiccant, or drying agent, on scores of other non-GMO crops including wheat, rice, beans, potatoes, barley, oats, flax, peas, lentils, and sugar cane.
Even in the US where 168 million acres of GE crops are under cultivation (including 90 percent or more of all corn, soy, cotton, canola, and sugar beets), survey after survey has shown that Americans, especially mothers and parents of small children, are either suspicious of, or alarmed by, unlabeled GMOs.
This is understandable given the toxic track records of the chemical companies pushing this technology (Monsanto, Dow, Syngenta, Dupont, BASF, and Bayer), as well as the mounting scientific evidence that these controversial foods and crops—and the toxic herbicides and insecticides sprayed on them or laced into their cells—severely damage or kill birds, bees, butterflies, lab rats, farm animals, and humans.
April 21, 2015 by Ronnie Cummins
Since genetically engineered (GE) crops, foods, and animal drugs were brazenly forced onto the market in 1994 by Monsanto and the FDA, with neither pre-market safety testing nor labels required, consumers and small farmers worldwide have mobilized to ban, label, or boycott these controversial "Frankenfoods."
With mounting scientific evidence 1 underlining the human health and environmental toxicity of GE foods, and growing alarm over the toxic pesticides such as Monsanto's Roundup that invariably accompany genetically modified organisms (GMOs), currently 64 nations require mandatory labeling of GMOs.
Numerous states and regions in the European Union, and several dozen entire nations, including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, and Russia, have banned GMO crops altogether. 2
In the European Union (EU), where mandatory labeling laws are in effect, little or no GMO crops or food are on the market (except for imported GMO animal feed). In addition to banning GMOs, a growing number of countries, including El Salvador and Sri Lanka, have begun to ban the use of Monsanto's Roundup.
This toxic herbicide is sprayed heavily on 84 percent of all GMO crops, and increasingly applied as a pre-harvest desiccant, or drying agent, on scores of other non-GMO crops including wheat, rice, beans, potatoes, barley, oats, flax, peas, lentils, and sugar cane.
Even in the US where 168 million acres of GE crops are under cultivation (including 90 percent or more of all corn, soy, cotton, canola, and sugar beets), survey after survey has shown that Americans, especially mothers and parents of small children, are either suspicious of, or alarmed by, unlabeled GMOs.
This is understandable given the toxic track records of the chemical companies pushing this technology (Monsanto, Dow, Syngenta, Dupont, BASF, and Bayer), as well as the mounting scientific evidence that these controversial foods and crops—and the toxic herbicides and insecticides sprayed on them or laced into their cells—severely damage or kill birds, bees, butterflies, lab rats, farm animals, and humans.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Taxes Due... May 1st !
Taxes Due... May 1st !
As taxes are due on Friday, May 1, 2015, the Treasurer/Collector has announced that her office will be open that day to accept tax payments from 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. The office, which is located at the new Town Hall, 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton, is usually closed on Fridays.
or
Meetings the week of April 27, 2015
Meetings
the Week of April 27, 2015
Tuesday 4/28/15
CPC Boynton PL 5:00 pm
Planning E. Temp 6:30 pm
Wednesday 4/29/15
Town
Clerk 4 Elm St 8:00 am
Adv.
Board E. Temp 6:30 pm
Thursday 4/30/15
BOS E. Temp 5:30 pm
TESBC Kiva 6:00 pm
Sr.
Center Bridge St 6:30 pm
Selectmen give budget green light
Selectmen give budget green light
Most 'add-back' items included; Advisory board review is next
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON - After a final round of revisions, the Board of Selectmen on Thursday night approved the town’s fiscal 2016 operating budget, fully funding all but two items on the previously voted “add-back” list to restore services and grant raises for town employees.
“Almost all the add-back items that were voted by the selectmen are retained,” interim Town Administrator Bob Markel said when reviewing the budget with the board, including boosting the health agent’s hours to 35 per week; completing the next phase of the town’s master plan; and providing additional funding for the Recreation Commission, Historical Commission, veterans benefits and tree warden accounts.
A new police officer and Highway Department employee were ultimately left out of the budget, although Mr. Markel said the new document includes $64,000 in unallocated funds.
“I think that’s a cushion we can have into the next year,” he said.
Most 'add-back' items included; Advisory board review is next
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON - After a final round of revisions, the Board of Selectmen on Thursday night approved the town’s fiscal 2016 operating budget, fully funding all but two items on the previously voted “add-back” list to restore services and grant raises for town employees.
“Almost all the add-back items that were voted by the selectmen are retained,” interim Town Administrator Bob Markel said when reviewing the budget with the board, including boosting the health agent’s hours to 35 per week; completing the next phase of the town’s master plan; and providing additional funding for the Recreation Commission, Historical Commission, veterans benefits and tree warden accounts.
A new police officer and Highway Department employee were ultimately left out of the budget, although Mr. Markel said the new document includes $64,000 in unallocated funds.
“I think that’s a cushion we can have into the next year,” he said.
Horses recovering from bear attack in East Brookfield
Horses recovering from bear attack in East Brookfield
By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
EAST BROOKFIELD — The bloody gashes on the necks of two Appaloosa horses weren't an accident, Michele Perry says.
"They were attacked by something, and we think it was a bear," she said as both horses rested Sunday in small paddocks, with stitches closing the wounds on their necks.
Brooke Perry, 14, discovered the injuries Friday evening as she was putting the horses in for the night.
"I was rubbing his neck and I felt something sticky," she said. "I was like, 'What did you roll in?' "
Then she looked at her hand and saw blood.
Ozzy, 19, and Justin, 20, had both suffered wounds that looked as though someone "has used a machete on them," Michele said.
She called her veterinarian, who rushed to the barn on Podunk Road and sedated the horses so their wounds could be cleaned and sutured. Some of the injuries were left open with the hope they would heal if Michele can keep them clean.
The larger paddock where the horses were kept on Friday showed signs of the attack. Horse hair — brown and white — lay in small patches; in one area there was blood. There were also signs that the horses had stamped their hooves. Inside a run-in shelter, there were tracks in the sand that a state Environmental Police officer examined.
"He said it was a bear," Michele said, though initially she had thought something like a mountain lion might have been the culprit.
Bear attacks on farm animals aren't unheard of, though they are somewhat unusual.
In October 2013, a Gilbertville family lost their 100-pound sheep and a slightly smaller goat to two separate attacks. Police said at the time they believed a bear was responsible.
The same year, a few miles away from the recent incident, a man living on Adams Road in East Brookfield shot and killed a bear that he said was acting aggressively as it headed toward a litter of puppies on his property. That bear weighed about 275 pounds.
Black bears are the only type of bear found in Massachusetts, and males can be as large as 600 pounds, with large females topping out at about 400 pounds, according to the state Department Fisheries and Wildlife.
Bear hunting is allowed in some areas of Massachusetts in the fall, and bears causing damage to livestock can be killed at any time.
But Michele said she's not ready to go after the bear, she's just hoping it won't come back and that perhaps the horses put up a fight impressive enough to dissuade it from returning
"I think Ozzy would have fought," Michele said. "He doesn't like anything in his paddock so he may have gone after it ... I'm not ready to call everybody in the neighborhood and say, 'Go hunting in my woods.' How would I know they got the right one?"
Bears are omnivorous, eating both meat and vegetation. They have been known to visit bird feeders and they might be attracted to carcasses that allow them the opportunity to feed.
Michele said the bears visit her neighbors' bird feeders and she doesn't mind that at all. She's installed game cameras and is keeping a close watch on her horses, allowing those that weren't hurt to run in a larger paddock where they might have a better chance of getting away from a bear.
"I'm nervous," she said. "I saw them all staring in the same direction (toward the river) and I was wondering what they were looking at.
"Then I saw a boat, thank God."
Contact Kim Ring at kim.ring@telegram.com.
 |
| Michele Perry, right, examines the wound on her injured horse, Justin, with her daughter, Brooke, near where the attack occurred. (T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON) |
"They were attacked by something, and we think it was a bear," she said as both horses rested Sunday in small paddocks, with stitches closing the wounds on their necks.
Brooke Perry, 14, discovered the injuries Friday evening as she was putting the horses in for the night.
"I was rubbing his neck and I felt something sticky," she said. "I was like, 'What did you roll in?' "
Then she looked at her hand and saw blood.
Ozzy, 19, and Justin, 20, had both suffered wounds that looked as though someone "has used a machete on them," Michele said.
She called her veterinarian, who rushed to the barn on Podunk Road and sedated the horses so their wounds could be cleaned and sutured. Some of the injuries were left open with the hope they would heal if Michele can keep them clean.
The larger paddock where the horses were kept on Friday showed signs of the attack. Horse hair — brown and white — lay in small patches; in one area there was blood. There were also signs that the horses had stamped their hooves. Inside a run-in shelter, there were tracks in the sand that a state Environmental Police officer examined.
"He said it was a bear," Michele said, though initially she had thought something like a mountain lion might have been the culprit.
Bear attacks on farm animals aren't unheard of, though they are somewhat unusual.
In October 2013, a Gilbertville family lost their 100-pound sheep and a slightly smaller goat to two separate attacks. Police said at the time they believed a bear was responsible.
 |
| Appaloosa Ozzy, at left, nuzzles Justin, with Michele Perry in the middle. Both horses were attacked Friday. (T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON) |
The same year, a few miles away from the recent incident, a man living on Adams Road in East Brookfield shot and killed a bear that he said was acting aggressively as it headed toward a litter of puppies on his property. That bear weighed about 275 pounds.
Black bears are the only type of bear found in Massachusetts, and males can be as large as 600 pounds, with large females topping out at about 400 pounds, according to the state Department Fisheries and Wildlife.
Bear hunting is allowed in some areas of Massachusetts in the fall, and bears causing damage to livestock can be killed at any time.
But Michele said she's not ready to go after the bear, she's just hoping it won't come back and that perhaps the horses put up a fight impressive enough to dissuade it from returning
"I think Ozzy would have fought," Michele said. "He doesn't like anything in his paddock so he may have gone after it ... I'm not ready to call everybody in the neighborhood and say, 'Go hunting in my woods.' How would I know they got the right one?"
Bears are omnivorous, eating both meat and vegetation. They have been known to visit bird feeders and they might be attracted to carcasses that allow them the opportunity to feed.
Michele said the bears visit her neighbors' bird feeders and she doesn't mind that at all. She's installed game cameras and is keeping a close watch on her horses, allowing those that weren't hurt to run in a larger paddock where they might have a better chance of getting away from a bear.
"I'm nervous," she said. "I saw them all staring in the same direction (toward the river) and I was wondering what they were looking at.
"Then I saw a boat, thank God."
Contact Kim Ring at kim.ring@telegram.com.
Trade dispute grows testy between Warren, Obama
Trade dispute grows testy between Warren, Obama
By Peter Urban GATEHOUSE MEDIA WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON – A clash between President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen.
Elizabeth Warren over trade escalated this week as the two Democrats
exchanged accusations that each is peddling misinformation on a
12-nation, Trans-Pacific pact that is nearing completion.
The Massachusetts senator and other progressive Democrats have voiced
strong opposition to President Obama's request to fast track the trade
agreement – saying the details should be made public before Congress
limits its ability to weigh in.
Legislation that would give fast-track authority to negotiate the
Pacific trade pact cleared House and Senate committees this week and
could head to the House and Senate floors in coming weeks.
Calling it a “secret deal” in a statement posted on her campaign
website, Warren urged supporters to “send a loud message” against a
fast-track for trade agreements until the public can see what is
actually in the deal.
"The government doesn't want you to read this massive new trade
agreement," Warren wrote. "It's top secret."
On Friday, Obama hopped on a conference call with a small group of
reporters to defend the trade deal and take issue with Warren and
other progressives over claims that it is a secret deal, according to
published reports that the White House confirmed as accurate.
By Peter Urban GATEHOUSE MEDIA WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON – A clash between President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen.
Elizabeth Warren over trade escalated this week as the two Democrats
exchanged accusations that each is peddling misinformation on a
12-nation, Trans-Pacific pact that is nearing completion.
The Massachusetts senator and other progressive Democrats have voiced
strong opposition to President Obama's request to fast track the trade
agreement – saying the details should be made public before Congress
limits its ability to weigh in.
Legislation that would give fast-track authority to negotiate the
Pacific trade pact cleared House and Senate committees this week and
could head to the House and Senate floors in coming weeks.
Calling it a “secret deal” in a statement posted on her campaign
website, Warren urged supporters to “send a loud message” against a
fast-track for trade agreements until the public can see what is
actually in the deal.
"The government doesn't want you to read this massive new trade
agreement," Warren wrote. "It's top secret."
On Friday, Obama hopped on a conference call with a small group of
reporters to defend the trade deal and take issue with Warren and
other progressives over claims that it is a secret deal, according to
published reports that the White House confirmed as accurate.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
NRHS Vocational Horticultural Program
For Mother's Day the NRHS Horticulture Class is offering Mother's day Centerpiece arrangements:
So... What is that stuff and where did it come from?
So What is it? Where did it come from?
Just a refresher from Town By-Laws-
Article XXIII – Use of Sanitary Landfill
“For the benefit of the community and in the best interest of the health and welfare of the people of Templeton, the Sanitary Landfill on Route 202, Templeton, shall be used only by residents, commercial business and industries located within the geographical limits of the Town of Templeton. Passed 5-10-1975, Approved by A/G 9-2-75. Not withstanding said limitations, individuals, and/or businesses, upon application and issuance of a waiver by the Templeton Board of Health, may use the Sanitary Landfill for garbage and/or refuse of residents, commercial businesses and industries located within the geographical limits of the Town of Templeton. Excluded shall be the transportation of garbage and refuse from out of town areas to the Templeton Landfill and/or any other properties in the Town of Templeton”.
Amended 9/28/82, Amended 6/18/02, Amended 02/19/04
So what is this stuff that is dumped at the TDC? Where did it come from?
Phillipston 2015 annual Town Meeting warrant
| ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the following Revolving Accounts under Chapter 44, Section 53 E ½ of the General Laws for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015: Account | Revenue Source | Purpose | Authority to Spend | Spending Limit |
| BOH Agent | Application fees for | Administration & | BOH or | $8,000 |
More on Phil Leger
Board of Health
Click here for information - 2015 Rabies Clinic
FACT SHEETS: For more information click the link below;
Bed Bugs
Enterovirus
Influenza
Lyme Disease
Measles
Preventing Mold
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Brochure
Henry Woods Building
Second Floor
40 West Street Box 431
Barre, MA 01005
Phone: (978) 355-2504 ext.117
Fax: (978) 355-5009
E-mail: boardofhealth@townofbarre.com
Alternate Health Agent: Phil Leger
Administrative Assistant: Andrea Mastrototoro
Office hours: Monday 2pm - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 2pm - 6pm
Members:
Dana Mascroft, Chairman 2016
Margaret Frost Member 2017
Dr. Samuel Pickens Member 2015
Meetings: Henry Woods Building 2nd Monday of the month 5:00 pm, Selectmens Meeting Room
Public Services (fees may apply) Perc Test Application, Submit Plans for Septic Systems, Well Permit
Applications ,Food and Milk Permits,Tobacco Permits, Recreational Camp Permits, Septic Installer's Permits,
Septage Collection Permit, Disposal Works, Respond to Housing and Nuisance Complaints,
Transfer Station Stickers, Rubbish Hauler Application.
Board of Health
Click here for information - 2015 Rabies Clinic
CDC has a recent article for parents about measles Click here for more information.
DPH has established one central web page at mass.gov/dph/ready to provide information, tips and links for the public. The web page also provides resources for you, our partnering organizations, to support local, regional and state preparedness initiatives with resources available for you to use with your community or organization.
Public Health Awareness this website has some useful information.FACT SHEETS: For more information click the link below;
Bed Bugs
Enterovirus
Influenza
Lyme Disease
Measles
Preventing Mold
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Brochure
Henry Woods Building
Second Floor
40 West Street Box 431
Barre, MA 01005
Phone: (978) 355-2504 ext.117
Fax: (978) 355-5009
E-mail: boardofhealth@townofbarre.com
Alternate Health Agent: Phil Leger
Administrative Assistant: Andrea Mastrototoro
Office hours: Monday 2pm - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 2pm - 6pm
Members:
Dana Mascroft, Chairman 2016
Margaret Frost Member 2017
Dr. Samuel Pickens Member 2015
Meetings: Henry Woods Building 2nd Monday of the month 5:00 pm, Selectmens Meeting Room
Public Services (fees may apply) Perc Test Application, Submit Plans for Septic Systems, Well Permit
Applications ,Food and Milk Permits,Tobacco Permits, Recreational Camp Permits, Septic Installer's Permits,
Septage Collection Permit, Disposal Works, Respond to Housing and Nuisance Complaints,
Transfer Station Stickers, Rubbish Hauler Application.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Hawke Lends Name Against New EPA Regs
Hawke Lends Name Against New EPA Regs
Katie Landeck
News Staff Writer
GARDNER Mayor Mark Hawke, in partnership with nearly every mayor in the state, is rallying against proposed federal regulations to tighten permits for stormwater discharge.
“It’s unrealistic,” Mr. Hawke said. “You might as well say we don’t want you to use asphalt anymore, why don’t you pave the streets with gold?”
The proposed regulations — drafted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region One office — require all municipalities to reduce pollutants in stormwater to the “maximum extent possible” by using “best management practices.” This includes control techniques and system design and engineering methods, which could mean costly and continual upgrades as management practices improve.
To keep up, the Massachusetts Municipal Association estimates it will cost communities throughout the state nearly $18 billion over the next 20 years. None of this will be funded by the federal government.
“This is clearly unaffordable for cities, towns and local taxpayers,” the association wrote in a letter. “Indeed, as mayors, we serve as stewards of our environment and are strong advocates for protecting and preserving our natural resources. We are proud of the environmental record of our cities — we work every day to safeguard our drinking water supplies, invest in our wastewater and stormwater systems, protect open space, reduce congestion, transform brownfields into safe productive sites, encourage the development of solar and other renewable energy sources, expand recycling and reduce solid waste, and much more.
Katie Landeck
News Staff Writer
GARDNER Mayor Mark Hawke, in partnership with nearly every mayor in the state, is rallying against proposed federal regulations to tighten permits for stormwater discharge.
“It’s unrealistic,” Mr. Hawke said. “You might as well say we don’t want you to use asphalt anymore, why don’t you pave the streets with gold?”
The proposed regulations — drafted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region One office — require all municipalities to reduce pollutants in stormwater to the “maximum extent possible” by using “best management practices.” This includes control techniques and system design and engineering methods, which could mean costly and continual upgrades as management practices improve.
To keep up, the Massachusetts Municipal Association estimates it will cost communities throughout the state nearly $18 billion over the next 20 years. None of this will be funded by the federal government.
“This is clearly unaffordable for cities, towns and local taxpayers,” the association wrote in a letter. “Indeed, as mayors, we serve as stewards of our environment and are strong advocates for protecting and preserving our natural resources. We are proud of the environmental record of our cities — we work every day to safeguard our drinking water supplies, invest in our wastewater and stormwater systems, protect open space, reduce congestion, transform brownfields into safe productive sites, encourage the development of solar and other renewable energy sources, expand recycling and reduce solid waste, and much more.
Miller To Leave 'Gansett
Miller To Leave 'Gansett
accepts superintendent POST at Pioneer Valley Regional schools
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON Narragansett Superintendent Ruth Miller will be leading the Pioneer Valley Regional School District next year, having negotiated a deal that will have her overseeing five schools in the Northfield-based district.
“Everything is set and ready to go,” Ms. Miller said, adding that she will sign the new contract on Wednesday.
Ms. Miller’s departure comes at a time when school officials are beginning to reassess the needs of the district, exploring possible reconfigurations in staffing and administration to better serve students. The hiring of interim Principal John Jasinski — who has 34 years working in the district — is part of that process, Ms. Miller explained, and she wants to ensure there is a clear path forward before starting her new position.
“I’ll try to work on a transition plan for them but also for here,” Ms. Miller said. “I want to make sure that everything is really nailed down before I move on.”
accepts superintendent POST at Pioneer Valley Regional schools
Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
“Everything is set and ready to go,” Ms. Miller said, adding that she will sign the new contract on Wednesday.
Ms. Miller’s departure comes at a time when school officials are beginning to reassess the needs of the district, exploring possible reconfigurations in staffing and administration to better serve students. The hiring of interim Principal John Jasinski — who has 34 years working in the district — is part of that process, Ms. Miller explained, and she wants to ensure there is a clear path forward before starting her new position.
“I’ll try to work on a transition plan for them but also for here,” Ms. Miller said. “I want to make sure that everything is really nailed down before I move on.”
Friday, April 24, 2015
Templeton Health Agent out of line?
As posted on this blog, from information found on the world wide web (is that thing great or what) and that information shows that the current Templeton Health Agent is or has in the past, using Templeton resources, as in a telephone in an office as well as an employee with benefits, all paid for by the Templeton taxpayers, to do the business of at least one other Town. Phil Leger is or has acted as a health agent in a number of other towns on an apparent part time basis or on a per diem basis (paid when needed) while being paid as a fulltime employee of the Town of Templeton. This raises a number of questions for me and you will have to decide for yourself. In my mind, how much business for the Town of New Salem did Phil Leger do on Templeton taxpayer dime? Did the elected members of the Templeton Board of Health know of these goings on and did or doo they approve of them? what other business, besides giving the telephone number for the Town of Templeton Board of Health as "my office number" as is documented on the New Salem Official Town website? Did Phil Leger use other office equipment and supplies, such as copier and paper, fax, computer etc., to do other town's business while being paid by the Town of Templeton? Did Phil Leger charge other Towns for service while he was actually in the office of the Templeton Board of Health?
As you contemplate these questions and others, ask yourself this; if Phil Leger can do the work of Health Agent for all these other towns on a part time basis, why does he need to be full time in Templeton? My answer is Phil Leger needs someone to pick up his fulltime pay which leads to benefits and retirement pay. Why else has Phil Leger been advocating to fill this position at 40 hours?
My thought is to only fund the Health Agent for Templeton at 19 1/2 hours and if he says he cannot do the work required in that amount of time then he should seek help from the elected members of the Templeton Board of Health, which if checked, those are the people who get all the power from Massachusetts General Law. If those elected members are unable or unwilling to do the work, then resign, don't run and don't volunteer.
It seems the only control that voters have over the Board of Health is the election and the pocket book, they can only spend what you give them, as if you don't fund a fulltime agent, there will not be one. If the Board of Selectmen wish to fund the position at 35 hours then go to Town Meeting and try to amend the motion and change the dollar figure for the line item for salary for Templeton Health Agent. It is easy and it is your right. It was stated at last nights BOS meeting that all town departments were going to be united this year at town meeting, almost if they were unionizing in principle, so voters should be united in efforts to spend their money as they see fit.
Look for a financial breakdown on the Board of Health in the Templeton Town reports, as in how much is spent to bring in X number of dollars. You might be surprised.
Jeff Bennett
As posted on this blog, from information found on the world wide web (is that thing great or what) and that information shows that the current Templeton Health Agent is or has in the past, using Templeton resources, as in a telephone in an office as well as an employee with benefits, all paid for by the Templeton taxpayers, to do the business of at least one other Town. Phil Leger is or has acted as a health agent in a number of other towns on an apparent part time basis or on a per diem basis (paid when needed) while being paid as a fulltime employee of the Town of Templeton. This raises a number of questions for me and you will have to decide for yourself. In my mind, how much business for the Town of New Salem did Phil Leger do on Templeton taxpayer dime? Did the elected members of the Templeton Board of Health know of these goings on and did or doo they approve of them? what other business, besides giving the telephone number for the Town of Templeton Board of Health as "my office number" as is documented on the New Salem Official Town website? Did Phil Leger use other office equipment and supplies, such as copier and paper, fax, computer etc., to do other town's business while being paid by the Town of Templeton? Did Phil Leger charge other Towns for service while he was actually in the office of the Templeton Board of Health?
As you contemplate these questions and others, ask yourself this; if Phil Leger can do the work of Health Agent for all these other towns on a part time basis, why does he need to be full time in Templeton? My answer is Phil Leger needs someone to pick up his fulltime pay which leads to benefits and retirement pay. Why else has Phil Leger been advocating to fill this position at 40 hours?
My thought is to only fund the Health Agent for Templeton at 19 1/2 hours and if he says he cannot do the work required in that amount of time then he should seek help from the elected members of the Templeton Board of Health, which if checked, those are the people who get all the power from Massachusetts General Law. If those elected members are unable or unwilling to do the work, then resign, don't run and don't volunteer.
It seems the only control that voters have over the Board of Health is the election and the pocket book, they can only spend what you give them, as if you don't fund a fulltime agent, there will not be one. If the Board of Selectmen wish to fund the position at 35 hours then go to Town Meeting and try to amend the motion and change the dollar figure for the line item for salary for Templeton Health Agent. It is easy and it is your right. It was stated at last nights BOS meeting that all town departments were going to be united this year at town meeting, almost if they were unionizing in principle, so voters should be united in efforts to spend their money as they see fit.
Look for a financial breakdown on the Board of Health in the Templeton Town reports, as in how much is spent to bring in X number of dollars. You might be surprised.
Jeff Bennett
Appendix A
PROPOSITION 2½ BALLOT QUESTION FORMS
The form of each type of Proposition 2½ referendum question is prescribed by G.L. c.
59, § 21C. To properly present a question to the voters, the following statutory language
must be used:
Levy Limit Override (G.L. c. 59, § 21C(g)):
Shall the (city/town) of _________________ be allowed to assess an additional
$____________ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of (state the
purpose(s) for which the monies from this assessment will be used) for the fiscal year
beginning July first ______?
Yes ____ No ____
Levy Limit Underride (G.L. c. 59, § 21C(h)):
Shall the (city/town) of _________________ be required to reduce the amount of real
estate and personal property taxes to be assessed for the fiscal year beginning July first
_____ by an amount equal to $___________?
Yes ____ No ____
Capital Expenditure Exclusion (G.L. c. 59, § 21C(i½)):
Shall the (city/town) of _________________ be allowed to assess an additional
$____________ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of (state the
purpose(s) for which the monies from this assessment will be used) for the fiscal year
beginning July first ______?
Yes ____ No ____
Pre-Proposition 2½ Debt Exclusion (G.L. c. 59, § 21C(j)):
Shall the (city/town) of __________________ be allowed to exempt the total amounts
required to pay for bonded indebtedness incurred prior to the passage of proposition two
and one-half, so-called, from the city’s/town’s limit?
Yes ____ No _
MGL c 59
Section 21C Limitations on total taxes assessed; determination by votersPrev Next
Section 21C. (a) Whenever used in the text of this section, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:—
(i1/2) The local appropriating authority of any city or town may, by a two-thirds vote, seek voter approval to assess taxes in excess of the levy limitation for certain capital outlay expenditures. Amounts for such capital outlay expenditures or for the city’s or town’s apportioned share for certain capital outlay expenditures by a regional governmental unit shall be assessed only after approval by a separate vote of the people taken at a regular or special election held before the setting of the annual tax rate; provided, however, that the question submitted shall be worded as follows:
“Shall the (city/town) of ___ be allowed to assess an additional $___ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of (state the purpose(s) for which the monies from this assessment will be used) for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and ___?
YES____ NO____
and provided, further, that said question shall be deemed approved if a majority of the persons voting thereon shall vote “yes”.
Capital outlay expenditures may be authorized for any municipal purpose for which the city or town would be authorized to borrow money under section seven or eight of chapter forty-four.
The above question is from the sample ballot as posted on Templeton Town web site, you make the call and you can read the entire MA General Law c 59 if you google MGL c 59.
Appendix A information is from MA DOR site, google Massachusetts debt exclusion ballot questions is one way to get there, good luck. Take an interest in the budget process, it is your money and you have a say in how it is spent.
Jeff Bennett
(i1/2) The local appropriating authority of any city or town may, by a two-thirds vote, seek voter approval to assess taxes in excess of the levy limitation for certain capital outlay expenditures. Amounts for such capital outlay expenditures or for the city’s or town’s apportioned share for certain capital outlay expenditures by a regional governmental unit shall be assessed only after approval by a separate vote of the people taken at a regular or special election held before the setting of the annual tax rate; provided, however, that the question submitted shall be worded as follows:
“Shall the (city/town) of ___ be allowed to assess an additional $___ in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of (state the purpose(s) for which the monies from this assessment will be used) for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and ___?
YES____ NO____
and provided, further, that said question shall be deemed approved if a majority of the persons voting thereon shall vote “yes”.
Capital outlay expenditures may be authorized for any municipal purpose for which the city or town would be authorized to borrow money under section seven or eight of chapter forty-four.
The above question is from the sample ballot as posted on Templeton Town web site, you make the call and you can read the entire MA General Law c 59 if you google MGL c 59.
Appendix A information is from MA DOR site, google Massachusetts debt exclusion ballot questions is one way to get there, good luck. Take an interest in the budget process, it is your money and you have a say in how it is spent.
Jeff Bennett