Horror In Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury resident Maureen Rosiello died today and her husband has been charged with murdering her. This awful event is beyond the scope of this blog. There are other news sources covering this story, but I felt that it deserved a quick mention here. There are two children, aged six and twelve, who are suffering from the death of their mother and the arrest of their father. I ask, please, that we give them their privacy and dignity while also allowing them all the kindness that we as neighbors and friends can afford.

Comments are welcome here, but tread gently.

FinCom Recommends Sherwood

The Finance Committee unanimously (and with all in attendance) recommended that Town Meeting approve the financing of the Sherwood Middle School building project.

The vote came after a couple of hours of public testimony both for and against the project. The hearing grew testy at times when opponents sparred with town officials, including Town Manager Dan Morgado. There were accusations of waste, lying, deception, and worse. It just seemed like a gentle brawl.

Next stop: Town Meeting Tuesday February 9, 7pm at Oak Middle School.

After that: Special Town Election on Tuesday March 2.

Stay tuned!

Budgets Are For Suckas

The first draft of the FY11 budget was unveiled this week by Town Manager Dan Morgado. As is typical in Morgado's process, it is a very cautious budget with conservative assumptions which will likely grow more relaxed as state aid is clarified.

The budget is available on-line here.

The draft budget has a 0.31% increase overall, assuming a flat-line no-increase in the school budget. Six town employees would be laid off. Town resources would be squeezed again again again.

How many years do we have to do this, before someone gets the idea that maybe, just maybe we should raise more revenue through a Proposition 2½ override? I've heard it all before: we can't do it when the economy is this bad. Well we didn't do it when the economy was booming. In fact, during the boom years we don't need to do it.

This week, students in Arlington crowded a Selectmen's meeting, asking that they consider placing an override on the ballot. Here's the good part (Thank you, Boston Globe):

[Arlington] Selectman Clarissa Rowe said the students sent a clear message about where they stood with their letters to selectmen and their turnout at town hall Monday.

"It's one of the best selectmen's meetings I've ever been to," she said.

Selectman Annie LaCourt has said that because of the bad economy she believes it would be difficult to pass an override this year. But LaCourt told the students Monday that it might be possible if the students are serious about volunteering to push for an override.

Selectmen Chairman Kevin Greeley thanked the students for attending the meeting, but explained that town and school officials are still forming the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Greeley asked the students to stay involved with the budget process in the upcoming weeks as the budget decisions are made.

Isn't that great? The Selectmen thanked residents (non-voting non-Seniors even) for volunteering to help get an override passed. Awesome.

In unrelated news, the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen, for the second year in a row, decided not to ask the town to vote on an override. They made that decision in the fall, near the beginning of the budget process.

So now my parting questions to you, my dear fellow advocates:

1. Will the Sherwood debt exclusion (vote on Tuesday, March 2) and the inevitable Library debt exclusion (vote TBD) doom any hope of an operational override?
2. Why does this town pass debt exclusions (as we've done many times), but not operational overrides?
3. Will the school budget really be flat-lined again this year? I doubt it, but it's hard to see what's going to happen.
4. And here's the big one: why is raising the tax levy by 2½% OK, but raising it by 3% is just crazy tax la-la land never-gonna-happen?

Moore & Polito Oppose Glavin Sale

Senator Michael O. Moore and Representative Karyn E. Polito today came out against a portion of an Outside Section in Governor Patrick’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. The item would allow the state to sell the land on Lake Street in Shrewsbury which includes the Irving A. Glavin Regional Center. In December of 2008, the administration announced that it intends to close Glavin by 2013. Both Moore and Polito oppose the closure, and have fought to keep the center open.

“I will make removing this portion Outside Section 33 from the budget a top priority of mine,” said Sen. Moore. “This would allow the Department of Developmental Services, which is trying to close Glavin, to sell the property. I remain committed to trying to keep Glavin’s doors open. Glavin residents and the people of Shrewsbury deserve better than this.”

“This language tucked into an outside section of the Governors budget shows how disconnected this administration is when it comes to servicing the needs of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Rep. Polito. “I strongly oppose this language and will work with my legislative colleagues to make sure this action is not taken in the house budget. I will work to preserve both the Glavin center and the recreational and agricultural uses that exist on the land.”

Outside Section 33, part of the Governor’s proposed budget, is aimed at generating additional revenues by selling certain parcels of state land. Amongst the items listed is “Those certain parcels of land located in the town of Shrewsbury, together with any buildings and structures thereon, known as the Glavin regional center.”

The state budget process begins with the Governor releasing his proposed budget, which will be followed by proposals by the House and Senate. Once the House and Senate have each passed their own respective budgets, the two are reconciled in conference committee. The Governor may then veto individual items, which the Legislature may override with a two-thirds majority vote.

The Department of Developmental Services announced in December of 2008 that it intends to close four of the Commonwealth’s six developmental centers, including Glavin, by 2013, and place the residents into community-based group homes. Moore and Polito have argued that, while the community is an acceptable option for the majority of DDS clients, a small segment of that population needs a more intense level of care, which Glavin has adequately and professionally provided.

Random Thought No.1

Just a few thoughts rattling around in my brain to share with you:
For those of you familiar with the juvenile book Frindle by local Westoboro author, Andrew Clements , I would like to offer my own version. I am trying to get a word to be used in everyday usage and my word is “coakleyed”. You know, it is more than just procrastinating or blowing something off, it is procrastinating with enjoyment

I should have been doing my income tax return last weekend but I coakleyed and went skiing. Did you finish your term paper? Nah, I coakleyed and went to the party instead.

Let’s see if we can get this word used in everyday occurrence and maybe one day in a dictionary.

I've Got You Babe

Incumbent selectmen John Lebeaux and Moira Miller are both running for reelection. They are running in support of each other. Kind of a team. (Is it a tag-team or a three-legged-race?)

Therefore, for the first time since 2005, no selectman will be retiring. Recent retirements include: Hammond 2006; Fiore 2007; Card 2008; McCaffery 2009. They were replaced by: McCaffrey 2006; Miller 2007; Tartaglia 2008; and Kane 2009.

This leads me to three questions:

1. When has an incumbent selectman ever lost reelection?
2. Will anyone stand up and run against them?
3. Is their inevitable reelection an endorsement of their performance?

Both Miller and Lebeaux are Republicans who support the Sherwood building project. Lebeaux ran in 2008 for the State Senate, and Miller is widely believed to be considering a race this fall to succeed Karyn Polito in the State House of Representatives.

For many years, long before the current global financial meltdown, we've had declining services and increasing taxes. Are all our problems in town somebody else's fault?

Is Brown Really Conservative?

Senator-elect Scott Brown won election this week on many strengths, among them his conservative style and politics. But even though he's a stelf-styled conservative Republican, it turns out that such terms are relative.

After all, he got elected in Massachusetts. He might be the most conservative Republican in the State Senate, but that doesn't say very much when there are so few Republicans there.

A new article by a Chicago professor posits that Brown is actually going to be the most liberal of the 41 Republicans in the U.S. Senate, more so than runners up Snowe and Collins from Maine. He bases his conclusion on Brown's voting record and Votesmart surveys.

Brown claims he's a new (or at least a different) kind of Republican in Washington. He'll have to face the voters again in November 2012, and he can't win if he's a McCain Republican or even a McConnell Republican.

Selectman Kane Supports Sherwood

To the Editor:—

I am writing to ask your assistance in ensuring the passage of the proposed new building for the Sherwood Middle School. I am a member of the Steering Committee created to help shepherd this project and I want to bring you up-to-date on our progress and let you know that we need your help, and how you can best assist us in this important endeavor for our community. The Special Town Meeting has been set for Tuesday February 9th and if the initiative is approved at Town meeting then the project will move to a Town-wide vote on Tuesday March 2nd.

Here are some ways you can help:

1. Send a donation to the Community Supporters for Sherwood. We want to publicize this project and inform voters and need financial assistance to do so. Donations in any size are extremely helpful. Checks can be made out to the Community Supporters for Sherwood and sent to the committee care of 38 Floral Street, Shrewsbury.
2. Let us know that you support this project by emailing me back and we will add you to our list of supporters on our website www.SupportSherwood.com.
3. Send a letter to the editor to our local papers in support of this project. The information on where and how is attached. Please let Melanie Petrucci know if you send a letter so we can be on the look-out for it. Melanie’s email address is rmpetrucci@townisp.com.
4. Forward this email to your friends and neighbors so that they too can be informed about this important project and Vote for our community. There is only one way this new building will be built – and that is if we all turn out and vote on Tuesday March 2nd.
5. If you are unable to vote on Tuesday March 2nd or there is a chance you will not be able to get to the polls before they close, please link to the site http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ELE/elepdf/absentee_ballot.pdf to fill out an Absentee Ballot form and vote YES for the project at the Town Clerks office or by mail before Tuesday March 2nd. When the Town Clerk announces that absentee voting may begin we will let you know. Over 1000 people have voted absentee in advance of the Senate election Tuesday. Your vote will be critical and if you cannot be 100% sure you can get to you vote on March 2nd then please vote absentee early.
6. If you are interested in working on the ballot committee to help get this passed please let us know. Our next meeting is Sunday, January 31st at 7pm.
7. There is a defeatist ballot group formed and supported by just a few individuals, and they have created a TV show that disseminates inaccurate information regarding this initiative. Please review the false information they are spreading as a means to cause concern in the community about this initiative and be prepared to accurately correct any false understandings amongst friends who may have heard of this inaccurate information. I have included at the end of this email their false claims.
8. Please go to www.SupportSherwood.com to find out more about this project. You can watch a video with the Sherwood Building Committee, see pictures of the existing Sherwood building, review the plans/architectural renderings of the new building, read all the reports and correspondence with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), download a donation form and see our list of supporters.

The Steering Committee Members illustrate the broad support across the community that this project shares. The members are as follows: Erin Canzano, John Samia, Kevin Byrne, Tim Swiss, Bruce Card, Barbara Heisler, Ted Coghlin, Janet and Tony Trippi, Matt and Laurie Hogan, Hannah Kane (Chair), John Collins, Cathy Cooper, Paul Belsito, Robert Holland, Brenda Ljunggren, Dina Nichols, Carol Swydan, Kathleen Keohane, Alden and Susan Harris, Virginia Winship, Deborah Peeples, Michael Vescere and Jim Kane. Additionally, the project shares support from four of the Board of Selectmen (Moira Miller, John Lebeaux, Moe DePalo and myself) and the entire School Committee. The Finance Committee will review the project the first week in February. For a full list of supporters who have signed on to date please visit www.SupportSherwood.com.

Why is a new building the best answer for the taxpayers of Shrewsbury?

1. It has the state's approval - The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) surveyed all the schools in the Commonwealth, and placed Sherwood Middle School on the priority list because of its overcrowding and building system deficiencies (such as HVAC, electrical and plumbing).
2. It is fiscally responsible – The Building Committee, School Department and School Committee balanced the town’s fiscal realities and the students’ educational needs and proposed a scaled-back plan that will meet both concerns. The MSBA, in its vote of approval for the new building option, called it "the most cost-effective and educationally sound option" of the three options in front of the Building Committee.
3. It benefits the community – The new building will offer residents with more meeting spaces for PTO and civic meetings, with playing fields for lacrosse (one additional), softball and baseball, more adequate space for Parks and Recreation basketball, and updated facilities for community events such as the Veterans 5K race.
4. It is a building for the future – It is the best long-term investment for the town, allowing for modern, environmentally friendly and sustainable building systems, such as a solar air collector on the southern side of the gymnasium and cafeteria that will lower operating costs.
5. It is a shared investment – Shrewsbury will be reimbursed for over 50% of the $46.8M project if it is approved by voters on March 2nd. If the question is denied, then Sherwood is likely to move to the bottom of the list of communities awaiting approval, which will leave any unexpected repairs (such as the gym roof) in the current Sherwood building at the hands of the taxpayers. (By the way, there are almost 200 schools on the list currently.)
6. It is a debt exclusion - A debt exclusion is like a mortgage; it has a beginning and an end date. Typically new buildings have a 20-year payment plan, with the first year costing the most, and the last year costing the least.

A Few Important Facts:

• The new Sherwood will have the same educational programming that currently exists, just in the appropriate space. This means that the new building does not call for any additional staff – the existing staffing infrastructure in the existing building will be the same in the new building.
• The operating costs of the new building will be 20% less than a renovated building due to better building materials and taking advantage of green technology.
• Shrewsbury was the only one of the 20 communities applying for MSBA funding that requested a smaller building size to accommodate the economic realities of its town.
• The new building is projected to open in the fall of 2013 with the current first graders expected to be the first fifth graders in the building.
• When the increase in taxes comes into effect in FY 2014, the Floral Street School and land projects will be entirely paid off. The current estimate for the net tax effect is approximately $106. This takes into account the addition of the Sherwood debt while adjusting for the decreases in capital debt for other capital projects the Town is paying down.

The Board of Selectmen and School Committee voted unanimously for the modified new building plan. The state will reimburse Shrewsbury for over 50% of the $46.8 million project costs if the Town votes to authorize the new school. If the vote fails then Shrewsbury taxpayers will need to fund the structural and system improvements at the existing building and the severe (over 30%) overcrowding will not be improved.

Important Clarifications based on the Inaccurate Information Disseminated by the few members of the defeatist ballot committee:

1. The new building is being built for 900 students. There are today in Sherwood 917 students, down from our recent high of 963 students just a few years ago. The 900 student figure is the number provided by the MSBA, not the School Committee, and is derived from census figures and projections based on existing housing stock in Shrewsbury. The defeatist committee has stated that our 5th & 6th grade student population will fall to 700 students and that the building is too large. While it is true the projections for the next 10 years have our student population leveling off and settling somewhere in the 800 student range, this building is being designed to meet our community’s needs for the next 50 years plus. Sherwood was built for 700 students in 1964 and is today 30% overcrowded at 917. Given that our existing housing stock NOW has produced 964 middle-schoolers, the planned school size is more than appropriate.
2. The MSBA and the Sherwood Building Committee chaired by Henry Fitzgerald evaluated 3 building options – a “no-build” option that would only fix the structural and system deficiencies in the existing Sherwood building that would not add any new space, therefore leaving the school significantly over-crowded; a Add/Renovation option which would renovate the existing building and add additional capacity for students; and a “new build” option which could be built on the existing Sherwood/Oak school grounds. The MSBA would not help fund the “no-build” option because it did not address the severe-overcrowding. The “add/renovation” option and the “new-build option” were both evaluated. The new build option evaluated costs approximately $2.5 million more than the add/renovation and will save approximately 20% in yearly operating costs. The defeatist claim that the MSBA would have paid for the “no-build option”, which they have re-termed as the “renovation” option in order to confuse Shrewsbury tax-payers. This is not true. The MSBA will not fund any renovation which does not fix the over-crowding. It is also important to know that the MSBA prefers to do addition/renovations, and yet they agreed with Shrewsbury that renovation Sherwood was not the most cost-effective strategy for our community and have approved for Shrewsbury one of the only new build options in the state.
3. The defeatist claim that the School Committee and Sherwood Building Committee went for the “brass ring” when planning for the new building. In truth, the modified new building plan, which was unamiously voted on by the Board of Selectmen, asked the MSBA to approve a building of 130,000 square feet when the MSBA proposed a new building of 144,000 square feet. The School Committee, Building Committee and Board of Selectmen all agreed that in this economic environment the best option for our community was a 130,000 square foot building which will adequately – not excessively – meet our education needs for Shrewsbury 5th and 6th graders. It has also erroneously been communicated by the defeatist that the new building has a pool as an attempt to gall people – this is completely fabricated, there is not a pool in the plans.
4. The defeatists argue that we should not be doing this project right now because of economic conditions. This project was originally begun in 2005 but the state school building assistance fund managed by the Department of Education was shut down in 2005 and a new program called the Massachusetts School Building Authority was created in the state Treasurer’s office. The new authority evaluated all the schools in the state needing assistance and determined Sherwood to be at the top of the list. The over $23 million (approx. 53% of the project costs) that MSBA has offered Shrewsbury is in a bank account and will be set aside for Shrewsbury if the Town votes to approve the project on March 2nd. If the Town does not approve the project, Shrewsbury will need to start the process over again, and get in line behind over 200 other projects that are in the pipeline. In addition, while we have absolute certainty that the funds are here now to reimburse Shrewsbury, there is no guarantee that the legislature will approve more funds in the future should Shrewsbury not take advantage of this opportunity now. Additionally, Shrewsbury taxpayers will not begin to pay the project debt until FY 2014 when the project is complete, and hopefully our economic situation has improved.
5. Finally, if this project is defeated, it does not go away. There are significant structural and system issues, in addition to the over-crowding, that need to be remedied in the existing building if the vote fails, to the tune of over $21.5 million. This project will come back to Shrewsbury voters in the future – but the difference will be we will be voting to pay in totality for the addition/renovations for Sherwood ourselves.

We will need every YES voter to vote on election-day Tuesday March 2nd. Floral Street School, the last elementary school approved in Shrewsbury, only passed by 87 votes. Please go to SupportSherwood.com to find out more information.

Thank you in advance for reviewing this information. For those of you already actively supporting this initiative and/or who have made a donation whether financial or volunteering your time, thank you.

Be well, Jim.

Karyn Polito Looking To Move Up

After years of being in the tiny minority on Beacon Hill, Karyn Polito is seriously considering a run for state Attorney General this fall.

She would have to win her Republican primary in September and the General election in November.

She's been weighing her options, but yesterday she said was “trying to digest” Brown’s victory and was noncommittal on a run for the state’s top law enforcement post,

"Do I have the qualifications? I can spell pretty good," Polito cracked, taking a dig at the Coakley campaign’s misspelling of Massachusetts. "I think the constitution does not require that you’re an attorney, though I am, and I've advocated for issues that that office addresses. Am I qualified for the position? Absolutely.… Is it a position that I am interested in? I haven’t made that analysis."

Polito was most recently a contender for Charlie Baker's running mate in the Governor's race, but after alienating several Republican party leaders, she was instead relegated to cheerleader behind Richard Tisei. I've also heard that she's been considering challenging State Senator Mike Moore (D) as well.

Who will run for State Representative in her wake?

Local Republicans have a deep bench with plenty of people ready to run. Selectmen Miller, Lebeaux, and Kane are all prime Republican suspects, as are many of their colleagues in appointed positions on the ZBA, planning board, and finance committee.

Democrats, on the other hand, haven't fielded a successful race in town for anything, having most recently lost the town in the Moore-Lebeaux 2008 Senate. The only prominent Democrat elected in the town is Selectman Moe DePalo, but he can't get the party's support because he endorsed Republican Lebeaux in 2008.

In Shrewsbury, Democrats are 29% of the voters, while only 16% are Republicans. Unenrolled voters make up the vast 54%. And as we've seen with Polito and Lebeaux, it's not party that wins in Shrewsbury, it's money, family, and history.

It takes four things to run a successful race: political connections, money, experience, and qualifications; unfortunately, in that order.

Stay tuned.