Layout 1 (Page 1) - Stonebridge Press and Villager Newspapers

More documents

Recommendations

Info

18 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, November 27, 2009 Voters again postpone action on tougher marijuana bylaw STM continued from page 1 Bourdeau. He owns the building at 3 Post Road (Route 9) that houses the Police Department. Selectman Peter O’Connell said the lease would be for three years, with options by the town to renew it for up to two more years. He said Monday night the starting point for negotiations would be for the town to spend “a small amount more” for rent than it is now paying. The current lease for the police station expires in August, and town officials wanted to make sure they explored all possible options (and followed state law) before deciding to extend the lease. The Interim Police Station Committee asked more than 60 owners of property within 2 miles of Town Hall to consider leasing or selling their land, along with any buildings, to the town. Seven proposals were received, according to a Nov. 17 report by committee chairman O’Connell; six were offers to sell, and the seventh was a proposal to either lease or sell. Three of the plans were selectmen for further review, O’Connell wrote. The committee recommended not buying any of the parcels for use as an interim police station for the next three to five years because of the cost. “We recommend that the Board of Selectmen move as quickly as possible to present a proposal to meet the long-term needs of the Police to the voters by either renovating a Town-owned property or to purchase and renovate another available property for use as a police station for the next 20 years or more,” O’Connell wrote. “Current market conditions suggest that it would be highly advantageous for the Town to acquire property at advantageous prices and/or to renovate properties that are currently available, but [may] not be in a year.” The committee did identify three parcels that could be a permanent home for the police station, O’Connell said. Renewing the lease for 3 Post Road for three more years, with options for a fourth and fifth year, he wrote, “is intended to give the Town sufficient time to choose a solution for the longterm needs of the Police.” At this time, O’Connell told Town Meeting voters, “we don’t have anyplace for the police” to go temporarily when the lease expires in August. “Right now I don’t see any choice but to extend the lease,” the selectman said. NO ACTION ON BYLAWS For the second straight time, voters postponed action on a proposal to toughen the town’s marijuana laws by prohibiting its use in public areas and increasing the fine for violators from the state limit of $100. Advisory Committee members and Selectmen Chairman Rudy Heller said bylaw changes should be presented at the Annual Town Meeting, not a Special Town Meeting that is usually attended by far fewer people. Monday night’s session brought 50 registered voters to the Banquet Hall at Brookfield Town Hall. Article 7 would have set the fine for using marijuana in a public place at $300 and given police the power to go after people who do not pay it. That, Acting Police Chief Christopher Welsh said, could be added to the $100 fine for possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana — a penalty approved by voters at last year’s presidential election as Question 2. The law does not provide any recourse for people who do not pay the fine, Welsh said. James Cooke, reiterating the argument he gave at the May Annual Town Meeting, said Question 2 resolved the issue of possessing small amounts of marijuana. He added that the people most likely to pay the fine would be “parents of wayward teenagers” who could not afford $300. Also passed over Monday night was Article 8, which would have outlawed public consumption of alcoholic beverages on the town common and in town-owned parks, cemeteries and streets. The maximum fine would be $300. Heller and the Advisory Committee gave the same reason for postponing action on Article 8: it should be decided at the Annual Town Meeting. When asked if lakes were considered public ways, and if the new bylaw would penalize people who drink a beer (or another alcoholic beverage) while ice, Welsh responded, “Technically, yes.” BUDGET QUESTIONS Also approved at Monday night’s Town Meeting were requests to: • Close the budget deficit for this year by reducing six accounts a total of $40,321, including $12,274 for the town’s assessment to the Tantasqua Regional School District. • Transfer $33,567 from two accounts to buy a new police cruiser, and either sell or trade in the department’s 2002 Ford Crown Victoria. • Take $45,000 from the Fleet Stabilization Account and put it in the Highway Department Vehicle Acquisition Account. • Transfer $3,700 to pay salaries for parttime workers at the Highway Department, along with $2,200 for overtime. • Create a new Repair Private Roads Account and transfer $1 from the Selectmen’s Expense Account to fund it. • Transfer $6 from the Assessors Expense Account to pay a bill from the Registry of Deeds from fiscal 2009. • Transfer $3,000 into the Fire Department’s Asset Repair/Replacement Account to fix what Fire Chief Peter Martell called “a couple of minor issues” and start the process for resolving another issue. • Transfer $800 to pay for computer security and “related purposes” at Town Hall. David Dore may be reached at (508) 909-4140, or by e-mail at ddore@stonebridgepress.com. Towns bringing back winter parking bans With winter on its way, parking bans will make their return in North Brookfield and Leicester. North Brookfield’s ban, which started Nov. 20, calls for vehicles not to be parked on town streets from 1-6 a.m. Warnings will be issued when the weather is not severe, officials said, but when the snow does fly violators will face a $25 fine. Leicester’s parking ban goes into effect Dec. 1, and calls for no vehicles to be parked on town streets from 1-7 a.m. between Dec. 1 and April 1. Parking is also banned at any time when more than 4 inches of snow falls. Chief of Police James Hurley warned that tickets would be issued for anyone who does not follow the parking ban.
B Section INDEX Friday, November 27, 2009 Obituaries . . . . . . . B2 Calendar . . . B3 & B8 Our Towns . . . . . . . B4 Real Estate . . . B7-B7 Legal Notices . . . . . B5 THE CLAM BOX Dresser Hill Ice Cream Kids Meals Starting at $3.99 Desserts of the Month Rt. 9, Brookfield • 508-867-2047 Big Portions, Great Prices! Wednesdays are Senior Discount Day NEW Lobster Sliders Pumpkin Ice Cream Warm Apple Crisp NOW OPEN - 7 DAYS A WEEK! 11:30AM-8:00PM Buy 1 Get 1 Free Special Every Day! Homemade Soups Made Daily $1.99 Sundaes Daily We accept Largest Chinese Buffet In Town LUNCH BUFFET $5.95 M-F 11am-3:30pm $6.95 Sat & Sun 11am-3:30pm Over 30 Lunch Items $6.99 & under everyday! .99¢ Hamburgers • 4 Hotdogs $4 TAKE OUT MENU AVAILABLE 62 WEST MAIN ST., SPENCER MA 01562 (The Fair Plaza On Rt. 9) TEL 508.885.4138 FAX 508.885.4168 DINNER BUFFET $9.52 Everyday Starting at 3:30pm - Close Welcome Dine-in & Take-out $2.00 OFF DINNER BUFFET One coupon per customer. Expires 12/25/09 Drs. Thamel and Ricciardi wish you and your family a Our Spencer office will be closed for renovations from Nov. 25 th through Dec. 13 th . Telephones will be answered during business hours. (508)885-2219 177 Main St. Spencer, MA Your Vision Source! Feeling the Crunch? Need quick CASH? Bring us your old lawn mowers, appliances and other metal junk laying around for INSTANT CASH MONEY! TAG SALE Saturday, December 5th 9am-1pm UP TO 75% OFF SELECT MERCHANDISE!! ONE TIME ONLY special sale on our cuddly crib blankets, pillows and complete sets with the lowest prices of the year! Additional clearance items include blankets, toys, clothing and plush! Located at the Taggies Corporate Office: 21 West Main Street, Spencer, MA All sales final. For More information call Customer Service at (508) 885-3535 www.taggies.com Season’s Heatings Where Everyone Goes For from Al’s Family to Yours. Their Piece Of The Earth! • Construction Stone • Septic Stone • Septic Sand • C-33 Presby Sand • Concrete Sand • Brick Sand • Pool Liner Sand • Stone Dust • Crushed Gravel • Cold Patch WINTER IS COMING! 1-508-753-7221 Bulk Road Salt & Sand/Salt Mix Visit us on the web: www.alsoil.com “Stored in Building” Al’s Oil. Winter Road Sand & Magic Salt Because your oil company shouldn’t be a fair weather friend. Full Service at Discount Prices STOCK UP NOW! 24-Hour Expert Burner Service PICK-UP OR CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR DELIVERY TODAY! Ernie & Berts Tree Service *Asphalt Plant Open thru November* Check out our Jeff Brunelle NEW WEBSITE Cell: 1.508.331.0701 Bond www.bondsandandgravel.com Office: 1.508.867.9917 45’ Arial Lift • Chipping 508-885-6100 Excavator Services • Firewood 508-885-2480 Tree Removal • Etc… Fully Insured Sand, Gravel & Asphalt 98 N. Spencer Rd.,• Rte. 31N, Spencer, MA TWISTERS GYMNASTICS PLAY GYM - Wed 10:30-11:30am OPEN GYM - Sat 2-3pm Open to the public Call for More Info - 508-885-6810 BIRTHDAY PARTIES Used Parts Available Blue Lake Alpaca Farm - Leicester Open Sat. & Sun. 10am - 4pm Holiday Gifts Made From Their (Other Times By Appointment) Unique Fleece are Available at Visit these adorable animals. Our Farm Store A fine selection of natural yarn & fiber for Knitters Dream – the crafter, scarves, gloves, hats, socks, “Big Yarn Selection” sweaters, blankets, soft toys, bears, etc. www.BlueLakeAlpacas.com 97 Burncoat Lane, Leicester, MA • 508-769-6013 Take Rt. 9 to Castle Restaurant, then left onto Rawson St. Down Rawson St. for about 1.7 miles, to the sign for One Lane Bridge, Turn right onto Burncoat Lane, and drive about a mile to the very end. We Deliver BANKS, Open 7 Days a Week: Mon. - Sun. 11 am - 10 pm 1205 Main St. Leicester 548 S. Main St. Webster 508-892-9276 508-949-3409 STOCKS AND 208 West Main St. W. Brookfield 570 Summer St. Barre 508-867-9567 978-355-4333 NEW FISH NOVEMBER SPECIALS LOANS, BBQ Rib Grinders FILLET GRINDER Small $ 1.99 Large $ 2.99 8” .......... $ 2 99 Mushroom Pizza 12” ........ $ 3 99 Small $ 3.99 Large $ 6.99 Dupre Metal Recycling 9 Brown Street, North Brookfield M-F 8-4 508.867.2666 Sat 8-1 239 Main St. Spencer, MA 01562 508-885-6956 Family Preventive Dentistry NEW PATIENTS ALWAYS WELCOME • Late evening hours • Handicap accessible • AED on premises • Implants restored • Cosmetic Dentistry: • Bonding • Veneers • Crowns • Whitening • Sportsguards • Snoreguards • Invisalign • Bruxism/Grinding Guards • LASER Dentistry - for cavities & gum infections; no novocaine Visit our Website: www.graceyoursmile.com FOR HEAT THE ROMANS PRAYED TO PROMETHEUS, THE GOD OF FIRE. LUCKILY, YOU CAN GET HEAT THROUGH OUR EASY-TO-USE ONLINE DIRECTORY. All local. All the time. TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com $$$ WE BUY UNWANTED CARS $$$ (508) 757-1339 OH MY! FIND THEM ALL ON OUR EASY-TO-USE ONLINE DIRECTORY. All local. All the time. TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com
Page 1 and 2: Mailed free to requesting homes in
Page 3 and 4: Friday, November 27, 2009 • SPENC
Page 17: Guida: Audit was better barometer o
Page 21 and 22: Friday, November 27, 2009 CALENDAR
Page 25 and 26: ★★★★★★★★★★★
Page 27 and 28: NOVEMBER 25, 2009 ☎ TOWN-TO-TOWN

Layout 1 (Page 1) - Stonebridge Press and Villager Newspapers

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?