I am not so blissful of my own ignorance.

by: Brian

Fri May 09, 2008 at 07:58:21 AM EDT

Town Meeting is going on right now.

I don't understand it.
I don't get it.
I don't know why.
I don't know what.
I don't know how.
And at this point, I'm not even trying to learn about it. I am seldom so blissful of my own ignorance.

So I'm not touching it. This post is a placeholder for anyone that wants to tell me whatever you want to about Town Meeting. I'll believe you.

I'm not quite so content in my own ignorance as my fellow blogger from Swampscott, however amused I am by the image and the honesty.  As a Town Meeting Representative I feel a responsability to overcome that ignorance, and so I've got several questions about the Warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting, particularly about the budget.  I'm hoping someone (David, I'm looking at you, but but anyone should feel free to jump in) can help me understand.

To begin at the beginning, line item 1.  After jumping up by more than $75,000 between FY07 (herein after referred to as just 07 or 2007), it is actually dropping $44,000, or 11%.  Part of this shift up and down is due to hiring an Economic Development Director and then moving her salary out of the line item and into a new one (40).  With that position set aside you are actually looking at an increase of $20,500.  Bill Keegan's new contract gives him exactly the same salary as he received this year.  There are three others in the office, and if the increase is split evenly between them then you have raises of between 9% and 18%.

I'm no accountant so please correct me if my math is off, but raises on that scale seem very high.  I've got plenty more questions after the jump.

Signs of the times and other quick hits

by: Brian

Thu May 08, 2008 at 14:43:33 PM EDT

---

Take what street?:  Is the road we all refer to as Route One going to become Route One again?  Adam at Universal Hub has found that DCR is instructing people to take Rt. 1, otherwise known as the VFW Parkway, to get from Roslindale to Dedham.  New sign, old road, money well spent.

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Not my favorite holiday:  I had no idea that Arbor Day has come and gone already, but the Schools and the DPW are on top of it.  This tree in front of the Oakdale School marks the day.

What does it cost to run a school?

by: Brian

Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:36:31 AM EDT

The FinCom's recommendations for the Town Meeting should have arrived in all the Town Meeting Representative's mailboxes by now, and included in it is the proposed budget.  At $74.6 million it is bigger than ever, but still not large enough to do everything we would like it to.  

During one of the FinCom hearings Sue Carney made the point that if departments keep coming back to the FinCom at the end of each year asking for transfers to cover the same expenses then perhaps we are not really looking at what it costs to run those departments when we write the budget.  Her comments were, I believe, made in reference to the School Department but came right after Parks and Rec had asked for more money as well.

Within the School Department the SpEd budget (which is what needed the additional funds) in particular is notoriously difficult to predict.  No one knows if one or more children with expensive special needs is going to move into town at any given point.  On the other hand, we may know that a special needs child is going to transfer from a private kindergarten to the public first grade, but school officials do not plan for that when they submit their budget, if I understood correctly.  They have been asked to only include the students they currently have, even if they know more are on the way.

Motherbrook Spring Clean Up 2008

by: PaulReynolds

Sun May 04, 2008 at 19:19:58 PM EDT

Under the visionary leadership of Motherbrook Association's Charlie Krueger, this Saturday (May 3d)a group of intrepid volunteers donned gloves and grabbed bags, rakes . . . and four TRUCKFULS of junk from the Motherbrook waterway area.   Special thanks to the Mass DCR for the truck and assistance.  Together we are pushing fast forward on the exciting revitalization of East Dedham!

Click on the image above for more pictures of the day's activities - and a glimpse of the trash we pulled from the water.

Paul Reynolds

Looking Ahead

by: Eric

Sun May 04, 2008 at 17:55:46 PM EDT

• Continuation of the "Town Hall to Your Neighborhood" Program
  
• Joint Meetings between the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee
  
• Quarterly Item for Open Discussions with the District Chairmen
  
• Publicly available Town Administrator Reports
  
• Review & Planning of Goals for the Upcoming Year focusing on 2 & 5 year objectives

Mr. MacDonald also discussed an economic focus during the upcoming year, specifically sighting ways in which the town can:

• Help struggling local businesses and town residents
  
• Support the effort to keep the courts in Dedham Square
  
• Promote renewable energy efforts in Dedham (echoing Mr. DelloIacono's efforts with the Renewable Energy Committee)

I must admit that I'm excited to have Mr. MacDonald return to the chair as I've found him to be very communicative, both with answering questions during or after meetings as well as contributing on this blog.  His statement to open the year is, I think, a reflection of his commitment to good communication.  The "Town Hall to Your Neighborhood" meetings should be better attended by those who do not regularly follow town issues/politics, but they are a good resource for those that take the time to attend.  If nothing else, I think its a worthwhile exercise to introduce elected officials and force town personnel and committees to organize and articulate their responsibilities and efforts.

Legacy Place

by: Theresa J

Sun May 04, 2008 at 11:09:33 AM EDT

The developers of Legacy Place would be wise to pay attention. Most people in Dedham can not afford these high end items either. A store owner in Natick is quoted as saying "Even if you have money, you may not have taste.  We have to educate our customers on style."  I would say to her that most people in Dedham have plenty of taste.  We also have common sense.  We are busy educating our children and taking care of our seniors.  (hopefully with a Senior Center, but look at what a hard sell that is becoming.)  We're not going to spend $3,000. on a Louis Vuitton bag, no matter how much you "educate us."

I would ask all who are involved with Legacy Place to pay attention to the lessons learned at the Natick Mall and apply them here.  I believe that if you asked ten women in Dedham  (women do most of the shopping) what they would like to see at Legacy Place, they would say Kohl's or Target or a Christmas Tree Shop at least mixed in with the upscale stores. I would hate to be reading the Globe in five years and see that Legacy Place "may have misread and overestimated the reach of the shopping center" or, "often remains empty."  

Fairbanks House Visit

by: jonathan

Sun May 04, 2008 at 03:07:38 AM EDT

Until today my last visit was in 5th grade on a school trip from Oakdale.  My fiance and I tried going last year but it never worked out.  I thought we'd give it another go this year and I'm glad we did.

We booked a Dedham Library Museum Pass donated by Ann Mercer.  Using the museum pass was really nice because it let us in for free.  I expected to pay a co-pay with the pass like visiting the Aquarium or MFA.  The pass covers up to four people so it suited the two of us just fine.

The tour was wonderful and brought back memories of my previous trip.  Its amazing how low the ceilings were this time as my memories had them much higher.  I'm still amazed by how much of the original structure, interior, and furnishings remain.  Our tour guide was incredible and highlighted many points of interest.

Happy 369th Anniversary, Selectmen!

by: Brian

Sat May 03, 2008 at 09:45:46 AM EDT

When they say "so many men," that has to be put into context.  Though arriving late or not showing up at all brought someone knocking on your door to get you out and to issue you a fine, no more than 43 (of 58 eligible) men ever showed up for a meeting.  What was their solution?  On this day in 1639 they selected seven men, their Selectmen, by general consent and gave them "full power to contrive, execute and perform all the business and affairs of this whole town."  

According to historian Kenneth Lockwood, they "were men of proven ability who were known to hold the same values and to be seeking the same goals as their neighbors" and they were "invested with great authority."  What he writes a little later makes it seem as if we were the first town to have Selectmen.  I don't know if that is true, or if we were just early adopters, but pretty soon all the towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony saw the value of having a group of selectmen run the town.  With Paul McMurtry's predecessors giving the thumbs up in the General Court, pretty soon nearly all towns were picking selectmen.

The other night the Selectmen met and for the first time in over 30 years Marie-Louise Kehoe was not sitting behind the desk.  This was an extraordinary run, and one she should be proud of.  It was not, however, unprecedented.  The first selectmen were generally old, rich, and could be expected to serve many, many one year terms.  In early years there were 43 men chosen as Selectmen, and they served an average of 8 years on the Board.  Of them, 10 served an average of 20 years, and 15 others served an average of 10 years.

Unasked and unanswered questions

by: Brian

Fri May 02, 2008 at 11:48:46 AM EDT

The Civic Pride Committee raised over $25,000 the other night at their gala, and no donors their needed a firm commitment from the town to undertake any project before they were willing to write a check.  Every girl scout goes out and sells cookies to pay for the Troop's activities.  Parents don't need to put $500 up front and then get a $300 rebate when the cookie sales are over.  Every non profit group in the world goes out and fundraises and the Senior Center should be no different.

That is all a woulda-coulda-shoulda at this point, though.  I do think that even if they had been out over the past year fundraising in $50 and $100 increments that it would have been a sign of good faith to Town Meeting and the voters, but again it's too late for that as well.  My concern is now with the news from the Selectmen's meeting last night.  Bill Keegan announced that in order to be eligible for a federal grant that we must reduce how much Town Meeting and voters authorize to spend.  

For at least a year we have been told that we are in a position to receive up to $800,000 in a federal grant for this project.  However it is only in the past week we learned that this grant is for "gap funding."  It is troubling that supporters have been selling the Senior Center in part based on our very good chances of getting this grant when they didn't even know what all the requirements were.  Bill also announced last night that we would likely have to hire a special grantwriter to handle this request.  As this is, as Bill termed it, a "very unique" grant, who knows what other requirements there are that we don't know about.

DEP's Flamingo Fundraiser

by: Eileenk

Thu May 01, 2008 at 09:48:47 AM EDT

Draft Goals of the Economic Development Committee

by: Brian

Thu May 01, 2008 at 08:54:21 AM EDT

At our meeting tonight (7:30, Town Hall, Lower Conference Room) we will be discussing and finalizing them, and then in the next few meetings inviting in guests from both inside and outside of Dedham to discuss them with us.  When that is completed we will be taking all their comments into consideration and submitting it to the professional consultants and the Master Plan Steering Committee.  

What are your thoughts  on the following goals?  Is there an area we missed?  Something you would like to see expanded more upon?  Is there a bad idea in there?  Something we haven't considered?  This document is a draft only and has several steps to go before it is printed, so comment away.

---
April 28, 2008

DRAFT GOALS OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FISCAL RESOURCES SUB-COMMITTEE
FOR THE 2009 MASTER PLAN

1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

a. The formation of a network of resources as a sounding board for the Economic Development Officer to gain additional insight into economic development opportunities.  
  i. Essentially a public-private partnership.  
  ii. Potential network resources include the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, Dedham Square Circle, large business owners who reside in Dedham.

b. Improve EDO's coordination with town committees.
  i. Recommend (jointly with Town Governance Subcommittee) that a governmental committee be formed to meet at least every other month to discuss current projects and issues to ensure that all boards and departments are working consistently toward the same goals.  
  ii. Suggested committee members include the EDO, town planner, town administrator, a selectman, and a planning board member.
  iii. Note: It is detrimental to a potential developer and the Town's reputation, to be wooed by the Economic Development Officer then have the Planning Board seemingly take an opposite position in looking for linkage, mitigation, and in general taking a hard line on possible waiver relief.  Our town committees and administrators should be sharing and communicating the same common goals.

2. PERMITTING PROCESS

a. Review the current permitting process;

b. Create a pamphlet or software guide to the Town's permitting process - to assist business owners seeking to establish a presence in Dedham.  The goal would be to make the process more transparent and "user-friendly" - not to make any permissions easier, but to articulate the steps, criteria and expectations.

c. Explore possible tax incentives for small business owners during their initial two years.  

Decisions are made by those who show up

by: Brian

Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 08:42:59 AM EDT

A coup d'etat was in the works at the Endicott Estate with a number of supporters of Charlie Krueger prepared to vote him in and current chairman Joe Dineen out.  Either Joe was aware of what was about to happen, or he was just extremely punctual, but while most precincts gave a couple minutes of grace time for people to saunter in Precinct Three was gaveled to order at the stroke of seven.  First order of business, election of officers.  By the time the revolutionaries arrived  the chairman was reelected and they had moved on to other business.

After their precinct meeting ended there was an extended discussion between Charlie's supporters and Town Clerk Paul Munchbach on the steps outside the Estate.  (I wasn't there for it, but after Paul was kind enough to pass on to me the Citizen's Guide to Town Meetings.  It is published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and gives a pretty good overview of the whole process.)  I think what the tardy Precinct Three members wanted to know was if there was anything they could do now, after the fact.  I'm no lawyer, but I think there is.  

Lord I was born a Ramblin' man

by: Brian

Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:39:35 AM EDT

Many thanks to all the people who helped put on the race.  I can't count the number of volunteers who helped out, but they were all wonderful.  Particular thanks goes out to those standing on the corner of High Street and East Street yelling out, "Less than a mile to go for free beer!"  Talk about motivation to hurry up and finish!  My thanks to everyone who called out my name as I ran by.  Hearing people cheer you on really does give you a big boost during races like this.  

The actors once again were terrific, and most of them were in costumes that were downright Joycean.  I always look for the twins on the Courthouse as they are my favorites.  Just before you enter Nobles there are always two teenagers, though I'm not sure if they are the same kids each year.  Running back through the Square the actor standing in front of the stoplight had a particularly poignant line to read as I past.  Each  mile is dedicated to a different book and the last, appropriately enough, is for The Dead.  I know I heard "the dead" as I ran by, and I'm pretty sure what followed it was "stretched out their legs before them."  I wondered if he just kept reading the same line over and over again, or if I just timed that exactly right.

There were port-a-potties set up all around the perimeter of the Endicott Estate, but I saw several people who didn't use them and regretted it soon after.  Less than a mile into the race I saw one guy running off to use the blue lagoon set up for the construction workers building the new Rt. 1 bridge.  A half mile later someone was running into the woods behind Ursuline Acadamy, and at the two mile marker there was a line to use the port-a-potty set up on someone's front lawn.  My favorite, however, was the library employee who ran past her house and, much the amusement of her neighbors, stopped in because she had to go that badly.

What do you want from the Library, the Director & the Trustees?

by: GaryRoberts

Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 16:58:37 PM EDT

Instead of airing my wants, complaints, critiques or suggestions, how about hearing from You... in a positive and constructive way... of what you would like to see from our Library Triumvirate over the next year. Think of what you would like the Dedham Library to be, what they are doing right, what could be added or what could be discussed in an open forum.

Have a great spring weekend...
Gary

Town Meeting Warrant

by: Eric

Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 17:49:22 PM EDT

All Town Meeting Diaries

Municipal Agreements & Elected Officials Articles:

• Article 1: Approval of Elected Officials
• Article 2: Approval of Negotiated Contracts & Agreements
• Article 5: Compensation Levels for Elected Officials
• Article 12: Special Lease/Purchase Agreements
• Article 42: Ratify the Dedham Retirement Board Acceptance of Changes to G.L. c. 32

• Article 3: Departmental & Incidental Expenditures
• Article 4: Capital Improvements Expenditures

• Article 6: Fund Transfers related to MWRA Levy for FY2009
• Article 7: Fund Transfers from FY2008 Unexpected Balances to FY2009
• Article 8: Payment of Outstanding Bills for FY2008
• Article 9: Fund Transfers related to FY2008 Budget
• Article 10: Fund Transfers related to Stabilization Fund
• Article 11: Fund Transfers related to Special Funds
• Article 13: Fund Transfers related to Committee Recommendations
• Article 14: Fund Transfers related to Sewer Mitigation Fund
• Article 15: Fund Transfers related to Revolving Funds
• Article 16: Fund Transfers related to Wetlands Protection Fund
• Article 17: Fund Transfers related to Certification of Property

• Article 18: Appropriation of $9.7M $8.9M for Senior Center
• Article 19: Appropriation of Funds for MSBA Feasibility Study (Avery School)
• Article 20: Acquisition & Maintenance of the Municipal Street Lighting System
• Article 21: Appropriation for East St Sidewalk Improvements
• Article 37: Acquisition of Land for East St Sidewalk (discuss w/ Article 21)

• Article 22: Rezoning of Readville Property to Single Residence B
• Article 23: Display of American Flag on "Special Permit" Developments
• Article 24: Fees & Changes Associated with Parking Plan Reviews
• Article 25: Modification of Zoning ByLaws Section 5.1.5
• Article 41: Designation of 10 & 26 Eastern Ave (the Keystone Lot) as a "Priority Development Site"

• Article 36: Acquisition of Land (~596sqft) at 960 Washington St for the Washington St Redesign Project
• Article 38: Transfer of Walnut St Abandoned Railroad Land to the School Department
• Article 39: Transfer of Various Town Lands to Parks & Rec.
• Article 40: Transfer of the "Senior Center" portion of the Striar Property to Parks & Rec.

• Article 26: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 7 with respect to Distribution of the TM Report
• Article 27: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 29 with respect to Departmental Fees
• Article 28: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 1 with respect to Appointments
• Article 29: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 3 with respect to Capital Expenditures Committee Recommendation Deadlines
• Article 30: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 15 with respect to BOA oversight of sewer systems
• Article 31: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 5 to add section for "Disposal of Top Soil from Town Contracts"
• Article 32: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 13 to add section for "Police & Fire In-Building Radio Specification"
• Article 33: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 24 for Expansion of the "Dedham Village Historic District"
• Article 34: ByLaws Revision: Ch. 29 with respect to BOA control of Fee Schedules

• Article 35: Charter Revision: Organizing Town Agencies
• Article 43: Amend the composition of the School Building Rehabilitation Committee
• Article 44: Organization of Town Meeting Special Commissions

Update:  In addition the warrant articles themselves, I also thought I'd point out a series of presentations given at the Strategic Planning meeting back on January 16, 2008.  It is good to understand the town's current financial status when considering some of the upcoming articles

• Strategic Planning Meeting Agenda (upload 4/1/08)
  
• Town of Dedham Debt Analysis (every TM Rep should read, upload 4/1/08)
  
• Sources of Funding (upload 4/1/08)
  
• Roads & Sewers Planning (upload 4/1/08)
  
• Budget Task Force - School Funding (upload 3/30/06, couldn't find newer info)