At the School Committee meeting the other night I attempted to speak during the public comment portion. Unfortunately, the dusty environment in Town Hall caused several members to come down with coughing fits while I was at the microphone. While they were gasping for air they apparently decided they didn't like what I was saying because they then started interrupting me. Since what I was attempting to say was already in the public record and the public domain anyway, I tried to continue. However, with the constant interruptions I don't think I was entirely clear in what I was trying to say, so I'll express it here instead.
As everyone already knows, two special education teachers were pulled from their classrooms a few years ago to tutor the child of Joanne Flatley, who was then serving on the School Committee. After those details became public, she lost the election, moved out of Dedham, and is now suing the town for $450,000. A few weeks ago, the Flatleys filed a motion to have five categories of records impounded and taken out of view of the public.
I don't think anyone would object to four of those five categories being impounded as they related to things such as special education documents and medical records for the child. Removing those documents from the public file is totally appropriate if you ask me. The fifth category, however, was "any and all documents related to the 'alleged incident,'" namely, the home tutoring.
The School Department did not contest the impounding of those documents, and I wanted to know why. It appears to me like they would be very happy to have every document that shows how badly they screwed up hidden behind a judge's order, but I was hoping that there was a more reasonable explanation. If there wasn't, I wanted to ask the School Department to go back to the judge, say they made a mistake, and ask that those documents (just the ones relating to the tutoring - NOT the medical or SpEd records, etc) be opened back up for public inspection again.
(There are a whole host of issues that accompany this including the residents right to enjoy their property, whether or not that land is now taxable, and if it has turned one of the abutting properties into a non-conforming structure by reducing thier frontage on a road. - promoted by Brian)
I saw this letter to the editor at Patch, and was wondering if anyone here had background to the story. It sounds like an attempt to turn a regular street into a dead end - can residents opt to do that if the road is a "private way"?
(Since snow removal is the one area where towns are legally able to deficit spend, it is deliberately underfunded each year. I'm sure will be spend it all again this year. - promoted by Brian)
Every year after the first couple of storms, we hear that the snow budget is exausted.
Since we had very little snow this winter, does this mean we will be getting a break on our taxes?
Maybe a refund or a tax reduction?
(You can always call them - I did today - at 781-326-2107. - promoted by Brian)
Because I can't vent my frustration to anyone at the Dedham TV, Channel 8, I decided to vent on this blog. I tried to email them, but was unable to, on their website.
Their Channel Schedule is so outdated that today January 18, they are still showing their schedule for January 12 thru the 16th.
I wanted to watch a show last Saturday, that was supposed to be on at 6:00pm, only to turn it on and find it was on at 5:30pm. Another time their schedule showed it to be on at 8:00pm and it never did come on.
For the most part, they programing is getting better but their schedule needs help.
(I wanted to revive this for the 375th anniversary, but was shot down pretty quickly. - promoted by Brian)
This used to be an annual Fourth of July tradition by teenagers. It ended sometime in the 1960's from what I was told. My siblings used to tell me stories about it and a neighborhood man, close to 90 years old, told me stories of it as well.
I don't know when it started but they used "horse buggy" hay wagons, so I would guess around 1900's or so?
As soon as it got dark on the fourth, the kids would steal several hay wagons, load them with hay and sneak down to Oakdale Square, keeping an eye out for the cops, then light the wagons on fire and push them into the middle of the square where the traffic signal is now. I heard the fire got so high and intense that it burned and melted some of the telephone wires pretty bad.
The cops used to hate it and try to arrest the kids, they hardly ever got caught, but the kids did it faithfully every year, I wonder how well that tradition would do today!
Does anyone remember this or heard of any stories?
(I think it is something that this was the first snowstorm, such as it was, of the winter... especially after the pounding we got last year. - promoted by Brian)
The town usually does a great job of plowing our streets but when there is only a dusting of snow it makes me wonder why they would even bother. Do they not listen to the weather forecast? Did they not hear that it was going to be close to 50 degrees today. By plowing the streets this morning they only really succeeded in doing two things. Wasting money and ripping up the streets. There was no need for it.
In partnership with the home and community, Dedham High School provides a high quality, comprehensive education that offers students the opportunity to become critical thinkers and self-reliant learners so that they may become positive, contributing members of the global community.
After the School Committee's vote last night, we now have
In partnership with the home and community, Dedham High School prepares each student for life's responsibilities, challenges and opportunities to thrive in the 21st century.
When reviewing the mission statement, no one seemed to think that the words that should be retained were "high quality, comprehensive education," or even "critical thinkers and self-reliant learners," much less "positive, contributing members of the global community." No, they kept partnering with the home and community, which is all well and good I grant you, but shouldn't something like education be included in the mission of Dedham High School?
Apparently not. The 800 or so students on Whiting Ave are there preparing to walk the dog, change the oil, and to make a couple of bucks by selling your old junk on eBay - in partnership with their siblings and next door neighbors.
(Let's keep these constructive, and remember that we have the benefit of hindsight. - promoted by Brian)
2012 has arrived and it might be interesting to constructively second guess Town officials on decisions that they made last year. I wonder if hindsight identifies any matters that have gone in unintended directions. Perhaps there are 2011 decisions that should not be repeated.
My nomination is that soil excavated during a school construction project should not be piled high on an abandoned railroad spur. Further, large numbers of trees should not be cut down to facilitate the process.
As Stebi pointed out in the comments, the first iteration of this post had the top 15 posts of 2010. Mea culpa. For those who are interested, I'll move those into the comments. Now, with no further commentary, here are the top 15 posts at 2011.
(In a democracy we get the government we deserve. Nomination papers for office will be available one month after Christmas. - promoted by Brian)
This issue is a perfect example of how the BOS and the TA run fast and loose with our money. This site was and remains such a disappointment. We were prommised way more than we paid for, and in SUCH a ridiculous spot....
And now this Board and TA are going ahead with a multi million dollar renovation for the Square - and this nonsense about an Avery Arts Center. Give me a break. Municipal buildings are falling down, students are barely passing the MCAS, and crime is at an all time high. The Police do not have the manpower or equipment to deal with the situation......
Part time selectmen and a town administrator with a background in human resources are not the leadership a town like Dedham needs. Charter change that removes the part time board and TA is needed. A person well qualified in public administration is essential. The TA is not the place for a person with a human resurces background. (HR is his schtick? he wouldn't last in the private sector). His inability or unwillingness to challenge the status quo is bad for the Town.
Too many of the same people on too mny comittees. Wake up - the Town you change may be your own. This is not the time for on the job training
(Not exactly what we were promised, but a beautiful facility nonetheless. - promoted by Brian)
A few years ago, the Town bought the property now known as the Dolan Center. There was a lot of controversy about the purchase and the voters approved it by a small margin.
After a lot of hard work by Recreation Department Directors JuJu (now retired) and Bob Stanly along with department staff, the purchase looks like an excellent move.
As far as I can tell, there are programs running Monday through Saturday. They cover a wide spectrum of ages and interests. Fees are reasonable and public participation seems high.
Congratulations to the Rec Department for proposing the acquisition and turning the Dolan Center into a valued public resource.
Every so often David Bernstein at the Boston Phoenix has an "Ask Me Anything Day" on his blog. Being a political columnist 99% of the questions are asking for a piece information or his opinion on something political, but, true to the name, he entertains any question thrown his way.
In the couple years that this blog has been around, there have been many times people have used it to ask a question to which they simply didn't know the answer. Crowdsourcing is a great way to get information, but I found that it's usually easier to go directly to the source. The vast majority of people at Town Hall are only too willing to help when presented with a question or request for information.
However, I recognize that not everyone knows who to ask or where to turn. So, seeing as there are only a couple shopping days left and I still haven't gotten anything for all you good folks, I thought I would have my own Ask Me Anything Day. Want to know when the Middle School will be paid off? When your road is going to be repaved? The number of arrrests made for drunk driving last year? What the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow is? Ask away!
(Actually, the Feds couldn't do it, but that is a post for another website... - promoted by Brian)
Do I have your attention? Thought so, have you seen the 12/1 Board of Selectmen meeting on tv? They determined the new real estate tax rates for residential and commercial properties. Well, the time has come folks, with all the nice commercial developments that were hopefully going to save Dedham's economic future with the almighty commercial tax dollar, "taxes finally hit the fan!"
The time has finally come for the Selectmen to come up with a plan to reduce taxes, presently they have none! They have a great plan to spend about 30-40 million dollars more on a new multi-department facility for the police, fire and vehicle repair.
All without the approval of the voters, isn't that just lovely!!! The amount is just an estimate, fyi.
(I try not to get too upset about these things either, but since Mark brings up the topic, I provide another example in the comments. - promoted by Brian)
I dropped off a bill today, and parked around back and went in the rear entrance. On the way in, I noticed a sign printed on office paper and taped to the glass door frame.
DO NOT SMOKE BYE THE DOOR.
Now I'm neither a great memory speller nor a spelling nazi when it comes to internet comments and the like, but when I print anything or hit Enter to post on the internet, I generally try to make sure I don't embarrass myself. And if I worked at Town Hall, I would certainly pull that sign down - in spite of the fact it says not to - and return it to the person who put it up. It reflects on everyone who works in the building.
(A proposal to rezone this site was rejected at the Annual Town Meeting last spring, but was reintroduced at the Special Town Meeting a few weeks ago and this time was approved. - promoted by Brian)
Are more apartments coming to Dedham via the property on the Dedham Westwood line that was once a gas station?
That site has been for sale for many years and I just heard that it had been sold and rezoned so they could build more apartments..please tell me this is not true.
